Central Europe

SARAJEVO, 8 December 2020 - One year after publication of the results of the first Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the country marks today another important date for the education sector- the results for the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), conducted in 2019.

The TIMSS results demonstrate that schools in BiH are not prepared for the knowledge society of the 21st century and that BiH’s children do not have the same opportunities to develop their potentials as their peers do in high and middle-income countries. With their future at stake, at least 600,000 children of BiH cannot wait anymore.

As demonstrated by the 2018 PISA results and confirmed by the results from TIMSS we saw today, BiH faces a learning crisis. That combined with the pandemic could undermine decades of progress and exacerbate entrenched inequalities.

Therefore, it is urgent that the education authorities in BiH design and implement comprehensive education reforms, based on the findings of international large-scale assessments, as the same provide detailed data for informed policy decisions.  

In addition, continuous participation in international large-scale assessments is crucial for monitoring and following the developments and trends in education, so necessary adjustments to education reforms can be made. In that context, we also recall the European Commission’s 2020 Report on BiH which notes that participation in such assessments should be taken to track the country’s progress and enhance visibility and comparability in a larger context.

A knowledgeable and skilled population is an indispensable component of any dynamic economy and inclusive, cohesive society which BiH aspires to, therefore education reform should be a central pillar of the country’s development efforts.

To ensure evidence-based education reform, BiH should take all the necessary steps for participation in the upcoming international large-scale assessments (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study - PIRLS 2021 and PISA 2022). We call upon the authorities to reach consensus for BiH’s continuous participation in these valuable assessments whilst ensuring inclusivity and transparency of the assessment processes including through consistent co-operation with and between all education authorities.

Competent education authorities at all levels of government must take bold steps now, to create inclusive, resilient and quality education systems fit for the future.

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons significantly decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international Mission members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and one first responder[1]. The Mission is supported administratively by a staff member and the Chief of Fund Administration based in Vienna.

Update on COVID-19 measures

Activities have been impacted by COVID-19 and measures undertaken by the OM to ensure the safety and duty of care of its Mission members and compliance with measures set by the host country authorities. The Mission is continuing to keep the situation under review, in close contact with the OSCE Secretariat and the Chairmanship. Following the host country recommendations, the observers are adhering to social distancing. Due to the preventive measures taken by the central and regional authorities, the OM is faced with certain difficulties, but is still able to continue to fulfil its mandate without any limitations in its observation and reporting activities.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border

The profile of persons crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage.
2. Persons in military-style outfits.
3. Families (often including elderly persons and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits significantly decreased from 7,356 to 6,828 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[2].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 57 per day for both BCPs. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Responding to the COVID-19 situation, the host country has closed its borders for the majority of foreigners starting from 18 March. Among the exceptions of persons allowed to cross the border (which entered into force on 19 March), are Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons holding passports or identification documents proving permanent residence in certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine. In addition, reportedly, due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19, starting from 10 April, the organized passenger transport commuting between the non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region of Ukraine and the Russian Federation was temporarily suspended and restored from 25 June.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border was 11, compared to 15 last week. Seven persons crossed into the Russian Federation while another four persons crossed into Ukraine. These individuals crossed the border on foot.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, crossing the border at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, two families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and three families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when four families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and two families crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections                                         

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (233 compared to 235 observed during the previous week). There were 114 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 119 bound for Ukraine.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses did not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a significant decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (757 compared to 848 during the previous reporting week); 420 at the Gukovo BCP and 337 at the Donetsk BCP, 504 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 253 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Lithuania and trucks with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a significant increase in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (52 compared to 34 during the previous reporting week). These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane. All trucks underwent systematic inspection by the Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP significantly decreased from 131 to 61. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 46 trucks (75 per cent) were bound for Ukraine, the remaining 15 trucks (25 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[3] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (122 compared to 152 observed during the previous week); 67 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 55 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains on the railway tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 17 occasions; the OTs assessed that 11 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining six trains were travelling to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. A significant number of vehicles with “LPR” plates were also observed crossing the border in both directions on a daily basis. The OTs also observed vehicles with Georgian and Lithuanian licence plates.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 3 November to 8 December 2020, please see the attachment here.

[1]                      First responders are OSCE staff or Mission members deployed for a short period of time.

[2]              Based on data received from the Regional Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

[3]              Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving licence C1).

NUR-SULTAN, 8 December 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a limited election observation mission (LEOM) for the 10 January parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the country’s authorities.

The mission is led by Ambassador Jarosław Marcin Domański and consists of a core team of 11 experts based in Nur-Sultan. In addition, 24 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 15 December.

The mission will assess the election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor voter and candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. The mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives of state authorities, political parties, civil society, the media and the international community.

While the mission will visit a limited number of polling stations on election day, there will not be any systematic observation of voting, counting or tabulation of the results. On election day, the ODIHR LEOM will join efforts with a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

The mission will publish an interim report in the course of its work. The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued at a press conference. A final report summing up the observation and proposing recommendations will be published approximately two months after the end of the electoral process.

The ODIHR LEOM and the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan operate separately and independently under their own mandates.

For further information, please visit www.osce.org/odihr/elections/kazakhstan. You can also contact Elma Sehalic, Media Analyst, at + 7 701 3177 964 and elma.sehalic@odihr.kz

or

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48 609 522 266 and katya.andrusz@odihr.pl.

Summary

• Between the evenings of 4 and 6 December, the SMM recorded 134 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 57 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Between the evenings of 4 and 6 December, the SMM recorded 89 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 13 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM observed fresh damage to a residence in Donetsk city.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and three checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

The Civic Solidarity Platform, a coalition of civil society organizations from across the OSCE region, presented recommendations to the OSCE executive structures, institutions and participating States at an online event on 7 December 2020.

About 50 representatives of civil society organizations participated in the meeting that took place in lieu of the OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference 2020.

At the virtual handover session, OSCE executive structures and institutions were handed the Tirana Declaration on Human Rights, Democracy and the Fight against Corruption, which calls on the OSCE and its participating States to radically step up the fight against corruption. The Agenda for International Support of a Human Rights and Democracy Transition in Belarus by international and Belarusian civil society NGOs, which contains recommendations regarding international support to a human rights and democracy transition in Belarus, was also handed over.

Recommendations in the Tirana Declaration included, among other things, to continue the fight against corruption at all levels as a priority of the OSCE Chair and to prioritize

the continuous monitoring and refining of strategies, tactics and steps to prevent and fight corruption in each state’s civil service, judiciary and political sector.

The Agenda drew inspiration from several documents, including the report in the framework of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, resolutions of the European Parliament and statements of the PACE Legal Affairs Committee, as well as deliberations at recent roundtable meetings and workshops organized by civil society groups.

In his address to the participants, Agron Tare, Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania stressed that the Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chairmanship greatly values the role civil society plays in the OSCE area, noting that “throughout this year we have made every effort to ensure broad and open access for civil society in our meetings, in line with our OSCE documents and decisions”.

Robert Rydberg, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden representing the incoming OSCE Chair; Katarzyna Gardapkhadze, First Deputy Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and Jürgen Heissel, Director, the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media also attended the meeting.

BUCHAREST, 7 December 2020 – Romania’s parliamentary elections were well run in adverse circumstances amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, but the late adoption of legislative amendments and some important regulations created uncertainty, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today.

“I have deep respect for the staff at polling stations, the voters and the candidates themselves who took part in the democratic process on election day despite the increased risks,” said Marianne Mikko, head of the ODIHR special election assessment mission. “The campaign remained anaemic, not only because of the pandemic but also due to political fatigue, as this was the fourth election in 18 months.”

While the campaign initially focused on issues such as economic recovery and anti-corruption, the worsening public health situation soon dominated the political debate. The president repeatedly made his party preferences clear in public statements during the run-up to the elections. This blurred the line between his official duties and the election campaign, at odds with international standards and the commitment made by all OSCE countries to keep a clear separation between the state and political parties.

A number of election-related amendments were recently adopted by parliament following a rushed procedure and without public debate, at odds with international commitments and good practice.

“A complex and inconsistent legal framework covering different elections has created uncertainty about procedures and requirements,” added Mikko. “Adopting a unified election code would be a big step forward for Romania in improving its election process.”

The election administration managed the process efficiently, and generally enjoyed confidence. Nonetheless, important decisions related to the COVID-19 pandemic were made later than they should have been.

In the limited number of polling stations visited by the mission, the voting process was smooth, and procedures were followed. Voters living abroad could cast their ballots by post or in person over the course of two days at polling stations across more than 90 countries. However, health-related restrictions resulted in a reduction of polling stations abroad from last year’s presidential election.

ODIHR’s Special Election Assessment Mission (SEAM) to Romania took up its work on 12 November. The mission focused on key issues identified by ODIHR ahead of the election in order to assess the extent to which the parliamentary elections were held in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

For further information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

NUR-SULTAN, 7 December 2020 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the 10 January 2021 parliamentary elections on Tuesday.

What:

• An introduction to the role of the ODIHR limited election observation mission and its planned activities
• The news conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)

Who:

• Jarosław Marcin Domański, Head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission

When:

• 14.00 local time (GMT +6) on 8 December 2020

Where:

• Saryarka 3, Radisson Hotel, Saryarka Avenue 4, Nur-Sultan

Registration:

• No registration is necessary if you are attending the press conference in person, but only questions from journalists will be taken
• To take part via Zoom, please register with: Katya Andrusz, ODIHR spokesperson, katya.andrusz@odihr.pl and Elma Sehalic, media analyst: elma.sehalic@odihr.kz

An OSCE-supported training seminar for judges-co-ordinators and press secretaries on capacity-building in communication and enhancing interaction with the media concluded on 5 December 2020 in Nur-Sultan.

The two-day training seminar covered topics such as building public confidence in justice systems and effective communication practices between the courts and the media. Best practices in interaction with journalists and the general public through various channels, including social media were also discussed. Participants learned to prepare for public interviews and press conferences, handle conflict situations, interact and respond to critical reports on social media, and reviewed some practical cases. The event included a session dedicated to the use of new media and video-making tools for effective delivery of information.

Some forty judges-co-ordinators and press secretaries all across the country took part in the event. The seminar was co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, the Supreme Court and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Kazakhstan.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to enhance co-operation between courts and the media.

Summary

• The SMM recorded 57 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 79 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded 13 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed a calm situation in all three areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and five checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission continued monitoring the situation in Zakarpattia.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint in non-government controlled Yasynuvata, Donetsk region.

Summary

• The SMM recorded 79 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded ten ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 52 ceasefire violations in the region.
• A member of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine was injured on 1 September by the detonation of an explosive device near Stanytsia Luhanska.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed a calm situation in all three areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and four checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission monitored developments in Zakarpattia.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.

TIRANA/VIENNA, 4 December 2020 — The appointment of four senior OSCE officials and the adoption of new commitments by States to strengthen the fight against organized crime and corruption as well as preventing torture made this one of the “most productive” Ministerial Councils in many years, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, at the close of the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council.

He welcomed the participating States’ adoption, by consensus, of decisions on the appointment of the following senior-level officials to the OSCE’s top positions:

• Helga Schmid (Germany) as OSCE Secretary General;
• Matteo Mecacci (Italy) as the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights;
• Teresa Ribeiro (Portugal) as OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media;
• Kairat Abdrakhmanov (Kazakhstan) as the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.

Looking back on the 2020 Albanian Chairmanship, Rama said that “at the start of the year, I set out three objectives: to implement our commitments together; to make a difference on the ground; and to build stability through dialogue. We aimed high, challenging ourselves to make an impression and an impact. But this year was not what any of us expected.” 

He spoke about overcoming the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, the loss of the OSCE’s most senior management and the new hostilities in the OSCE region. “We learnt on the job. But we have done the job. Against all the odds, we have delivered. This Ministerial Council has been a success.”

Reflecting on the Council’s outcomes, Rama noted the statement issued yesterday by the Minsk Group Co-Chair countries — Russia, France and the United States — who met on the margins of the Ministerial Council. Their statement calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue fully implementing their obligations under the 9 November arrangement.

“Now is the time to take advantage of the ceasefire to negotiate a lasting and sustainable peace, under the auspices of the Co-Chairs,” Rama said.

He further highlighted several commitments agreed by participating States over the last two days, where they agreed to strengthen efforts in preventing and combating corruption through digitalization and increased transparency, enhancing co-operation to counteract transnational organized crime, and in preventing and eradicating the use of torture. The participating States also agreed on enhancing their co-operation with the OSCE’s Asian Partners and underlined the need to continue a results-oriented Transdniestrian Settlement Process in the “5+2” Format.

There was also agreement on North Macedonia chairing the OSCE in 2023.

With these commitments, “we have therefore delivered much-needed progress in all three dimensions of the OSCE’s security. That has been no small undertaking,” said Rama.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office thanked all the participating States, supporting staff and teams, and the OSCE Executive Structures and field missions for the success of the Ministerial Council and the work throughout the year. “We are a diverse Organization, and we may have our fair share of disagreements. But when we come together, we can have a huge impact.”

He expressed his gratitude that the “OSCE has always stood alongside us” over the last two decades as Albania “emerged from an isolated dictatorship, to the proud democracy we are now.”

“No matter what your history, no matter if you are from North America, Europe or Eurasia, no matter how large or small, the OSCE is a platform through which we can all be heard.”

Looking to the future, Rama encouraged participating States to engage in “constructive, open-minded discussion” to prepare the OSCE for the challenging times ahead. He extended Albania’s support to Sweden as incoming Chair on 1 January 2021. “We will stand by your side as part of the Troika, to help you in every way we can.”

Incoming OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ann Linde said: “A heartfelt thank you to Prime Minister Rama for the professional organization of this Ministerial Council meeting, and for having guided the OSCE through a challenging year. One of the most important results from this meeting is that we could come together to appoint new heads of the autonomous institutions and Secretary General. This was significant given the important role of the OSCE institutions to support all of us to live up to our commitments. I look forward to presenting the Swedish Chairpersonship programme in January. Through our priorities and activities, we hope to make a contribution to strengthened democracy and security in our region.”

COPENHAGEN, 4 December 2020 – Several members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly joined a web conference hosted by the British House of Lords, focused on taking stock of past action and addressing new challenges related to relocating vulnerable refugees. Entitled “Voluntary relocation of child refugees and other vulnerable refugees: achievements and future challenges,” today’s meeting explored topics including the new arrivals of refugees by boat in Mediterranean countries and the United Kingdom, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges posed by coming winter conditions.

Lord Alf Dubs, Member of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, co-chaired the meeting and spoke about the need for European solidarity, praising in particular the relocation schemes for child refugees in the European Union. “I would like the United Kingdom to co-operate fully on the issue of refugees with wider Europe,” Lord Dubs said. “We must keep public opinion on board on this issue. We must explain to the public what we are doing and why we are doing it, and how it relates to European humanitarian values.”

OSCE PA Vice-President Margareta Cederfelt, a Member of Parliament from Sweden who serves as Acting Chair of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, noted that there have been some encouraging developments in recent months, with the expansion of the voluntary relocation scheme from Greece initiated by the European Commission last spring. She pointed however to a number of important challenges that remain and underlined that civil society organizations should be viewed as partners in efforts to address the needs of vulnerable refugees.

“A significant number of children and other vulnerable refugees are still living in tents and other temporary arrangements which do not meet their special protection needs,” Cederfelt said. “Regrettably, a decision was also made to close two other facilities on Lesbos which offered alternatives for vulnerable migrants. Given the heightened health risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the lack of adequate facilities, the need for relocation of children and other vulnerable refugees from Greece and in particular the Aegean islands remains critical.” She also highlighted the need to combat disinformation which contributes to spreading mistrust towards migrant communities.

Kyriakos Hadjiyianni, Member of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Migration and Member of Parliament from Cyprus, noted that unaccompanied children are more vulnerable to abuse and emphasized the need to clarify their status to address their needs in a co-ordinated, responsible and dignified manner. Underlining the significant migratory challenges which his country was experiencing, he called for an increase in relocations and stressed that it was not sufficient to rely on voluntary mechanisms for burden-sharing. He also highlighted the crucial importance of reaching a consensus on the New Pact and burden-sharing among EU Member States.

Speakers during the web conference discussed challenges related to unaccompanied minors and progress that has been made in relocations, including the difficulties of selecting vulnerable refugees and accommodating them locally. There is a need for sustainable solutions and focus on reunification with family members, it was stressed, as well as promoting international co-operation to address the problem of the trafficking of children. Furthermore, governments must address the ongoing problem of minors leaving reception centers and essentially going missing in Europe, it was underlined, with emphasis on improving the system for accommodating children to ensure that they don’t disappear.

There was also discussion on the importance of the United Kingdom to continue working with the European Union after Brexit in order to continue relocating children. Participants noted that the issue of vulnerable child refugees must be approached at the European level and ad hoc relocations need to be replaced by a more coherent approach as part of a functioning European asylum system.

The meeting was co-chaired by Alexander Dundee, Chair of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Sub-Committee on Refugee and Migrant Children and Young People.

It included participation by Chris Philp, Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts, Home Office in the UK; Emanuela Del Re, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of Italy; Stephan Mayer, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior of Germany; Eirini Agapidaki, Greek Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors; Monika Ekström, Policy Officer at the EU Commission; David Simmonds, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration of the UK Parliament; Rossella Pagliuchi-Lor, UNHCR Representative in the UK; Domagoj Hajduković, Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Croatia; Pierre-Alain Fridez, Chair of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, and former UK Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn.

COPENHAGEN, 4 December 2020 – Welcoming the OSCE’s new Secretary General, Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, High Commissioner on National Minorities, and Representative on Freedom of the Media, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President and Secretary General today expressed hope that the filling of these positions marks the beginning of an era of renewed commitment to co-operation and dialogue.

“On behalf of the Bureau of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I welcome today’s positive news about the appointments to the top four posts in the OSCE,” said OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (Georgia). “The Assembly’s leaders are eager to work closely together with our counterparts in all OSCE institutions to advance the goals of building comprehensive security in all dimensions – the political-military, economic and environmental, and human rights. I am confident that the close and fruitful co-operation developed over recent years will be continued and further deepened, and that today’s decision on these leadership positions represents a renewed commitment to values of multilateralism and international co-operation at the heart of the OSCE’s mission.”

OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella said: “I congratulate the Albanian Chairmanship for steering this process and reaching consensus. I look forward to working with Helga Schmid as the new Secretary General, Kairat Abdrakhmanov as High Commissioner on National Minorities, Maria Teresa Ribeiro as Representative on Freedom of the Media, and Matteo Mecacci as ODIHR Director. In particular in election observation, but also in many other fields, the OSCE PA has a special relationship with the ODIHR, which we expect to develop further under the leadership of the former Chair of the OSCE PA’s human rights committee, Matteo Mecacci. All OSCE institutions must work together in the interests of delivering real results to the citizens of the OSCE area.”

Earlier this week, the PA issued a Call for Action to generate political impetus and raise public awareness to counter the decline of multilateralism affecting the OSCE. The “OSCE Call for Action: Reaffirming a Common Purpose” initiative has been endorsed by 51 former OSCE Chairpersons-in-Office, Presidents of the OSCE PA, Secretaries General and other Heads of Institutions of the OSCE.

The application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve efficient land management was discussed at an OSCE-supported online training course held from 2 to 4 December 2020.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the three-day event in co-operation with the Scientific-Information Centre of the Inter-state Sustainable Development Commission of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (SIC ISDC IFAS).

“This seminar, which was organized as a joint initiative, is expected to have great practical significance, because the fundamental concepts of remote sensing and GIS-related applications were presented and important discussions on improving evaluation methods necessary to addressing land degradation issues were also facilitated,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

During the first training session, international experts from Israel covered land degradation processes and how to apply GIS technology to land management analysis.

The second training session addressed indicators and existing monitoring frameworks available with GIS-data integration as well as the existing systems of indicators and monitoring frameworks for analysing land degradation.

On the third day, international experts focused on the evaluation analysis of satellite data in line with trends in land cover, land productivity, carbon stock above and below ground, and the proportion of degraded land.

Representatives of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the State Committee for Water Management, the Academy of Sciences and the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna, as well as specialists from SIC ISDC IFAS participated.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek successfully completed a one-day roundtable discussion focusing on progress in the framework of efforts in implementing a system for passenger data exchange, the Advance Passenger Information- Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) on 3 December 2020. The event was organized in co-operation with the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of the Kyrgyz Republic. 

Thirty-six representatives of law enforcement agencies, border control and airport authorities, as well as airlines operating international flights to the Kyrgyz Republic participated in the discussion. 

The value of passenger data exchange systems, in particular API/PNR, was repeatedly emphasized by the international community. Participants acknowledged that during the COVID-19 pandemic, border- and law enforcement officers should explore how passenger data can contribute to public health, while also considering data protection and safeguarding human rights.

Participants discussed the implementation of the API/PNR system, and noted increased national expertise and significant progress achieved in a short period. The work of the Passenger Information Unit (PIU) was also presented to participants. Part of the Anti-Terrorism Center under the SCNS, this unit was set up with the assistance of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. The PIU will serve as a single window for all parties involved in the passenger data exchange process. 

The roundtable discussion provided a platform for state agencies and airlines to share information about the current situation in the industry and their vision in organizing further process of co-operation in data exchange. The project is implemented in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2178, 2396 and 2482, which require collecting and using API and PNR data for the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crimes.

The project is part of the OSCE’s efforts to promote compliance with the aforementioned UNSC Resolutions, as well as in support of the Ministerial Council Decision 6/16 on Enhancing the Use of API, adopted by OSCE participating States in December 2016.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, jointly with the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan and international partners, organized an international conference on prevention of corruption in the activities of state bodies on 3 December in Tashkent, which was conducted in a blended format.

More than 80 representatives from national government authorities, civil society and mass media, as well as international speakers, including heads and senior officers from anti-corruption agencies of Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Ukraine, international organization and others attended the conference both online and in-person. The conference covered such topics as inter-agency co-operation to fight corruption, implementing integrity policies and practices in government institutions, and practical tools.

The conference was opened by Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of Senate of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Akmal Burkhanov, Head of the Anti-corruption Agency, who briefed participants about on-going anti-corruption reforms in the country and the role of the newly established anti-corruption agency.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, stressed the importance of risk assessment of public authorities and maintaining public control to ensure efficiency of anti-corruption measures in the country.

The conference was organized within the framework of the OSCE Good Governance programme. It is a longstanding commitment of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan to assist the country in combating corruption.  

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan co-organized two events on 2 and 3 December 2020 in blended formats in the field of the rights of persons with disabilities. The discussion on the first day focused on the ratification by the Republic of Uzbekistan of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Representatives from both chambers of Parliament and international experts from Estonia, Latvia and Kazakhstan attended the event.

On the second day, a roundtable discussion was held dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on the theme “Building Back Better: Toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 in Uzbekistan”.

The event on 3 December was co-organized with the Association of People with Disability of Uzbekistan, the non-governmental organization Sharoit Plus, the UZReport TV company, the Zamin International Foundation, the United Nations in Uzbekistan, and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Regional Office for Central Asia.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, recalled the OSCE commitments in the sphere of the rights of persons with disabilities and referred to the 1991 Moscow Document, in which participating States made a decision to ensure protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities and to take steps to ensure the equal opportunity of such persons to participate fully in the life of their society, among other things.

“Today, it is not the first event, where we discuss the possible ratification by the Republic of Uzbekistan of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. We should acknowledge certain progress of the host Government in this regard, but still there is a way ahead. The organization of this event is a clear evidence of the firm approach of Uzbekistan to safeguard the human rights of people with disabilities,” MacGregor said.

The activities are part of the OSCE project “Support to the Promotion and Protection of the rights of persons with disabilities of Uzbekistan”.

Summary

• The SMM recorded ten ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 12 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded 52 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded eight ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed a calm situation in all three areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and maintenance and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at six entry-exit checkpoints and four checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions
• The Mission continues to monitor events in Zakarpattia.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.

COPENHAGEN, 3 December 2020 – In an event featuring participation by more than 100 parliamentarians and diplomats, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today presented its initiative entitled “OSCE Call for Action: Reaffirming a Common Purpose” on the sidelines of the 27th Ministerial Council. (Watch a video of the event here.)

The PA’s Call for Action, which has been endorsed by 51 former OSCE Chairpersons-in-Office, Presidents of the OSCE PA, Secretaries General and other Heads of Institutions of the OSCE, aims to stimulate the work of the OSCE and increase the political attention to it. Additionally, the document reaffirms the importance of governments implementing their key commitments and proposes a set of considerations aimed at strengthening the role of the organization in addressing the contemporary challenges, including through the promotion of genuine political dialogue.

OSCE PA High-Level Expert Ambassador Lamberto Zannier presented the initiative, underlining its timeliness and political significance. “It is a very strong message from the leaders of the OSCE over the last 30 years, calling for more effective multilateralism and for a stronger investment in dialogue,” Zannier said.

OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (Georgia) noted that parliamentarians can help the OSCE overcome the difficult period it is going through.

“Some of the challenges we witness are caused by a wider crisis of multilateralism – and these challenges are common to all international organizations,” Tsereteli said. “But some other aspects of this crisis are peculiar to the OSCE, and must be addressed. In particular, we regret that many capitals do not take into due consideration, or even seem to forget, the added value of the OSCE and the concrete benefits it brings to our citizens.”

The event also featured contributions from US Senator Ben Cardin, the OSCE PA’s Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance; Swedish Ambassador Kent Härstedt, a former Vice-President of the OSCE PA; and Kanat Saudabayev, former OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and State Secretary of Kazakhstan.

Senator Cardin, who has been involved with the OSCE PA since 1992, expressed support for the PA’s Call for Action. There is strong bipartisan support in the US for the OSCE, he said, stressing that the organization promotes security, defends human rights and encourages democratic development in all OSCE countries. “It remains the responsibility of the participating States to hold each other to account,” Cardin said. “In the face of repression at home or aggression abroad, the OSCE will succeed as a multilateral forum as long as those who are true believers stand united in defending the ten Helsinki principles and forthrightly raise violations in this forum.”

Harstedt said that the incoming Swedish Chairmanship will focus on upholding the comprehensive concept of security, defending on the European security order and ensuring the inviolability of frontiers, and resolving conflicts. The Chairmanship will work closely with the OSCE field operations, he said, emphasizing their central role in advancing OSCE values and commitments. He also noted the role of parliamentary diplomacy in reinvigorating the organization.

Saudabayev stressed the importance of all three dimensions of security and recalled the renewal of commitments at the 2010 OSCE Astana Summit. He emphasized the necessity for political will to pursue concrete measures that would increase the effectiveness of the organization, urging the holding of an OSCE Summit in the near future.

In the discussion, participants touched upon the importance of the OSCE focusing on core competencies such as conflict resolution, as well as avoiding double standards and overcoming obstacles to dialogue. One of the challenges in developing a more effective organization, it was pointed out, is to establish a closer relationship between OSCE parliamentarians and ambassadors in Vienna.

OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella emphasized the importance of better promoting the OSCE to the Foreign Ministers and increasing the organization’s visibility to highlight the good work that it does. In this regard, the OSCE PA’s Call for Action intends to raise the awareness in capitals and will be a starting point for a number of events that the OSCE PA intends to promote to revitalize the role of the OSCE in the interest of the improving the result for the end users of the OSCE product, Montella said.

The “OSCE Call for Action: Reaffirming a Common Purpose” is available in six languages here.

Download a Flipping Book version here.

TIRANA 3 December 2020 – The role of history education in fostering social cohesion in diverse societies was the focus of a side event held via video teleconferencing today on the margins of the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council in Tirana. The event was organized by the Albanian OSCE Chairmanship, the Permanent Mission of Spain to the OSCE, the OSCE Secretariat, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM).

Opening the event, Special Representative on Youth and Security Keisi Seferi highlighted that throughout 2020 in co-operation with other participating States, Albania, as OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office has provided a dedicated space to the voices of young people.

Petrika Jorgji, Deputy Head of the Albanian Task Force for the OSCE Chairmanship in his remarks underlined that prioritizing youth in OSCE work during 2020 is a reflection of “our recognition that historically, young people have played a decisive role in the transition to democracy in the OSCE region, including in Albania, and they remain a critically important agent of change in our societies”.

“Quality education, including history education, can help young women and men develop into citizens who are open-minded, aware of diversity, receptive to and critical of a full range of perspectives and interpretations,” said Tuula Yrjölä, Officer in Charge/Secretary General and Director of OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, opening the event.

The joint event aimed at promoting dialogue on how history education can be designed to include multiple perspectives, including those of minority groups, and strengthen social cohesion.

Christophe Kamp, Director and Officer-in-Charge, office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities said: “Schools and universities can be the places where students develop critical thinking skills and learn how to engage in constructive dialogue. Schools and universities are also places where the diverse nature of each society can be analysed, understood and acknowledged, also through the prism of history.”

“The situation of Roma in the OSCE region shows clearly that prejudices from the past can lead to discrimination and exclusion in the present,” said Dan Doghi, Head of the Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues at ODIHR. “We need history teaching that puts reconciliation and dialogue at its core, to create societies based on trust and respect in all their diversity.” 

Joke van der Leeuw-Roord, Founder and Special Advisor of the European Association of History Educators, Dr. Robert Williams, Chair of Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial, International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and Deputy Director for International Affairs of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and Heather Mann, member of the OSCE Perspectives 2030 Core Group of Experts (CGE) also addressed participants.

“It is vital to involve youth and youth groups in dialogues and debates about history, particularly across historic conflicts,” said Mann. “Youth groups have indicated that they would like to contribute to educational initiatives, rather than only be perceived as the recipients of education”.

Educational programmes are an integral part of the OSCE's comprehensive approach to security. The OSCE recognizes the need to raise awareness among young people about the importance of strengthening friendly relations developing tolerance and peaceful coexistence through its documents such as the 2003 OSCE Strategy to Address Threats to Security and Stability in the Twenty-First Century.

More information can be found at https://www.osce.org/youth.