Central Europe

VIENNA, 2 November 2020 – The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) launched today a new Resource Guide, which contains action proposals on how to ensure the safety of female journalists online. It identifies a way forward and provides a list of useful resources and examples of existing measures and good practices.

The Resource Guide is the next step in the Safety of Female Journalists Online (#SOFJO) project, to assist State and non-State actors across the OSCE region to take real action in improving the digital safety of women journalists. The Resource Guide entails concrete suggestions for ten stakeholder groups, including the executive and legislative branches of government; the judiciary; law enforcement agencies; intergovernmental organizations; internet intermediaries; media outlets; journalists’ organizations and self-regulatory bodies; civil society organizations and educational institutions; and journalists and media workers.

"When it comes to the online safety of female journalists, there still remains an implementation gap. The Resource Guide is an important tool to provide all stakeholders with guidance for concrete actions that need to be taken – and how to implement them,” said Jürgen Heissel, Director of the Office of the OSCE RFoM, during the launch event today.

The author of the Guide, Silvia Chocarro, Head of Protection of Journalists at ARTICLE 19, said that: “Online harassment and abuse against women journalists are not part of the job. Everyone has a role to play in combating it, and States have an obligation to address it.” Hanna Stjärne, Chief Executive Officer at Sweden’s national broadcaster, stated that they handle on average 35 security issues every day, all year round, including harassment, acts of violence, and threats. “Threats against journalists are a threat against democracy and freedom of speech – the pillars of our society,” said Stjärne.

Thomas Hughes, Director of the Facebook Oversight Board, mentioned that the #SOFJO Resource Guide proposes “greater transparency and accountability by internet intermediaries regarding content moderation decisions, which is core to the design of the Facebook Oversight Board.” Lastly, Monika Hanych, Legal Counsellor at the Office of the Czech Government Agent before the European Court of Human Rights, said: “Interfering in women journalists' private spheres through threats, intimidation and harassment discourages them from covering important topics. States must protect them through effective legislation, law enforcement and the judiciary.”

See the Resource Guide here: https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/2/9/468861.pdf

Follow #SOFJO on Twitter for the latest updates on this project.

CHISINAU, 2 November 2020 – Moldova’s 1 November presidential election was competitive and conducted within an adequate legal framework, but frequent and late changes to both legislation and administrative rules contributed to legal uncertainty, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded in a preliminary statement today.

“Although, the election took place under the COVID-19 challenges, in a pluralistic campaign voters were able to make informed choices from a wide range of candidates and political views,” said Corien Jonker, head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission.

Several aspects of the legislation require further improvement, particularly regarding candidate registration, campaign finance and electoral disputes. Overall, the election administration managed the technical aspects of the election efficiently and transparently.

Jonker continued: “Some Central Election Commission (CEC) decisions were criticized as partisan, which tarnished confidence in the election process. Public trust in elections is vital. It is up to political parties and contestants to create an environment in which the CEC can operate impartially and independently.”

Fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly were generally respected during the campaign. Candidates reached out to voters through meetings, rallies, campaigned door-to-door using leaflets and posters, as well as through media and social networks. Although forbidden by law, the incumbent president was supported by the Orthodox church and used religious events for campaigning.

Despite most media being politically affiliated and controlled, during the month of the campaign, ODIHR media monitoring found that news programmes presented the candidates, overall, in a balanced way. 

In the limited number of polling stations visited, the voting process was generally calm, well-organized and transparent. However, concerns related to alleged vote buying and transportation of voters caused tension and road-blockages, interfering with voters’ freedom of movement and their access to polling stations.

Authorities facilitated entry and unrestricted observation opportunities for international observers in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The inclusive accreditation of observers contributed to the transparency of the electoral process.

ODIHR’s Limited Election Observation Mission to Moldova started on 23 September with a 10-member core team based in Chisinau and 22 long-term observers dispersed around the country. They will continue to follow the post-election developments. The mission is assessing the extent to which the election was held in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

The Albanian Human Rights Group (AHRG), in close co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, organized an annual online—on-site 2020 Human Rights and Minorities Academy, from 27 October to 1 November 2020.

Thirteen Academy alumni and five representatives from different minority groups were selected to participate in the activity following an open call for applications shared through official OSCE social media channels.

Participants had an opportunity to cover a wide range of topics, including the activity of the Assembly under the COVID-19 outbreak, the role of the media in guaranteeing the transparency of institutions under the restrictive measures, electoral reform and voter education given the upcoming general elections in April 2021.

Gender equality, the rights of minorities as well as the engagement of youth and civil society in the decision-making process also featured prominently in the event’s agenda.

Throughout the event, participants had an opportunity to interact with the different institutions that play a key role in promoting and preserving human rights and diversity in Albania, including the Office of the People’s Advocate (Ombudsperson), the Office of the Commissioner against Discrimination, and the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Human Rights.

The key message delivered to students by the institutions’ representatives was that inter-institutional co-operation and proactive citizens’ engagement is the best way forward in promoting and protecting human rights.

The Academy closed with a study visit to the Korça region’s Pustec Municipality, to witness how human and minority rights are observed in a local government unit with a predominantly minority population.

The OSCE Presence in Albania will support several follow-up activities in 2021, which were identified after extensive discussion and evaluation sessions at the end of the event. The activities include field briefings at MPs offices across the country, and on-site visits to the Assembly and Independent Institutions. The goal is to bridge any existing gaps between authorities and young activists in the country.

The 2020 Human Rights and Minorities Academy, initiated in 2012, is made possible through the ‘’Support to Parliament and Civic Education’’ project, supported by the Swiss government and implemented by the OSCE Presence and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in close co-operation with the Albanian Assembly.

469176 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

Twenty-four alumni of the OSCE-funded Central Asian Youth Network (CAYN) and other young people from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan took part in an online seminar on 29 and 30 October 2020 on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted security, the economy and education.

The seminar included interactive sessions and discussions with international experts from Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine and the United States as well as fellow CAYN alumni and young participants about the impact of the ongoing pandemic on the lives of youth. There was a focus on employment and mental health, among other topics, with participants exploring ideas on how to address these challenges. The event also served as a platform for professional networking.

Gavharkhon Mamadjonova, a participant from Tajikistan, said: “This reunion seminar brought together CAYN alumni from different years and was an opportunity to get insights on current world trends, which have impacted the life of each one of us. Being part of the seminar helped me to be aware of these trends and to prepare for them accordingly.”

Since 2004, CAYN has been bringing together young leaders from Central Asia, Afghanistan and Mongolia to build and foster regional connectivity to understand contemporary security threats and the OSCE’s role in responding to them.

“The OSCE's contribution to the establishment of strong ties among young Central Asians is immense. Through regular seminars it enhances mutual understanding and inter-connectedness, leaving a space for future positive changes in the Central Asian region that could arise from grassroots up,” said Bakhrom Mirakilov, a participant from Uzbekistan. “The OSCE-funded Central Asian Youth Network encourages youth to promote regional peace, security, and close engagement.”

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek organized the CAYN reunion in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, within the framework of the OSCE’s commitment to promote the role of youth in building regional peace and security.

TBILISI, 1 November 2020 – Georgia’s parliamentary elections were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected. Nevertheless, pervasive allegations of pressure on voters and blurring of the line between the ruling party and the state reduced public confidence in some aspects of the process, international observers said in a statement today. The elections were conducted under a substantially revised legal framework, following broad public consultations that brought some improvements for the holding of democratic elections, but further efforts to address shortcomings are needed, the statement says.

The observers concluded that the technical aspects of the elections were managed efficiently, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the dominance of the ruling party in the election commissions negatively affected the perception of their impartiality and independence, especially at the lower levels.

“I am very pleased that we were able to contribute to the observation of these very important and challenging elections for Georgia. I commend the extra efforts that inevitably had to be made in preparations, and also commend all the people who courageously decided to go out and vote, notwithstanding the immense challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Elona Gjebrea Hoxha, OSCE Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE election mission. “While there have been welcome improvements in election-related laws and regulations, there remains work to be done to provide a more solid base for democratic elections.”

Osman Askin Bak, head of the delegation from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said: “This was an important election for Georgia’s transition to a parliamentary system of government.  Georgian voters, once again, demonstrated their strong commitment to democracy despite the exceptional challenges posed by the pandemic. We observed a competitive election in which fundamental freedoms were generally upheld and most procedures were followed. It was, however, far from flawless. A number of issues in the implementation created a somewhat uneven playing field and affected public confidence in parts of the process. These must be addressed.”

In the limited number of polling stations visited, procedures were mostly followed. Preventive measures against COVID-19 were largely in place, but social distancing was rarely respected or possible. The presence of party co-ordinators and activists outside of many polling stations had an intimidating character.

"I commend the many women in polling stations across the country who were actively working to ensure a smooth process on election day,” said Pia Kauma, head of the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. “I also welcome steps taken to increase women’s representation in the electoral contest, and I hope this will be reflected in the incoming parliament and government.”

The diverse and pluralistic media environment was polarized along political lines and by business interests, and all monitored private broadcasters were visibly partisan. In the absence of policy discussion and analytical reporting, and with only a few debates between main political alternatives, there was limited opportunity for voters to make an informed choice, the observers said.

“I pay tribute to all the brave Georgian voters who cast their votes in yesterday’s elections, despite the risk COVID might cause to them when visiting a polling station,” said Tiny Kox, head of the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. “While acknowledging that these parliamentary elections were generally free, we are concerned over the lack of clear rules on abundant campaign spending, which negatively affects the fairness of the elections. We therefore urge Georgia to meet, as soon as possible, our longstanding recommendations to improve the laws and regulations related to the oversight of campaign financing.”

The legal framework, overall, provides a sound basis for democratic elections. While many recent amendments were welcomed as bringing some improvement, there were concerns about a lack of effective implementation and enforcement in the areas of election administration, the campaign and campaign finance. The observers also noted that aspects of the legislation and certain campaign practices advantaged more established political parties, to the detriment of newer and smaller ones. The overall framework for campaign financing, including high spending limits, also benefitted more established parties, the statement says.

“The competitive nature of yesterday’s elections was, unfortunately, undermined by the pervasive allegations we heard of the intimidation of voters, both in the lead up to and on election day, and of the blurring of the line between state and party during the campaign,” said Jillian Stirk, head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission. “At the same time, it is important to note the vibrant role played by civil society, in a space where fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of expression, were generally respected.”

Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo concluded its tenth and final online lecture on media and information literacy in a digital age for students of Serbian-language elementary and secondary schools in Kosovo on 30 October 2020. The lectures covered ten schools in the Pejë/Peć, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Prizren and Prishtinë/Priština regions and included 155 participants.

Conducted by experienced Kosovo journalist Anamari Repić, the lectures focused on teaching the students how to engage with media critically and analyse and assess media content. They discussed ways to understand and deconstruct media messages, stereotyping, media spinning, fake news, and the risks of the new phenomenon of “deep fakes”.

“The rise in online media portals over the years has been a well-received development in Kosovo, one that contributes to media pluralism, further strengthening media as the fourth pillar of democracy. However, there are also downsides, as fake news, disinformation and unverified information have become commonplace on the Internet,” said Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu. “Young people struggle with evaluating what is true and recognizing misleading information online. This is particularly important given that 93% of people in Kosovo use the Internet, 50% of whom are youth.”

Dane Koruga, Chief of the Media Section at the OSCE Mission, said that the lectures help students critically assess and engage with the information they encounter daily. “We strive to engage media professionals, scholars, educators and activists to pool resources, develop innovative tools and build initiatives to help combat disinformation and encourage a critical approach when interacting with media. In our lectures, we push students to be mindful of the obstacles and challenges that come with diverse forms of media, providing them with the tools to understand the end-points and influence of media content,” Koruga said.

The Mission continues to raise awareness among the general public through televised programmes on media and information literacy. In 2020 alone, the Mission produced and aired ten shows in co-operation with Radio Gorazdevac. On 9 October, it launched a series of six educational television programmes produced with Klan Kosova titled “Edumedia”. In the coming months, six informational videos on digital literacy will air.

The Mission has also been engaged in including media and information literacy in the formal education system in Kosovo, by facilitating lectures at the Department of Journalism of the University of Pristina and seminars at the University of Prizren. It also collaborated with the DokuFest film festival in organizing training courses that equip high school teachers with media literacy tools for classrooms to promote critical and analytical thinking among students.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human rights protection and promotion, democratization and public safety sector development. It helps safeguard freedom of media and freedom of expression and supports media development.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded no ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 30 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and nine in Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicles spotted new trenches and trench extensions on both sides of the contact line in southern Donetsk region.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at an entry-exit checkpoint in Luhansk region and a checkpoint of the armed formations in Donetsk region.
• The Mission observed a public gathering in front of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in Kyiv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

WASHINGTON D.C., 31 October 2020 – International observers to the general elections in the United States will present their preliminary conclusions at a news conference.

NB Due to social distancing requirements, only a limited number of journalists can attend the press conference in person. All others will have the opportunity to watch and ask questions via Zoom. Broadcast media wishing to film the press conference will be prioritized for personal attendance.

What:

• A press conference of the international observers to the general elections in the United States
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org

Who:

• Michael Georg Link, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission
• Kari Henriksen, Head of the OSCE PA delegation
• Ambassador Urszula Gacek, Head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission

When:

• 15:00 ET (GMT -5) on 4 November 2020

Where:

• Ronald Reagan Building, Atrium Ballroom, Concourse Level (C), 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington D.C.

Registration:

• Due to the current situation, only journalists will be able to attend the press conference in person. Broadcast media wishing to film the press conference will be prioritized for personal attendance.
• To take part via Zoom, please register by 11:00 ET on 4 November using this link.

The International Election Observation Mission is a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA). The mission totals 102 observers from 39 countries, including 50 ODIHR-deployed experts and long-term observers, and 52 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +1 310 303 2902 / +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Nat Parry, OSCE PA: +45 60 10 81 77 or nat@oscepa.dk

GENEVA, 30 October 2020 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) released the following statement today:

The Co-Chairs met separately and jointly with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Geneva on October 30.  The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings. They also held consultations with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and ICRC President Peter Maurer.

The Co-Chairs once again called on the sides to implement, in full, their commitments, including the immediate establishment of a humanitarian ceasefire, in accordance with the October 10 Moscow Joint Statement, which the sides reaffirmed with Paris on October 17 and in Washington on October 25.

Without prejudice to the implementation of the ceasefire or other commitments, the sides agreed to take a number of steps on an urgent basis, including:

• The sides will not deliberately target civilian populations or non-military objects in accordance with international humanitarian law; 
• The sides will actively engage in the implementation of the recovery and exchange of remains on the battlefield by providing the ICRC and PRCiO the necessary safety guarantees for facilitation; 
• The sides will deliver to the ICRC and PRCiO, within one week, a list of currently detained prisoners of war for the purposes of providing access and eventual exchange;
• The sides will provide in writing comments and questions related to possible ceasefire verification mechanisms in accordance with item 2 of the October 10 joint statement.

The sides engaged in an open and substantive exchange of views aimed at clarifying their negotiating positions on core elements of a comprehensive solution in accordance with item 3 of the October 10 joint statement.

The Co-Chairs will continue working with the sides intensively to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict.  

Communication and Media Relations Section

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Border Security and Management Unit and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) organized the fourth OSCE-wide Seminar on Passenger Data Exchange on 29 and 30 October 2020, bringing together more than 250 passenger data experts from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation.

This year’s event, held online, aimed at identifying the technical assistance needs of States in their implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2396. This Resolution, passed in 2017, focuses on preventing the return of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) by mandating States to adopt and use both Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data systems to check against national and international watchlists of known and suspected terrorists, and in accordance with international law and human rights. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) similarly requires its members to use both API and PNR.

“Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems play a central role in enabling a targeted and risk-based approach to screening travellers, minimizing disruption to legitimate movements, while hindering, detecting and investigating those of terrorists and other criminals,” said Vladimir Voronkov, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism. “These systems, made mandatory by the Security Council, are also very complex to establish. That is why we established the United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel Programme. Our goal is to help Member States build their capabilities to collect and analyse data related to known and suspected terrorists, and to disseminate the results to national and international authorities.”

Ambassador Igli Hasani, Albania’s Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna and Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council, said: “As Chair of the OSCE this year, Albania hopes to translate Resolution 2396 into the OSCE’s body of commitments, as part of a new Ministerial Decision on Public-Private Partnerships against terrorism. This Decision would help ensure that the OSCE provides more expansive technical assistance and capacity-building to support participating States in their establishment and operation of API/PNR systems, in line with associated international guidelines and standards.”

Ambassador Luca Fratini, Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General, added: “The UN Security Council has mandated implementation of API and PNR data and the OSCE plays a major role in supporting participating States’ efforts to establish their respective API/PNR systems. So far, we have drafted 12 National Roadmaps for Implementation. These roadmaps cover the operational, administrative and financial steps required to set up such a system.”

As well as exploring counter-terrorism issues, experts from participating States, international organizations and the private sector delivered presentations on how passenger data could be used to trace COVID-19 cases and help the authorities address challenges posed by the global pandemic while upholding human rights.  

“Countries can responsibly use PNR to respond to a range of threats,” said Hillary Batjer Johnson, Deputy Co-ordinator for Homeland Security, Screening, and Designations in the Bureau of Counterterrorism in the U.S. Department of State. “For example, PNR analysis and traveller screening can also help governments identify and notify travelers who may have been exposed to diseases like COVID-19 so they can obtain appropriate medical care. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PNR was one of the only tools we had to identify and contact travellers who had been exposed to the disease while traveling, and it remains an essential tool as the aviation industry seeks to resume international activity.”

Over the course of the event, discussions highlighted good practices in establishing Passenger Information Units, while key IT service providers presented their API/PNR analysis systems. UNOCT representatives introduced the Countering Terrorist Travel Programme, including the goTravel software, and participants also elaborated the importance of fostering regional co-operation by establishing Informal Working Groups on API/PNR.  

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 30 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and nine in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded two ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region.
• The Mission followed up on reports of two men injured by the detonation of an explosive device in Rubizhne, Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable the repair to and operation of critical civilian infrastructure, including repairs to power lines near Betmanove.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission noted that the entry-exit check point (EECP) in Stanytsia Luhanska remained non-operational.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Bezimenne, Donetsk region.*

468951

The OSCE and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) launched the “Debating Perspectives 2030 Roadshow” on 30 October 2020, a series of online and in-person events bringing together talented young women and men in shaping a vision for a safer future. The Roadshow, under which many events are planned across the OSCE region, held its first online discussion in Albania.

The Roadshows will focus on the findings of the “Engaging Youth for a Safer Future” discussion paper, which was produced by the OSCE Perspectives 2030 Core Group of Experts in 2019. This Core Group was comprised of 22 young women and men, who reflect the geographical diversity of the OSCE area, and came from a wide range of professional backgrounds including academia, civil society, policy-making, and the media.

“Continuing to promote dialogue with young women and men is one of the pillars of the OSCE’s work with and for youth”, said Ambassador Luca Fratini, Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General. “Cultural exchange and co-operation is essential to creating the conditions for positive change in society and to advancing security.”

The opening event brought together more than 40 young experts and students from across Albania. It was hosted by the OSCE Presence in Albania, actively involving its Youth Advisory Group (YAG) in the event’s design, planning and organization.

“I see the Roadshow as a process that will help youth get involved in deciding about their future, starting from right now. It is great to see young people from several OSCE participating States contributing as experts for a better future for all,” said Harris Meçolli, Co-ordinator of the YAG.

“The Roadshow is important for bringing in even more perspectives from across the region,” said Alexandra Dienes of the FES Regional Office for Co-operation and Peace in Europe. “As a think-tank, we try to bring back into the political discourse issues that are important for younger generations.”

The “Debating Perspectives 2030 Roadshow” is promoted through an extra-budgetary project of the OSCE Office of the Secretary General, with support from Andorra, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia and Switzerland.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

KYIV, 30 October 2020 - The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) and the OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Ukraine marked the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 by honouring the efforts of women and girls in support of peace and security. The landmark Resolution recognizes the wide variety of roles women and girls play in support of sustainable peace and calls for their full and meaningful inclusion in these efforts. 

“The SMM works to achieve gender parity in its own ranks and it integrates a gender perspective in its activities, most notably in the areas of monitoring and reporting, thereby enabling it to effectively implement its mandate,” said the SMM Chief Monitor Yaşar Halit Çevik.

As the Ukrainian government adopted this week a new National Action Plan for UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine pledged to continue its practical support to relevant authorities in implementing the Resolution.

“The Resolution calls for action, and Ukraine can count on comprehensive assistance from the OSCE in transferring plans within the Women, Peace and Security agenda from paper to reality,” said the OSCE Project Co-ordinator Henrik Villadsen.

The Project Co-ordinator’s manuals, “Women. Peace. Security” for security sector professionals and social service providers together with training courses over the years have helped to raise awareness of how conflicts impact women and girls, and of the need to address these issues. Other capacity-building and awareness-raising efforts include combating gender-based violence, inclusion of women in dialogue processes, gender-sensitive justice, and the rights of women in armed forces.

The SMM’s recent publication Women on the Contact Line illustrates how women, including community leaders as well as the Mission’s monitoring officers, build bridges between people, serving the cause of sustainable peace in often unseen but concrete, meaningful ways.

The SMM and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine remain committed to supporting women’s voices for peace and security.

Communication and Media Relations Section

National minorities and other vulnerable groups are at risk of paying the highest costs of COVID-19’s economic consequences, said participants of an online discussion hosted by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) on 30 October 2020. 

Post-pandemic recovery policies should consider carefully the socio-economic inclusion of excluded groups to prevent escalation of conflicts and preserve social cohesion as one of the main pillars for a secure and stable OSCE region. 

Academics, practitioners and policymakers discussed relevant research, analysis and practices that could help address the persistent economic marginalization and exclusion of minorities, further exacerbated by the pandemic.

“In the HCNM recommendations, we called on the participating States to pay particular attention to low-wage workers, informal labourers, and persons without access to identity documents or formal bank accounts,” said HCNM Director and Officer-in-Charge, Christophe Kamp. “Since many persons belonging to national minorities are self-employed or have small businesses, including many operating in cross-border areas, they are particularly vulnerable to measures to contain COVID-19.”

Kamp said that the participating States are encouraged to support such businesses and to make sure that they are not disproportionately harmed by the consequences of the crisis. “States are further encouraged to take positive actions to counter minorities’ economic marginalization and exclusion, including by co-operating with the private business sector,” he said.

The Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Vuk Žugić said that the economic crisis and the massive loss of jobs triggered by the pandemic are likely to pose a significant threat to sustainable development, security and stability, worldwide, including in the OSCE region. “Policy choices have the potential to either reduce or widen inequalities; either promote sustainable and equitable growth or increase the exclusion of the most vulnerable. Transformative thinking is needed now more than ever.”

Žugić underlined that accelerating a transition towards more equitable and sustainable patterns of development is not only in line with the international commitments, but it will pay back in terms of stability, social cohesion, and security for all. “We are able to measure our progress in pursuing stability and security through the lenses of the socio-economic inclusion of those who are most vulnerable.”

468897

Challenges, lessons learned and good practices in the use of National Referral Mechanisms to counter human trafficking were discussed at a roundtable discussion on 29 October 2020. The blended event was co-organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, jointly with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the National Anti-trafficking Commission of Uzbekistan.

Representatives from the National Anti-trafficking Commission, the country’s Interior Ministry and civil society highlighted key aspects of the national legal and policy framework to counter human trafficking and the assistance provided to victims.

“When people think of trafficking in human beings they tend to make an emphasis on law enforcement, prosecution and criminal justice system. In reality, the most important aspect of protecting victims’ rights both inside and outside of the criminal justice system tends to bring less attention,” said OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan John MacGregor.

“Therefore, it is important to strengthen policies to protect trafficked persons, consistent with international human rights standards. Recently, upon the request from the Uzbek Government, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator jointly with ODIHR, assisted the National Anti-trafficking Commission with the recommendations on further developing the National Referral Mechanism for human trafficking victims to ensure that it would be in compliance with OSCE commitments and international human rights standards. The Policy Document on National Referral Mechanism with recommendations is ready and I am happy to share them with the Uzbek Government today.”

Over the course of the discussion, experts from the United Kingdom’s Office of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Bulgaria’s National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Romania’s National Agency against Trafficking in Persons, and Sweden’s Gender Equality Agency shared their experiences.  

468936 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized a three-day online seminar to train Kazakh-speaking journalists on using data management tools in their work on 28-30 October 2020.

National experts made presentations on working with open-source government data and their processing for media reporting. Presentations also focused on new approaches to big data and data visualization for media production, analysis and advocacy. Participants learned best practices on data-journalism and were able to draft several media articles using the available data.

Some 15 representatives of the data departments from media outlets took part in the event.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s activities aimed at promoting media development and freedom of expression in line with the OSCE principles and commitments.

TBILISI, 30 October 2020 – The international observers for Georgia’s parliamentary elections will present their preliminary conclusions on Sunday.

What:

• A press conference of the international observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr

Who:

• Elona Gjebrea Hoxha, OSCE Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE election mission
• Osman Askin Bak, head of the NATO PA delegation
• Tiny Kox, head of the PACE delegation
• Jillian Stirk , head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission

When:

• 15:00 on 1 November

Where:

• Sheraton Metechi Palace, Ballroom, 1st floor, 20 Telavi, Tbilisi

Registration:

• No registration is necessary if you are attending the press conference in person, but questions will only be taken from journalists
• To take part via Zoom, please register with Thomas Rymer, ODIHR press adviser, thomas.rymer@odihr.ge and Egor Tilpunov, media analyst, egor.tilpunov@odihr.ge by 12:00 on 1 November

CHISINAU, 30 October 2020 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference to present their findings following the presidential election in Moldova on Monday, 2 November 2020.

NB Due to the epidemiological situation, only 40 journalists will be able to attend the press conference in person, while all others will have the opportunity to watch and ask questions via Zoom. Broadcast media wishing to film the press conference will be prioritized for personal attendance.

What:

• A news conference of the ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission to the presidential election
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr

Who:

• Corien Jonker, Head of the ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission
• Vasil Vashchanka, Deputy Head of the ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission

When:

• 15:00 EET (GMT +2) on 2 November 2020

Where:

• Hotel Radisson Blu; 77 Mitropolit Varlaam, Chisinau, MD 2012, Moldova

Rooms: Răut and Prut

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: Lauren Baranowska, ODIHR, lauren.baranowska@odihr.pl and Kira Kalinina, media analyst: kira.kalinina@odihr.md

or +373 69002667

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Moldova, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/moldova

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On 29 October, at about 12:15, at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), members of the armed formations delayed the passage of an SMM patrol, comprising four vehicles and seven members, travelling from Donetsk city towards government-controlled areas, citing “a need for authorization from their superiors”.

At about 14:10, after about 1 hour and 55 minutes of waiting, the SMM was allowed passage after which it proceeded towards the most forward checkpoint of the armed formations, about 2.5km south-west of Olenivka.

This delay contributes to restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, thus impeding the implementation of its mandate.

***

With regard to COVID-19, the SMM has introduced a number of stringent mitigation measures into its operational procedures. These include strict adherence to social distancing rules both internally and with external interlocutors, daily temperature checks, use of PPE and minimizing the number of personnel in vehicles.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded one ceasefire violation in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded two ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region.
• A man died due to the detonation of a hand grenade in Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted four people inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at entry-exit checkpoint in Luhansk region and checkpoints of the armed formations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission visited two border crossing points in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at border crossing points outside government control near Dovzhanske and Voznesenivka, Luhansk region (including at a railway station).*