Central Europe

464172 Marina Živaljević

In preparation for the fourth Regional Youth Co-operation Office (RYCO) Call for Proposals, the RYCO Local Branch Office and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a training course for potential applicants from 18 to 20 September 2020 in Podgorica.

The training course gathered 18 NGOs to develop their capacities in project writing that connect young people with one another, within the region, in response to the RYCO Open Call. The training course also provided an opportunity to discuss how to safely design an interactive project during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Opening the event, Lia Magnaguagno, OSCE Mission’s Democratization Programme Manager, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of all. “It has altered how we connect and has changed youth activism, co-operation and, in particular, mobility programmes,” said Magnaguagno. However, she said these challenges have provided a new impetus to the role that RYCO must play to support young people to come together in a safe environment. “Young people are not sitting still. They are actively exploring innovative ways to continue to be connected and have their voices heard,” said Magnaguagno.

Edin Koljenović, Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, said that projects that foster reconciliation and regional youth co-operation during and post COVID-19 crisis are the focus of the fourth RYCO Open Call. “I am glad that there is a great interest of the civil society organizations in the RYCO Capacity Building Training that is happening in the times of Covid-19 pandemic,” said Koljenović.

Andrea Mićanović, representative of the youth of Montenegro in the RYCO Steering Board, said that the current crisis has long been more than just a health crisis. “Negative consequences are also felt in education, economy, mental health, family and other interpersonal relationships. Young people are often seen as the future of a society, but we are the present. What we do today shapes the world we will live in tomorrow. That is why our region relies on us and I hope we will not let it down,” said Mićanović.

RYCO, founded in 2016 at the Western Balkans Sixth Summit in Paris, is an independent institutional mechanism to promote the spirit of reconciliation and co-operation among youth in the region through exchange programmes.

464139 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, in co-operation with the National Commission for Women, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan, the UN Women Office in Kazakhstan, and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)  organized an online event for women politicians and those that aspire to become politically active, from 16 to 19 September 2020.

The seminar was designed to broaden participants’ understanding of the key components of leadership, the tools and strategies of effective political campaigns, as well as to develop and practice skills in public speaking and effective communication. Forty-eight women representatives from political parties, academia, business and civil society organizations participated.

This event will be followed by a four-day module in Kazakh language for Kazakh speaking participants scheduled for 23- 26 September.

Both events are part of the Programme Office’s continuous efforts to support gender mainstreaming and economic empowerment initiatives in the host country.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 12 ceasefire violations 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.
• The SMM followed up on reports that a man died from the detonation of an explosive device in non-government-controlled Rozkishne, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people inside the latter two areas.
• The Mission 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 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at entry-exit checkpoints and checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Staromykhailivka and Olenivka, Donetsk region.*

464118 Željka Šulc

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) supported Maglaj Municipality in organizing a sitting volleyball tournament on 19 September 2020 in Maglaj.

The aim of the tournament, which gathered sitting volleyball teams from Doboj, Derventa and Maglaj, was to strengthen co-operation between the teams and promote tolerance and mutual respect. Most of the competing athletes are veterans of the war in BiH.

Will Richard, Head of OSCE Field Office Travnik, complimented the participating teams and Maglaj Municipality for implementing measures to help ensure the safety of all of the participants.

“I am happy to see these athletes competing in the sitting volleyball tournament in Maglaj. It is a very symbolic event when you have former soldiers from opposing sides now competing against each other in a friendly sporting event. I applaud their efforts. Sport can be a powerful way to promote tolerance and mutual respect. The tournament is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the needs of people with disabilities. The global pandemic has represented a challenge for all of us, but it is especially difficult for the most vulnerable groups of society.”

VIENNA/BELGRADE, 18 September 2020 – The seventh South-East Europe Media Conference entitled “The New Frontline: Working together to Foster Media Freedom”, organized jointly by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, in collaboration with OSCE field operations from South-East Europe, concluded today.  

The two-day online event gathered over 200 participants, including journalists and media experts from the region and abroad, civil society organizations and representatives from law enforcement and the judiciary. Participants discussed the most pressing media freedom challenges in the region. Special attention was paid to the safety of journalists and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on journalists’ ability to perform their professional activities.

“The safety of journalists and the fight against impunity for attacks against journalists are paramount to safeguarding freedom of expression and ensuring a safe and enabling media environment,” said Jürgen Heissel, Director of the Office of the OSCE RFoM. “This is a commitment that all 57 OSCE participating States jointly pledged to uphold in the landmark OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists adopted in 2018.”

Participants also discussed the overarching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on media freedom. “Over the past months, the media witnessed a heightened public demand for information and were faced with COVID-19 related restrictions and lockdowns, including an ever more impeded access to reliable data retained by public authorities,” added Heissel.

In addition, the event provided all participants with an opportunity to exchange experience and best practices in the area of establishing effective national mechanisms for co-ordinated responses to threats and violence against journalists. In this light, Heissel underlined the crucial role of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in protecting and ensuring a safe and conducive media environment, both online and offline, and in combating impunity for crimes against journalists and other media professionals.

Andrea Orizio, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, highlighted the opportunities and challenges in establishing national mechanisms to ensure the safety of journalists. “The OSCE Mission’s partnership with Serbia’s Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists can serve as a model of professional and fruitful co-operation between the State institutions, civil society and the international community. This is illustrated by the fact that the law enforcement authorities, the media and journalists’ associations have successfully taken ownership of the process that we jointly initiated. Only together can we achieve more in terms of growth of media freedom in the region,” said Orizio.

Heissel underscored the need for stronger efforts to tackle the specific challenges to the safety of women journalists online, who face additional threats of sexual violence, intimidation and gender discrimination, especially in the online sphere. In this light, a preview of the OSCE RFoM’s newly developed Resource Guide on safety of female journalists online was presented at the conference, outlining important points of action for different stakeholders to reinforce the safety of women journalists online through gender-responsive approaches.

More information about the conference can be found here: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/462792.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded two ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 14 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and one in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted 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 Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at an entry-exit checkpoint and the corresponding checkpoint of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Staromykhailivka and Kreminets, as well as near Oleksandrivske and Novoazovsk, in areas near the international border outside of government control, all in Donetsk region.

464085 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

An OSCE-supported one-day training webinar on fighting financial pyramids and practical aspects of improving the financial literacy of the general population concluded on 18 September 2020.

The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized the online event in partnership with the Financial Market Regulation and Development Agency (Agency).

Some 20 representatives of the Agency attended the webinar, which focussed on current practices of combating financial fraud schemes. An international expert from the Russian Federation covered topics such as, the elimination of deficiencies in the regulation of the financial markets, oversight aspects to counter fraud schemes and practical aspects of enhancing financial literacy of the population. The expert paid special attention to underlying aspects of combatting Ponzi schemes and financial pyramids.

The training webinar is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to promote good governance by focussing on anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism in Kazakhstan.

Information for Google Short description:  Seventeen OSCE participating States invoked the OSCE’s so-called Moscow Mechanism on 17 September 2020. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Seventeen OSCE participating States invoked the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism on 17 September 2020 to examine alleged human rights violations in Belarus.

The Moscow Mechanism, last invoked in 2018 in relation to the Russian Federation, provides the opportunity for participating States to send missions of experts to assist in the resolution of a particular question or problem relating to the human dimension. Further information is available here.

Any information relevant to the work of the Moscow Mechanism can be sent to the following email address: moscowmechanism2020@odihr.pl. The information will then be forwarded to the expert mission, once established.

The 17 countries that have invoked the Moscow Mechanism in this case are: Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

TASHKENT, 18 September 2020 - The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) launches an infodemic toolkit for media professionals to counter myths and fake information related to COVID-19. It is available in Uzbek, Russian and English.

The toolkit was developed in co-operation with the Public Fund for the Support and Development of National Mass Media and the Radio Nederland Training Centre. The toolkit assists journalists and bloggers in Uzbekistan covering the COVID-19 crisis by providing them with the tools to identify and counter false information and report correctly on the pandemic.

As a result of the widespread COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an enormous international push for scientific information and understanding of the novel coronavirus. At the same time, there has been an increase in inaccurate and fake news spread on social media networks and in the media. This alarming and dangerous trend creates fear and has a damaging effect on public health efforts.

The Infodemic toolkit offers five units containing videos, links and resources that help journalists to identify and misinformation and to better communicate with their audience. The toolkit’s “Debunkers Database” enables media professionals to share exposed fake news. 

The PCUz hopes that by using the information and resources available in the toolkit, media representatives in Uzbekistan will be able to use factual and accurate information concerning COVID-19, and assist in preventing the further spread of disinformation.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 14 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and one in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in either Donetsk or Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening and night hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people inside the latter two areas.
• The Mission 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 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at an entry-exit checkpoint and the corresponding checkpoint of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint in Staromykhailivka, Donetsk region.

KYIV, 17 September  2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“The ceasefire continues overall to be effective. The civilian population feels safer.

Participants of the TCG meeting agreed that, almost two months after the "Measures to strengthen the ceasefire" took effect, a thorough stocktaking of various aspects of their operation should be carried out.

I regret to say that the ongoing discussion on the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine № 795-IX "On the appointment of regular local elections in 2020" did not allow the TCG to come to solutions on other issues.

Today, assessment of the general security situation in the conflict zone and compliance with the ceasefire were in the focus of discussions of the Security Working Group.

The Humanitarian Working Group, with the participation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, discussed ICRC access to conflict-related detainees, as well as issues of mutual release and exchange of the latter.

The meeting participants also provided information on the progress of preparations for the simultaneous opening of additional entry-exit crossing points in Zolote and Shchastya in the Luhansk region.

The Economic Working Group considered issues related to the return of freight cars that are located in the non-government controlled areas of Ukraine to "Ukrainian Railways".

In addition, water supply matters in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as environmental issues associated with the situation in flooded coalmines along the line of contact on its both sides, were duly considered.

The discussion of the Political Working Group was mainly devoted to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine № 795-IX, what again did not allow to address the issues on the agenda, aimed at the implementation of the Minsk Agreements”.

COPENHAGEN, 16 September 2020 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s webinar today, entitled “From the Arctic to Global: The Political Role in addressing Climate Change,” featured the participation of some 50 parliamentarians and experts for a discussion on the effects of climate change in the Arctic and beyond. The PA’s Special Representative on Arctic Issues, Norwegian parliamentarian Torill Eidsheim, opened the event, followed by keynote addresses by the Arctic Council’s Adalheidur Thorsteinsdottir, the UN’s Daniele Violetti, and Prof. Tore Furevik, Director of the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research.

“Climate change is a global issue, and, as such, it requires decisive – and urgent – global answers,” said Eidsheim in her introductory remarks. “Alone, we are not able to solve it, not in the Arctic and not anywhere else. We need a spirit of co-operation, solidarity, and joint responsibility for the future of our planet.” She added that parliamentarians can contribute to this process by proposing legislation, holding governments accountable for their commitments, and raising awareness and engaging citizens.

Prof. Furevik noted that the Arctic is heating faster than the rest of the planet, and that rapidly melting sea ice is having dramatic global consequences. He talked about tipping points and how warming in the Arctic is impacting the jet stream, which has effects on weather patterns all over the world. In addressing climate change, he stressed the importance of improving collaboration between international organizations, governments and the scientific community.

Thorsteinsdottir, representing the Icelandic Chairmanship of the Arctic Council, discussed the heightened regional co-operation promoted by the Arctic Council, noting that this is essential in combating climate change. Working groups of the Arctic Council develop science-based policy recommendations for informed decision making, she said, noting that current projects are related to reducing harm related to Arctic shipping and addressing the growing concern of wildfires in the Arctic.

Violetti, Director of Means of Implementation Division of the UNFCCC, noted the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and stressed the need to raise ambition among governments towards increasing efforts towards mitigation and adaptation. The national action plans in response to the Paris Agreement must reflect this urgency, he said. Financing is another issue that needs greater attention, Violetti underlined, as well as considering climate action as part of the broader sustainable development agenda. “The role of parliamentarians is one of the critical ones,” he said.

In the discussion, OSCE PA members raised questions about how to best prioritize the work of parliaments and governments, as well as promoting understanding of the most effective way forward to de-carbonize societies. Parliamentarians highlighted work that is being done in their countries while underscoring the need for other countries to also live up to their responsibilities.

Other topics raised by participants included how to fully involve the youth in decision-making on environmental issues, considering that young people will be those most affected by climate change, as well as how to ensure that the Arctic region remains a space free of geopolitical conflict and aggressive economic competition.

Elona Gjebrea Hoxha (Albania), Rapporteur of the PA’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, noted that political collaboration is needed to address the climate crisis, which she pointed out exacerbates the security threat in multiple dimensions. She also noted that while the drastic effects of climate change are being experienced worldwide, there are also concerns about general air quality that must be prioritized. It is the role of parliaments to promote sustainable development, she said, and parliamentarians have a crucial role to play in enhancing commitments from governments.

Moderated by the OSCE PA International Secretariat, the Parliamentary Web Dialogue was aimed to enhance the knowledge on climate change and its impact on people’s lives, and thus better understand how to work towards addressing global warming as a full-fledged human security threat.

Watch the full webinar here.

Photos of the event are available on Flickr. 

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded no ceasefire violations in either Donetsk or Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded four ceasefire violations in Donetsk and none in Luhansk region.
• The SMM followed up on reports of a man injured by an explosive object while working in a field in Metalist, Luhansk region.
• The Mission saw that the power supply to its camera system in Berezove, Donetsk region was disconnected.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people inside the latter two areas.
• The Mission 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 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at an entry-exit checkpoint and the corresponding checkpoint of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM monitored a peaceful public gathering in Kyiv in relation to a recent decision made in the Trilateral Contact Group.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Korsun and Kreminets, Donetsk region.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

At 10:20 on 15 September, during a scheduled maintenance of its camera system located near Berezove (government-controlled, 31km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw that the power cable located in the meter box that provided the camera with electricity was disconnected and that the system was operating on a backup power supply.

The Mission saw that the camera system did not have any damage and was operational but two power wires had been unscrewed from the main fuse. The Mission reconnected the power supply and re-sealed the meter box.

The power meter box of the camera system is located about 200m south-west of a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Berezove, while the camera system is located about 1.7km north-east of Berezove and about 1.7km south-west of another checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The camera system consists of both daylight and thermal cameras, covering the areas south-east and north-east from its location and can register ceasefire violations and other relevant observations on both sides of the contact line.

SARAJEVO, 16 September 2020 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) presented today in Sarajevo the report by Judge Joanna Korner on war crimes processing at the state level in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The report examines the implementation of the recommendations provided in Judge Korner’s earlier 2016 report and presents a number of new recommendations aimed to further support judicial institutions in improving the processing of war crimes.

Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, highlighted that although by the end of 2019, the BiH judiciary had made progress in tackling the backlog of war crimes cases, having completed over 570 proceedings involving more than 870 defendants, the current report clearly shows that there continues to be significant room for improvement in the functioning of the BiH Prosecutor’s Office.

“As the Mission has stated before, to reduce the backlog, there is an urgent need to ensure that less complex cases are transferred to the entity level without further delay. Only this would allow the BiH Prosecutor’s Office to focus its resources, in a timely manner, on the most complex cases involving the highest level perpetrators,” stated Kavalec.

Matt Field, British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina said: “25 years since the end of the war, there are still over 600 unresolved cases involving over 4,500 suspects. With the passage of time, these cases are getting steadily harder to solve. Progress is slowing. In the meantime, victims and their families wait for justice. I’m confident that Judge Korner’s practical recommendations will enable legal professionals to do their job better, and contribute to BiH finalizing the completion of its war crimes cases.”

Judge Korner stated: “As may be seen from the report, the analysis which I carried out mandates the taking of urgent remedial action in many areas, in order for there to be the slightest prospect of achieving the 2023 deadline for the completion of war crimes cases. The most pressing of those actions is the adoption of the revised National War Crimes Processing Strategy.”

This report was produced within the project Strengthening Rule of Law by Improving War Crimes Processing in Bosnia and Herzegovina financed by the Government of the United Kingdom, originated as a follow-up to the findings and recommendations in the first report by Judge Korner from 2016.

Kunduz Rysbek Chyngyz Zhanybekov

An OSCE-supported 6-day intensive workshop on the “Activities of state bodies during state of emergencies and emergency situations: interaction and problems. The role of women employees during emergencies", concluded today, 16 September, in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan.

The Kyrgyz Association of Women in the Security Sector, Law Enforcement and Rule of Law (KAWSS), supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, organized the workshop.

The workshop brought together participants from the Kyrgyzstan’s General Staff of the Armed Forces, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Education and Science, State Border Service and State Defence Committee.

During the months of April and May, due to the state of emergency declared because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyrgyzstan introduced lock-down measures. With the possible emergence of a second wave, it was important to analyse the lessons learnt from the past months and to develop recommendations for the future.

Participants shared experiences, discussed the effectiveness of interagency co-ordination efforts during emergencies, developed recommendations for improving interagency co-operation during emergencies and analysed the role of women in the provision of those activities.

Aidarkul Kaana, Chairperson of KAWSS, said that: “Women make up the majority of health and social workers who continue to work at the forefront of the COVID-19 response. Consequently, in any emergency situation or in a state of emergency, participation of women-professionals in co-ordination groups will facilitate a quick and effective recovery.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded four ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded none in Donetsk region and seven in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people inside the latter two areas.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM visited two border crossing points in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including at entry-exit checkpoints and corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at border crossing points outside government control near Izvaryne and Sievernyi, Luhansk region, and at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka, Donetsk region.*

VIENNA, 15 September 2020 – We need to strengthen partnerships between governments, civil society and the private sector in efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism (VERLT), participants of the 2020 OSCE Chairmanship Counter-Terrorism Conference concluded at the end of the two-day meeting in Vienna today.

This year’s annual OSCE-wide Counter-Terrorism Conference, organized by Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chairmanship with the support of the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, brought together more than 500 participants from across the OSCE area.

High-level representatives and experts from governments, state agencies, the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations, representatives from the public and private sector, and civil society, including women’s rights organizations, and academia joined two days of dialogue and mutual learning. Together they shared their good practices and lessons learned and explored ways to strengthen effective partnerships in the fight against terrorism.

In his opening address on the first day of the conference, Albania’s Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj said that preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism is a bigger team effort: “Advancing public-private partnership, international co-operation and solidarity is key.”

“Community, religious and civil society partners are better plugged in at a grassroots level than we are,” said Cakaj. “We must recognize that the private sector has capabilities and resources, be they technological or physical, that can amplify our efforts and deliver our strategies. That academia and think tanks have additional expertise and insight to spot trends. As governments, our fight against terrorism will be that much stronger with such effective partnerships.”

“Terrorism will never win,” he added. “Our governments and societies will never yield in the face of such attacks. Instead, it just strengthens our resolve to prevent and counter this hateful phenomenon.”

Also speaking on the first day, Vladimir Voronkov, UN Under-Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, noted: “Defeating terrorism will not be possible through government or international organizations efforts alone. We need an inclusive whole-of-society approach. Public-private partnerships, particularly with technology companies, are essential to address the misuse of information and communication technologies by terrorists.”

He was followed by UN Special Rapporteur on the Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, who, in a keynote address said: “We must look beyond the symptoms of terrorism”. Stressing the importance of addressing the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, she said it is crucial “to ensure that all of our efforts are firmly rooted in human rights-based approaches and mutual trust”.

In her closing remarks today, Tuula Yrjölä, OSCE Officer-in-Charge/Secretary General, Director of Conflict Prevention Centre summarized the Conference’s key outcomes, noting that “Only through co-operation and co-ordination at all levels – nationally, regionally and internationally – can we address the multifaceted threat of terrorism and violent extremism in an effective and human-rights compliant manner.”

Over the course of the two days, the conference explored international and regional co-operation on counter-terrorism matters; multi-agency co-ordination at the national level to address terrorism and violent extremism; and the importance and added value of effective partnerships with a broad spectrum of stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism.

Seven side events organized by OSCE participating States, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), and partner organizations such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and civil society organizations from different regions across the OSCE area were held.

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was organized in a blended format, with participants and speakers attending in person as well as online.

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 increased 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. In the framework of its vehicle replacement process with the OSCE SMM, on 14 September three new vehicles were delivered to the Mission’s Office in Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy.

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 increased from 9,544 to 10,017 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[2].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of 74 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 eight, compared to ten last week. Six persons crossed into the Russian Federation while another two 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 while another three families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when six families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation, while another two families crossed 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 decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (328 compared to 353 observed during the previous week). There were 167 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 161 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. Among the bus connections observed by the OT, the following irregular route of destination was noted: Luhansk – Sevastopol.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (957 compared to 842 during the previous reporting week); 498 at the Gukovo BCP and 459 at the Donetsk BCP, 537 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 420 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, Poland, Ukraine 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 slight decrease in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (45 compared to 54 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.

During the reporting period, the X-ray vehicle at the Donetsk BCP was not operating due to the ongoing construction activities; consequently, no X-ray checks were observed by the OTs.

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 an increase in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (161 compared to 128 observed during the previous week); 78 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 83 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 24  occasions; the OTs assessed that 12 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 12 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 cars with licence plates registered in Georgia.

On 8 September at 15:05, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a group of 17 brand-new ambulance vehicles type UAZ, with no licence plates, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and queuing at the customs control area. All vehicles underwent customs control procedures and left for Ukraine at 17:20.

On 9 September at 20:28, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a police minivan with Russian Federation licence plates and two police officers inside, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. At 20:35, the police vehicle drove back to the Russian Federation.

On 14 September at 13:31, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance with Russian Federation licence plates, entering the BCP from the Russian Federation and parking next to the main building. The OT noticed three individuals on board – the driver and two medical personnel. At 13:56, the ambulance drove back to the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 11 August to 15 September 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).

WARSAW, 15 September 2020 – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put democracies to their biggest test in decades, people are increasingly appreciating the vital importance of participating in societies where their voices and concerns are heard, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on today’s International Day of Democracy.

Citizens across the OSCE region are calling for access to democratic participation: through genuine elections and access to the decision-making process, through respect for their rights and freedoms, and through their government’s accordance with the rule of law, which includes the checks and balances on which all true democracies are based.

The emergency measures put in place by many countries in response to the pandemic have had a significant impact on parliaments, courts and elections, as well as the ability of civil society organizations to play their essential role as watchdogs of democracy.

While national leaders need to take responsibility for a transparent response to the pandemic that builds more effective, accountable and inclusive democracies, parliaments and political parties need to be innovative in finding ways to engage citizens and in particular young people, to bridge the gap between decision-makers and the general public. Digital technology has already started to enhance the work of national parliaments across the OSCE region, allowing them to make laws effectively and monitor government action, while continuing to safeguard political pluralism. 

At the same time, governments need to take urgent steps to combat the inequalities and discrimination that have intensified during the pandemic.

The negative impact of COVID-19 on women can be seen both from the surge of violence against women across the OSCE region and in the rise in unemployment that has hit female workers particularly hard. Scapegoating and ill-treatment of minorities has increased the need for targeted action to counter hatred in which all officials, from high-ranking politicians through to law enforcement officers, play their role in building tolerant societies. The development of policies and legislation must therefore respect the diversity in all our societies, based on public consultation. A transparent and accountable law-making process supports anti-corruption efforts, reinforces good governance, and provides access to justice for all, in line with a key UN Sustainable Development Goal.

In its recent report on states of emergency and other responses to the pandemic taken by countries across the OSCE region, ODIHR acknowledged the challenges of protecting the health and safety of the population while ensuring that democratic institutions can continue working. As well as including good practices across the region, the report contains recommendations to help countries as they face a resurgent virus at the same time as the need to ensure that all democratic checks and balances are restored.