Central Europe

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 29 and 30 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• Between the evenings of 30 and 31 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle spotted recent impact craters caused by shelling in non-government-controlled Ozerianivka, Donetsk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas: it recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske and observed persons near former positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued following up on measures taken amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Members of the armed formations continued to restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement, including at a checkpoint in Horlivka and near two border crossing points in Luhansk region.*

VIENNA, 1 June 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding the wave of violence against journalists covering protests across the United States of America in recent days.

“I am deeply concerned by the number of incidents and attacks by police and demonstrators against journalists covering protests in the United States over the past few days,” said Representative Désir. “Many of these incidents involved arrests and the use of force by police, including rubber bullets, pepper bullets, tear gas and pepper spray, as well as acts of violence by protesters. I call on the authorities to exercise restraint and to ensure that journalists can work safely while reporting on public protests. The role of a free press must be safeguarded at all times and journalists must be free to report without facing violence, arrest or intimidation.”

Protests erupted in Minneapolis on 25 May, following the killing of a black man, George Floyd, and have since spread across the country.

According to media reports, over the past few days, several journalists, who identified themselves as members of the press by wearing armbands, press cards or vests, were injured by police firing rubber bullets, pepper bullets, and tear gas. These included Reuters camera operator Julio-Cesar Chavez and his security advisor (Minneapolis); photographer Hyoung Chang and journalist Elise Schmelzer, both from the Denver Post (Colorado); photojournalist Jan Czernik of Denver 7 News, who also had his camera broken (Denver); reporter Kaitlin Rust and photojournalist James Dobson of WAVE3 News (Louisville); freelance journalist Linda Tirado, who was left permanently blind in one eye (Minneapolis); and Swedish Expressen journalist Nina Svanberg, and Norwegian photographer Thomas Nilsson of Verdens Gang (Minneapolis). Police also fired pepper spray against other journalists, including Molly Hennessy-Fiske, a Los Angeles Times journalist (Minneapolis); Michael Adams, a VICE News journalist (New York City); and RIA Novosti correspondent Mikhail Turgiev (Minneapolis).

Alongside this, police also reportedly arrested or detained several journalists. These included Review-journal photographer Ellen Schmidt, and Bridget Bennett, a freelance journalist on assignment for AFP (Los Angeles); photographer Tom Aviles of WCCO, a local CBS station (Minneapolis); Huffington Post reporter Chris Mathias (New York City); Adam Gray, a New York-based British photojournalist for SWNS (New York City); Amandine Atalaya and Mathieu Derrien from French TV TF1 (Minneapolis); and Tim Arvier and his crew from Nine News Australia (Minneapolis).

A number of incidents involving attacks by protesters against journalists were also recorded. Paul Ahmann of WLKY was knocked over and beaten by protesters, suffering a concussion and having to be taken to hospital (Louisville); Leland Vitter and his crew from Fox News were attacked and chased by protesters (Washington, D.C.); Ian Smith, a photojournalist for KDA TV, was beaten by protesters and had his equipment destroyed (Pittsburgh); and Briana Whitney of CBS was harassed by a protester who pushed her and attempted to grab her microphone (Phoenix).

In addition, several TV crews had their equipment or vehicles damaged. According to reports, protesters threw rocks at a WSB-TV news van (Atlanta), while two vehicles belonging to WLKY News and one belonging to WAVE3 News were also vandalized (Louisville).  

The Representative recalled his Office’s “Special Report on Handling of the Media during Political Demonstrations: Observations and Recommendations”, which states that “law-enforcement officials have a constitutional responsibility not to prevent or obstruct the work of journalists during public demonstrations, and journalists have a right to expect fair and restrained treatment by the police.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

453450 Andrii Dziubenko

A vast majority of Ukrainian civil and administrative court cases concerning the interests of a minor are being examined without involving the minor in question. This is one of the key findings of monitoring and research conducted by civil society on the initiative of Ukraine’s Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. The research was supported by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The report, available in Ukrainian, was presented at an online event on 1 June 2020, the International Day for the Protection of Children. The event brought together more than 200 judges, representatives of state authorities, civil society and human rights activists, and other justice sector stakeholders. The event was also streamed live for the general audience (streaming available here).

The monitoring was conducted in autumn 2019 and covered court hearings and meetings of the guardianship authorities in the regions of Kyiv, Lviv, Sumy, Lugansk, Zakarpattya, Khmelnytsk and Chernivtsi as well as the city of Kyiv. The monitoring was complemented by analysis of official court statistics related to non-criminal cases as well as a review of court judgments in civil and administrative cases related to the rights and interests of the child. Additionally, interviews with judges, advocates, jurors and guardianship authorities’ representatives were also conducted.

Of the 109 hearings monitored, children were personally present in a courtroom in only 5% of the cases. In only 14% of the cases, they attended respective sessions of the guardianship authorities. For only 34% of the cases, the monitors recorded information that the child’s opinion was asked by the guardianship authorities, and in 12% of the cases – by courts. The analysis of the court decisions found evidence that the child personally expressed his/her opinion in the court hearing only in 10% of the examined court judgements. Half of the respondents of stakeholder interviews acknowledged that the child’s opinion does not have due weight and a decisive effect, although recognizing that it is important and deserves consideration.

“The judicial system should be adapted to the needs and vulnerability of children; child’s right to be heard should be respected at every stage of the court proceedings. We hope that this report will be useful for all professionals in making the justice system more child-friendly,” said Henrik Villadsen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

To enable the analysis, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine helped to adapt the OSCE ODIHR methodologies on trial monitoring for the local context, trained monitors to use it and provided funding for this research.

“The presented research is the first comprehensive analytical document in Ukraine, which covers issues of implementation of the right of children to have their best interests as a primary consideration in all matters involving or affecting them in non-criminal cases. The obtained results provide good reasoning for the improvement of state policy in this field,” said Lyudmyla Denisova, Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.

The report also provides recommendations to address the identified issues by codifying legislation on children’s rights and producing a law on child-friendly justice; developing training programmes for judges, lawyers, custody and guardianship authorities’ representatives on child-friendly justice standards, as well as ensuring court buildings and courtrooms are designed with due considerations for needs of visitors with children.

The presentation was organized as part of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine project “Supporting Civil Society Trial Monitoring” in co-operation with Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the NGOs “Centre for Policy and Legal Reform” and “Human Rights Vector”.

Željka Šulc

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), as part of its wider initiative to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in its pandemic response, on 1 June 2020 in Bihac, provided IT equipment for the Una Sana Canton Ministry of Education.

The Ministry was given laptops, tablets and PCs to be distributed to students.

Christopher Blair, Head of the OSCE Field Office Drvar, praised the endeavours of the Ministry of Education to provide all the necessary conditions for all students in the Una Sana Canton to have access to online education.  

“Unfortunately, certain students cannot follow distance learning due to the lack of technical equipment,” said Blair. “This donation will allow the students regular access to audio and video applications teachers use in online education thus equipping them with the adequate tools to conclude the school year and accomplish their education goals.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Explosion occurred close to SMM patrol near Molodizhne, Luhansk region
• The SMM saw damage from small-arms fire to a residential house in Avdiivka, Donetsk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at a checkpoint along official crossing routes in Luhansk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas. Inside the disengagement area near Petrivske, it recorded ceasefire violations and during evening hours observed persons near former positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and of the armed formations.
• The Mission continued following up on measures taken amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM facilitated vegetation clearance near Vilkhove and electrical repairs near Orikhove, both in Luhansk region.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On 29 May, an SMM patrol comprising five members and two vehicles was positioned at a checkpoint of the armed formations about 1.7km south-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km west of Luhansk). A patrol member was outside his vehicle, interacting with the members of the armed formations in order to move across the checkpoint, which was blocked by an improvised barrier.

At about 13:37, the patrol members heard an undetermined explosion at an assessed distance of 100m south-south-west, and the patrol member outside the vehicle felt a shockwave while members of the armed formations near the checkpoint took cover. The patrol was unable to assess the weapon used and the direction of fire.

A member of the armed formations removed the barrier, and the SMM immediately left the area and returned safely to its base in non-government-controlled Luhansk city.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

From 23 to 29 May, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas along official crossing routes: five times in Donetsk region and four times in Luhansk region, while further attempts to cross into government-controlled areas were also denied, once in Donetsk region and three times in Luhansk region.

On 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 May, at a checkpoint south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage towards non-government-controlled areas on four occasions, and passage towards government-controlled areas on three other occasions, referring to the closure of the checkpoint due to COVID-19.

On 23 and 27 May, at a checkpoint 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage towards non-government-controlled areas, referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

On 24 and 28 May, at a checkpoint near Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage towards non-government-controlled areas, referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

On 25 May, at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), members of the armed formations again denied the SMM passage towards government-controlled areas on one occasion, stating that the SMM did not have permission to pass, and again denied passage towards non-government-controlled areas on another occasion, referring to quarantine restrictions due to COVID-19.

The Mission began facing repeated denials when attempting to cross into non-government-controlled areas at checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk region on 21 March and Luhansk region on 23 March (see previous SMM Spot Reports). They restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, thus impeding the implementation of its mandate throughout the country.

***

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.

Preparations for the first ever Albanian anti-trafficking simulation-based training started at an online meeting on 29 May 2020. The OSCE Presence in Albania and the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking presented Albania’s group of experts that will design the specific training for Albania with the methodology of this flagship OSCE approach to capacity-building in this field.

The training will consist of realistic, practical and cross-dimensional simulation exercises that will enhance anti-trafficking officials’ ability to identify victims, investigate suspected trafficking cases and prosecute exploiters and perpetrators.

“Albania continues to confront numerous challenges in addressing human trafficking, in particular in regard to victims’ identification, the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators. Through this training, Albania is the first country in the region that will be able to undertake a pioneering and groundbreaking approach towards capacity-building in tackling trafficking in human beings,” said Bernd Borchardt, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania.

Rovena Voda, Albania’s Deputy Minister of Interior and National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinator, said that during the 2020 OSCE Chairmanship, Albania has committed that it will strengthen the fight against trafficking in human beings, a challenge felt throughout the OSCE are. “Building upon existing instruments, such as this simulation training developed by the OSCE Office of the Special Anti-Trafficking Coordinator’s Office, the Albanian Chairmanship will support the development practices to prevent and combat human trafficking,” said Voda.

The group of experts,  comprising a wide range of professionals, from law enforcement agencies, the State Labour Inspectorate, the State Agency for Child Protection, Tirana University and civil society organizations, will work together over the next months to develop a training in which Albania’s anti-trafficking practitioners will work in teams to investigate simulated cases of labour and sexual exploitation among migrants, including child victims of trafficking.

“Simulation-based trainings provide a unique opportunity to participants to practice and master their skills in a safe learning environment and to receive immediate feedback from other professionals,” said Val Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. Over the course of eight simulation-based courses held since 2016, his Office has trained 529 practitioners from over 54 participating States, seven Partners for Co-operation and six countries from Central and Western Africa.

The training is part of the OSCE Presence’s project ‘Action against Human Trafficking in Albania’, which is funded by UNICEF with the support of the United Kingdom.

At the imminent opening of Albania’s borders, the OSCE Presence, on 28 May 2020 in Tirana, donated personal protection equipment against COVID-19, worth 20,000 euro, to Albania’s Border Police.

General Director of the State Police, Ardi Veliu, considered the donation as very necessary. “I thank you for this donation and for the support and assistance that the OSCE has continuously given to the State Police and specifically to the Border Police. With the opening of borders, the Border Police will be faced with new challenges regarding physical distancing and contact with citizens, therefore we need to be prepared and fully-equipped,” he said.

The personal protection equipment that the Presence donated to the Border Police include infra-red thermometers, plastic face shields, carbon face masks, disinfectants, and full protection body suits. They will be distributed to all border-crossing points in Albania, including ports and the international airport.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Presence also visited Albania’s main border crossing points to assess the overall situation, as well as measures taken in light of the pandemic.

The Presence has a long-standing co-operation with Albania’s Border and Migration Police, and works with them to establish joint protocols, and police co-operation centres. It also offers capacity-building for a better control of Albania’s borders against criminal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, irregular migration, and foreign terrorists fighters.

VIENNA, 29 May 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today about Tajikistan’s Supreme Court ruling to block access to the Akhbor.com news site in the country on the grounds of providing a platform to “terrorist and extremist organizations”.

“ I am concerned by the restriction of access to the Akhbor news site  from the territory of Tajikistan,” Désir said. “ The ongoing blocking of an online news resource is a severe restriction on the freedom of expression, which goes far beyond the request to take down specific content. I recall the importance of taking into account the principle of proportionality in any decision affecting media freedom.”

The Supreme Court blocked access to Akhbor.com in Tajikistan starting 19 March. Human rights advocates reported that the Akhbor site, based in Prague, the Czech Republic, had been blocked for at least two years. The Court argued that the site provided access to the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, the National Alliance of Tajikistan and others, which are considered extremist and terrorist organizations in the country.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and at www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The Mission continued following up on measures taken amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM facilitated vegetation clearance near Vilkhove, electrical repairs near Dovhe and repairs to water pipelines in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, all in Luhansk region.

Željka Šulc

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), as part of its wider initiative to support Bosnia and Herzegovina in its pandemic response, on 29 May 2020 in Livno, provided IT equipment for the Ministry of Education Canton 10.

Canton 10 Ministry of Education was given laptops, tablets and PCs to be distributed to students.

Christopher Blair, Head of the OSCE Field Office Drvar, complimented the efforts of the Ministry of Education to provide all the necessary conditions for all students in Canton 10 to have access to online education.  

“Unfortunately, certain students cannot follow distance learning due to the lack of technical equipment,” said Blair. “This donation gives an excellent opportunity to provide the students with the adequate tools to finalize the school year and achieve their results.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas; it observed persons inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske during evening hours.
• The SMM saw weapons beyond withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites on both sides of the contact line in Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued following up on measures taken amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM facilitated vegetation clearance near Vilkhove, electrical repairs near Dovhe, and demining activities near Trokhizbenka, all in Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

.pane-smm-report-download-links {display: none;} Download the full report (PDF) See the table of ceasefire violations See the map of SMM settlements

453297 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

Officials from Turkmenistan’s institutions and representatives of non-governmental entities, involved in the Eurasian Group on combatting money laundering and financing of terrorism (EAG) Mutual Evaluation process are participating in OSCE-organized online consultations from 27 to 30 May 2020 in Ashgabat.

Representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Financial Monitoring Department (FIU), the Central bank, financial and non-financial institutions, the State Statistics Committee, law-enforcement and military bodies, as well as other relevant institutions and non-government organizations are attending the event.

The online consultations were organized in close co-operation with the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan within the framework of the OSCE Centre’s project on “Strengthening Adherence to Good Governance Principles”.

The Centre organized consultations to provide support as part of national preparations to undergo the Mutual Evaluation of EAG that is planned in September 2020. An international expert from Belarus facilitated the event. 

“The OSCE’s strategic document mandated the Organization to implement activities in the AML/CFT area, including providing support in enhancing national legislation and mechanisms of its implementation in line with international standards,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in her opening speech.

“The consultations are part of the Centre’s consistent work aimed at providing assistance to the government of Turkmenistan to implement international commitments in the area of anti-corruption and AML/CFT and we are committed to continuing our partnership,” Drozd said.

KYIV, 28 May 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its working groups through video-conferencing:

“The security situation in the conflict zone in the east of Ukraine remains tense. Last week, the number of ceasefire violations rose by half compared to the previous one.

The number of civilian casualties has likewise increased. According to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, five children were injured in May, that is, more than in the first four months of this year altogether. It is unacceptable.

The extraordinary TCG meeting at the end of last week enabled to grant the necessary conditions for secure repair works on the high-voltage power line in the vicinity of Berezivske in the Luhansk region.

I urge the signatories of the Minsk Agreements to take further actions to lower tension. This issue was in the centre of the TCG discussions. Besides, the Security Working Group considered issues related to the identification of additional disengagement areas of forces and hardware as well the preparation and implementation of the updated demining plan.

The Political Working Group discussed aspects of the special status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula’ in Ukrainian legislation.

The Humanitarian Working Group focused on further mutual release and exchange of conflict-related detainees.

The participants also discussed the issue of providing the necessary security guarantees for the construction works in view of the simultaneous opening of additional entry-exit crossing points on the line of contact in the Luhansk region.

The Economic Working Group addressed issues of water supplies, pension payments and the resumption of socio-economic ties across the line of contact.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at a checkpoint along an official crossing route in Luhansk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas and spotted persons inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued following up on measures taken amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM facilitated demining activities near Trokhizbenka, Luhansk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a border crossing point and a railway station near non-government-controlled Voznesenivka, Luhansk region.*

453231 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An OSCE-organized online training on border crossing facilitation for transit goods carried by rail and road, opened in Ashgabat on 27 May 2020. The training is organized within the framework of the Centre’s extra-budgetary project on “Strengthening State Border Service Capacities in Turkmenistan”, which places a particular focus on promoting cross-border trade and transit in the Central Asian region.

The purpose of the online training was to introduce participants to security, public health, technical, economic and environmental aspects of rail and road border crossing of transit goods as well as computerization and digitalization of transport infrastructures. As trade facilitation requires an interdisciplinary approach, the training brought together representatives of four government agencies: State Border, Customs and Migration Services of Turkmenistan as well as the Transport Police of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

During the opening session, Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat said: “Turkmenistan is investing continuous efforts in establishing new large-scale regional infrastructure frameworks to be better connected to their neighbours, and to boost co-operation with many more countries through various regional platforms.”

She also noted that in the digital age, as transportation of goods across borders involves sending, transit and receiving countries, it is important that software systems used by relevant border and customs agencies are compatible and make it easy to facilitate transit of goods. “We organized this event in an effort to support the host country’s initiatives on the development of international multimodal transit corridors and on sustainable transport, as reflected in United Nations General Assembly resolutions on the role of transport and transit corridors in ensuring international co-operation for sustainable development”.”

An international expert from the Russian Federation and representatives from the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia, International Trade Centre, the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, International Road Transport Union and World Customs Organization covered a wide range of topics on border crossing facilitation for transit goods.

Experts stressed the importance of developing technologies and real-time information sharing for the efficient harmonization of border crossing and customs procedures. This would enable smooth movement of transit goods across borders. 

The training was organized with the financial support of the Governments of Germany and Norway.

VIENNA, 27 May 2020 – Some 80 participants representing a wide variety of sectors and stakeholders from the OSCE participating States in South-Eastern Europe convened today in an online webinar to discuss  climate change and security in the region.

This introductory meeting, organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in partnership with the Berlin-based think tank adelphi, kicks off a regional consultation process on climate change and security.

Naser Nuredini, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia, underlined in his opening remarks that the COVID 19 crisis has shown the importance of regional co-operation in order to overcome the difficult challenges arising from a pandemic.

“Climate change will be a significant security risk for the region and we must work together to overcome these risks,” said Nuredini. “Finding long-term solutions to climate change will help us all comply with the requirements on the path to the EU. Working together on this issue will prove pivotal for the integration with the EU.”

Vuk Žugić, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, drew attention to some similarities between the COVID 19 pandemic and climate change. Both, he said, are global and do not recognize borders. Both could have implications for security and stability, and both require a co-operative response.

“Possibly, a major difference between the current pandemic and climate change is the pace at which they develop: COVID 19 has hit the world suddenly, whereas climate change has been happening gradually,” he said. “With today’s initiative, the OSCE aims to create new avenues for transboundary and regional co-operation in South-Eastern Europe. This will be our contribution to broader efforts for a transition to greener and climate-resilient economies and societies in the region.”

Lukas Rüttinger, Senior Project Manager at adelphi, highlighted the linkages between climate change and security and their relevance for South-Eastern Europe. “Climate change acts as a risk multiplier, exacerbating other challenges. Because the region has so many shared, transboundary natural resources like rivers and forests, it is important to strengthen co-operation around climate change and security,” he said.

Today’s introductory session will be followed by interactive events in smaller groups and online surveys with the stakeholders from South-Eastern Europe in the weeks to come.

The consultations take place within the framework of the OSCE project “Strengthening Responses to Security Risks from Climate Change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia”.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Members of the armed formations continued to deny the Mission passage at checkpoints along official crossing routes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.*
• The Mission continued monitoring all three disengagement areas. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske and spotted persons inside the disengagement areas near Petrivske and Zolote.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued following up on measures taken amid the COVID-19 outbreak, including at entry-exit checkpoints and their corresponding checkpoints in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• In Dnipro, the SMM monitored a peaceful gathering during which participants were expressing messages critical of the Government.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in Sofiivka.*

VIENNA, 26 May 2020 –The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges that demand greater efforts from governments in order to build inclusive societies in the coming months and years, concluded OSCE participants at a meeting today on addressing the many dimensions of intolerance and discrimination.

“Concerns related to tolerance and non-discrimination are of legitimate concern to us all,” said Ambassador Igli Hasani, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council. “Intolerance and discrimination are never blind. The pandemic has made it crystal clear that we cannot be indifferent to how women and men, youth, vulnerable groups and others are targeted and affected differently if we are to ensure that they all enjoy the same rights.”

Held online for the first time, more than 230 representatives of participating States, intergovernmental organizations, marginalized communities and civil society from across the OSCE region registered to discuss challenges and opportunities to strengthen tolerance during the pandemic and in the future. Participants discussed the importance of inclusive policies and coalition building in strengthening diverse and multi-ethnic societies, as well as the need for early action to prevent intolerance from escalating into open conflict.

“Governments are having to make difficult decisions at the moment in order to safeguard our health while ensuring that our rights and freedoms are respected,” said ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir. “As many parts of our lives have moved online, so too has intolerance and discrimination. Political leaders need to think creatively about how to counter cyberhate and other forms of intolerance so that our societies come out of the health emergency stronger and more united.”

Minorities have found themselves scapegoated in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, with people of Asian backgrounds and other marginalized groups, including Roma and Sinti, refugees, and migrants, facing a surge in discrimination and hate-motivated attacks.

“With challenges come opportunities, and those in power must lead the way by forging new and positive narratives of an inclusive society,” said Dr. Regina Polak, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions. “Through dialogue, education, and civil society co-operation, State authorities have an unparalleled opportunity to promote understanding of and respect for different cultures, ethnicities, religions or beliefs.”

Diverse and inclusive societies have a greater ability to learn from different ideas and traditions, and at the same time are more resilient during periods of crisis. Tools and resources to help countries strengthen democracy and build more inclusive societies can be found here.

Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings are a platform for the OSCE’s participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices in order to find common solutions for the challenges facing societies across the OSCE region.