Central Europe

440342 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

An OSCE-supported three-day training course on countering transnational crime and identification of potential foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) concluded on 28 November 2019 in Aktau, Kazakhstan.

The training course was jointly organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Programme of the United States Embassy in Kazakhstan, and the Border Service of the Committee for National Security of Kazakhstan, with the support from the Border Security and Management Unit of OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (OSCE/BSMU).

International experts from Georgia, INTERPOL, OSCE BSMU, and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization delivered presentations for twenty-five first- and second-line border security officers of the Border Guard Service. The focus was on international, regional and national legal frameworks, the effective use of Interpol databases, and document security. The participants discussed the importance of applying risk analysis models to identify potential foreign terrorist fighters at the borders. They also discussed how to identify trends and current cases. The participants engaged in practical exercises to detect forged documents and impostors as well as in interactive exercises to understand behavioral indicators of foreign terrorist fighters.

The event is a part of the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan’s long-term efforts to support the host country’s activities aimed at building its agencies’ capacities to counter violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism.

MINSK, 27 November 2019 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG ‎and its working groups in Minsk on 27 November 2019:

“Today, the Trilateral Contact Group and its Working Groups convened for the second last time before the end of this year. I would like to remark that recent developments inspire a certain optimism.

As is known, on November 20, 2019, the pedestrian bridge in Stanytsia Luhanska was opened after the completion of the construction and repair works, in the presence of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is a great relief for the civilian population, whose an average 11 thousand people cross every day the entry-exit checkpoint of Stanytsia Luhanska. Here, I would like to express my special gratitude to Leonid Danilovich Kuchma for his tremendous personal efforts in resolving this issue.

Earlier this week, in fulfillment of the commitments taken, the sides notified the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission of the completion of the withdrawal of forces and hardware in the area of Zolote.

In the third disengagement area of Petrivske, the dismantling of fortifications is underway.

Yet, I regret to say that the number of ceasefire violations remains fluctuating. According to the data provided the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and discussed today in the Security Working Group, their number has increased again in the recent days, after a relative decline last week.

With this in mind, I call on the sides to do everything necessary to ensure a sustainable ceasefire.

I hope that the meeting of the leaders of the Normandy Four in Paris, scheduled for December 9, 2019, will not be upset by fighting activities in the distant Donbass.

In the run-up to the Summit, I would like to note that, on the part of the TCG and its Working Groups, we have completed all the tasks assigned to us by the Political Advisers of the Normandy Four, and today I look forward to this upcoming meeting with great hope.

Now, some more insight into our today's work.

The Economic Working Group, as in the past meetings, considered current issues of water delivery across the line of contact in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as well as the payment of pensions.

The Humanitarian Working Group focused its discussions on the questions related to an exchange of detainees.

The Political Working Group continued discussing issues related to special status, amnesty and the modalities of local elections."

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• A woman was injured due to gunfire in government-controlled Marinka.
• The SMM saw a trench filled with concrete blocks and soil on the road between Bohdanivka and Viktorivka, north of the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The Mission observed workers from non-government-controlled areas installing railings on the metal part of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge.
• The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Zolote disengagement area.
• It monitored adherence to a localized ceasefire to facilitate repairs to critical civilian infrastructure, including to communication equipment in Obozne, water pipelines between Novoluhanske and Kurdiumivka and drilling of wells near Pankivka.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including in non-government-controlled Novoazovsk and Siedove in southern Donetsk region.

440237 Anna Vorobeva OSCE Mission to Moldova

The OSCE’s Mission to Moldova organized a two-day training course on access to healthcare by minority groups on 22 November 2019 in Chisinau. More than 25 representatives of the Agency for Interethnic Relations, the Ombudsman’s office and the Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality completed the course. The course is part of an effort to establish a coalition of public agencies implementing the National Strategy for Consolidation of Interethnic Relations.

Professor Frederick John Packer, Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa, guided the participants in a discussion on core concepts and key elements of the right to healthcare. The workshop also helped participants look at health issues from a human-rights perspective and take into account the impact of different healthcare services on minority groups. The 2018 Ombudsperson’s Report on Human Right Protection in Moldova recommended reviewing state healthcare policies through a human rights-based approach to better respond to the people’s needs.

Over the past two years, the Mission has been working with the three human rights agencies to improve their co-operation and capacity in promoting and protecting the rights of national minorities in Moldova. Earlier workshops organized by the Mission highlighted the importance of inclusion and participation of minorities in public life through their representation on consultative and decision-making bodies. The Mission also supported drafting a road map on public communication and visibility for the Agency for Interethnic Relations, a major driving force for the implementation of the Strategy.

Respect for the rights of national minorities in a society promotes tolerance and inclusivity, which are important enabling factors for the Transdniestrian settlement process.

Periodic Report 2017-2019

The Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE, based in Geneva, published its activity report for the period 2017–2019 on 27 November 2019, following the completion of the mandate of the outgoing Bureau of the Court, headed by Professor Christian Tomuschat, last month.

The report is an overview of the Court’s outreach activities, which highlighted conciliation as a straightforward and flexible procedure for the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Court’s institutional and financial matters during this period are also covered.

Furthermore, the outgoing Bureau members also provide their general observations and summarize their experiences from a broader perspective. They elaborate their hopes that the Court as an independent and impartial body for the settlement of disputes will convince its States parties and OSCE participating States that the Court can offer valuable services in the common interest for peace, security and human rights in Europe.

The Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE provides a set of mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. The Court was established by the Convention of Stockholm, which entered into force on 5 December 1994. To date, 34 States have ratified the Convention.

440360 Andrii Dziubenko

KYIV, 27 November 2019 – On 25 November the OSCE launched an awareness-raising campaign entitled “End the Silence” that is taking place during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. Today, as part of the campaign, the Gender Section of the OSCE Secretariat and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine organized the conference “Gender Based Violence: From Data to Action” where the results of the 2018 OSCE-led Survey on the Well-being and Safety of Women in Ukraine were presented.

More than 15,000 women were interviewed in seven OSCE participating States: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine. The research was also conducted in Kosovo. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about gender-based violence, in particular the issue of violence against women and girls. It can be followed on the OSCE’s Twitter https://twitter.com/OSCE and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/osce.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/OSCE.Ukraine.Project accounts as well as on the OSCE's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/osceorg. In December, the OSCE will deliver posters to police stations across the country to raise awareness of violence against women and the role of police in combating it.

In Ukraine, 2,048 women were interviewed for the survey. According to the survey, two thirds (67%) of women in Ukraine have experienced psychological, physical or sexual violence since the age of 15.    It showed that violence by a partner is a major factor, with nearly three in ten women (28%) saying that they have experienced physical and/or sexual violence at their partner’s hands. Another key finding was that women whose partners have fought in a conflict are more likely to experience violence by their partner.

“We all can do something to prevent and combat violence against women and girls. In order to make sure that it doesn’t remain a private matter we must all speak up when we see it. We must also encourage men, and in particular young men, to talk about it among their friends and peers starting at school and all the way through further education. In order for women to live without violence, we must support and, more importantly, empower them,” said Serani Siegel, Project Manager in the Gender Section of the OSCE Secretariat.

“To form effective state policy to respond to gender-based violence it’s very Important not only to draw on statistical data, gathered by law enforcers and social services, national hotlines, but also to take into account research data that helps to analyze in-depth reasons of this problem, and trends of its development,” said Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner on Gender Policy

Violence against women is closely related to lack of gender equality, which is itself based on harmful attitudes and stereotypes. In Ukraine, 41% of women think that if a man mistreats his wife, others outside the family should not intervene. Furthermore, women are often not well informed about what to do if they experience violence. Only 17% considered themselves well informed on this issue, while almost half (48%) felt badly informed or didn’t know what to do at all (17%).

“While we work with law enforcement to help them better respond to incidents of violence, awareness-raising efforts are also a priority. Addressing stereotypes, informing people of how victims of violence can get help is the way to promote a culture of zero-tolerance to violence” said Lilia Grudko, Head of the Human Security Programme of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator In Ukraine.   

The Conference provided an opportunity to present recent OSCE awareness-raising efforts, including  an educational project called House of (In)Security, launched this year in co-operation with the online learning platform EdEra. At the Conference, participants from international initiatives and projects, national stakeholders from Ukraine, experts and practitioners joined discussions on the efforts to further work on combating violence against women.

More information about the OSCE-led survey and the results for Ukraine can be found at: https://www.osce.org/VAWsurvey/publications. The survey was produced as part of a project funded by the European Union and supported by the UN Population Fund, UN Women and UNICEF, as well as by the governments of Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, the United States of America and Sweden. 

440381 Women leaders from Belarus and other parts of the OSCE region participated in the Forum in Grodno. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Promoting women’s leadership and political participation at the local level was the focus of a Women’s Forum organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Grodno, Belarus, on 27 November 2019.

The event brought together a wide range of women leaders to exchange good practices from Belarus and beyond concerning women’s political participation, work-life balance and the role of universities in supporting women's leadership.

“Today’s event has shown what amazing women leaders we have at the local level throughout the OSCE region,” said Ajla van Heel, ODIHR’s Acting Chief of the Democratic Governance and Gender Unit. “Many decisions affecting people’s everyday lives are made in local councils, and these women have the power to be changemakers. Supporting and strengthening women’s leadership at the local level will therefore also improve the lives in their communities.”

Participants in the forum’s interactive panel highlighted the obstacles to women’s political participation at the local level, pointing out that some of the largest hurdles women face are societal attitudes and expectations. Women still carry out the majority of domestic duties and face difficulties in combining political activism with other tasks and responsibilities. Women are also often faced with belittling comments and attempts to undermine their expertise as leaders.

“It is important to take joint action, learn from each other and ensure women’s participation in all spheres of life, be it politics, economics or any other,” said van Heel. “Governments need to take their gender equality commitments seriously and work to ensure adequate childcare, work-life balance and equal opportunities for women and men to participate actively in their communities.”

A series of thematic workshops brought forum participants together to seek practical solutions to the challenges identified. Altogether, 90 women from more than 10 OSCE participating States took part, including local leaders, state officials, parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, academics, civil society activists and gender experts.

ODIHR co-organized the forum with the Belarus Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in partnership with the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno, the United Nations Population Fund in Belarus and the Council of Europe. The event was funded by the European Union as part of the ODIHR project Promoting Democratization and Human Rights in Belarus.

YEREVAN, 27 November 2019 - Concluding a visit to Yerevan, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) welcomed sustained efforts to firmly establish democratic institutions and practices in Armenia.

President Tsereteli met on 25-26 November with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, and Members of the Armenian Delegation to the OSCE PA led by Hayk Konjoryan.

Discussions addressed the deep and comprehensive reforms launched by Armenia following a peaceful transition of power in 2018, including efforts to increase political transparency, support greater gender representation in politics, strengthen the rule of law and an independent judiciary, and combating corruption.

“With expectations so high, and reforms so broad, it can be challenging for the pace of change to meet the expectations of society,” said Tsereteli. “Bearing in mind the complexity of implementing such a wide package of reforms, it is also up to the international community to help manage these expectations and offer its expertise to fully support Armenia's democratic transformation.”

The PA President encouraged Armenia to continue working closely with all OSCE institutions, and offered the assistance of the Assembly's Special Representatives and Rapporteurs on relevant issues such as the fight against corruption, engagement with civil society, or combating disinformation.

“The PA strongly values the enthusiasm of Armenian parliamentarians in all our activities. I look forward to strengthening our joint work and warmly welcome the National Assembly's invitation to hold an OSCE PA Annual Session in Armenia in the foreseeable future,” said Tsereteli.

The meetings in Yerevan further offered an opportunity to discuss the status of negotiations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and assess the added value of parliamentary diplomacy in this context. All interlocutors agreed on the need to build mutual confidence in order to foster an environment conducive to greater regional co-operation.

“The work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is often a useful complement to existing OSCE mechanisms, and when it comes to conflict mediation and resolution, I firmly believe that parliamentarians are ideally placed to prepare the grounds for peace,” said President Tsereteli. “While negotiations must carry on through the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the goodwill of OSCE parliamentarians can also be harnessed to push the process forward through carefully crafted activities.”

Underlining the PA's support for the work of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, Tsereteli also stressed that responsibility for concrete progress ultimately lies with the political leadership of the parties involved, and encouraged all sides to renounce inflammatory public statements.

Photos of the visit are available on Flickr.

440333

National anti-trafficking state agencies, civil society organizations and international experts gathered in Tashkent on 26 November 2019 for a round-table discussion on good practices and challenges in national frameworks to combat trafficking in human beings.

The round-table was co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the National Anti-trafficking Commission, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Regional Office in Central Asia and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan. It focused on the draft anti-trafficking legislation, as well as the implementation of the Presidential Decree on Additional Measures to Strengthen Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking and Forced Labour.

“In accordance with the Strategy of Action in the five priority areas of development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a number of effective measures have been taken to identify, protect and socially rehabilitate victims of trafficking and to provide multifaceted forms of assistance to citizens who have been victims of such crimes. We continue to improve anti-trafficking legislation to address the evolving crime of human trafficking,” said Colonel Ulugbek Gainazarov, Executive Secretary of the National Anti-trafficking Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“It is of essence that at the heart of all anti-trafficking legislation is the identification, protection, assistance and sustainable reintegration of victims and survivors. The effective implementation of these measures builds the foundation for trust and co-operation with law enforcement to prosecute traffickers, and for victims to receive justice without re-traumatization,” said Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Anti-trafficking adviser.

International experts such as Per-Anders Sunesson, Swedish Ambassador at Large, Heracles Moskoff, Greek National Anti-trafficking Rapporteur, Kevin Hyland, Irish Member of the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings at the Council of Europe, and Dmytro Kaplun from the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy presented national best practices and contributed to the dialogue with Uzbek colleagues.

John MacGregor, Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, congratulated “all the public servants in Uzbekistan – and so many other allies and partners that are doing invaluable work to counteract human trafficking — and who stand up for the rights and interests of victims in a gender and child sensitive approach”.

The organized round-table is part of the OSCE long-standing commitment to counteract human trafficking and support the Republic of Uzbekistan in fulfilling its commitments in the anti-trafficking area.

440324 Communication and Media Relations Section OSCE Guidebook Intelligence-Led Policing

The Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (SPMU), in close co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, organized an introductory workshop on Intelligence-led policing (ILP) in Tajikistan’s capital on 26 November 2019. Some 28 senior representatives and managers from the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Anti-corruption Agency, the Drug Control Agency and the State Committee for National Security took part.

Participants were familiarized with the OSCE Guidebook on Intelligence-Led Policing, which elaborates how ILP is a modern approach to contemporary law enforcement management that combines intelligence gathering and analysis with informed decision-making procedures.

“In response to the growing complexity of crime and greater public demand for financial efficiency, law enforcement agencies and authorities across the world are gradually shifting their focus from reactive towards proactive police work,” said Arnar Jensson, ILP Project Manager at the SPMU.

Experts from Sweden and Serbia later shared experiences, best practices and lessons learned from implementing ILP in their respective countries.

During discussions about the benefits and challenges for introducing ILP in Tajikistan, participants stressed the need to provide adequate equipment and training to relevant specialists, adapt the ILP model to the national context and cultural background, and to strengthen trust between the public and the police. Ensuring ILP’s compliance with human rights standards was also highlighted.

“Tajik authorities are increasingly recognizing the importance of proactive policing and introduced new legislation as well as a specialized training course on ILP,” said Gerrit Zach, Acting Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe. “The OSCE Programme Office and the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan have agreed to translate the OSCE Guidebook on Intelligence-led Policing into Tajik.”

The event is a part of a series of national and regional training workshops organized by SPMU under its extra-budgetary project on ILP.

440291 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

The prevention and tackling of violence against women and girls was the focus of an international conference, which concluded on 27 November 2019 in Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan. The conference was conducted within the framework of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.

The three-day event was organized by the local non-governmental organization ‘NeMolchiKz’ in partnership with the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, UN Women, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the National Commission for Women, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Akimat (regional administration) of Taldykorgan city.

It brought together some 5300 professionals from law enforcement, civil society, women’s rights activists, medical professionals, school directors, school psychologists, students, and parent-teacher associations from the Almaty region. Representatives of the national and local government, international organizations and experts from Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom also attended. 

Participants discussed best practices in preventing gender-based violence and protecting victims, effective measures in tackling violence against women and girls, and issues concerning inter-agency response to domestic violence. Discussions resulted in a number of practical recommendations on effective prevention and response to violence against women and girls and will be submitted to the government of Kazakhstan.  

The event was part of the Programme Office’s multi-year effort to assist the host country and civil society in preventing and combating domestic violence.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM continued to monitor the situation in the Petrivske and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas.
• It also observed demining activities and saw that fortifications had been dismantled inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM saw anti-tank mines near Novotoshkivske and Donetskyi.
• It monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs to and the operation of essential civilian infrastructure, including to communication equipment in Obozne and water pipelines between Novoluhanske and Kurdiumivka.
• The Mission followed up on reports of vandalism at a monument to a Yiddish author and playwright in Kyiv.
• It monitored public events on the occasion of the beginning of the “16 days of activism against gender-based violence” in Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, and Kyiv.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including in non-government-controlled Samiilove (Donetsk region).

440240 Communication and Media Relations Section

Best practices in conducting undercover operations to investigate corruption at border crossings were explored during a working visit of more than 30 members of the Regional Anti-corruption Platform from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine to the Anti-corruption General Directorate of Romania’s Interior Ministry in Bucharest on 25 and 26 November 2019.

The Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the Anti-corruption General Directorate of the Ministry of Interior of Romania organized the working visit to further foster the Regional Anti-corruption Platform community and to develop a roadmap for the Platform’s future activities.

Representatives from OSCE field operations in the region attended as well as experts from the Anti-corruption General Directorate of Romania.

The event provided a forum for the participants to share best practices as well as challenges related to the use of undercover operations in investigating corruption cases at border crossings.

“Corruption cases are particularly difficult to prove because of the existence of a tacit agreement. An undercover operation may develop direct evidence of a bribe. Therefore, undercover operations and special investigative means remain a powerful tool to detect corruption, which may support the investigation of a corruption case with solid evidence,” said Inesa Nicolaescu, Associate Border Security Officer at the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit. “The OSCE will continue to support the Regional Anti-corruption Platform and enhance the expertise of its members to effectively prevent and counter corruption at the borders at the national and regional levels.”

The participants’ discussions with experts from the Anti-corruption General Directorate focused on the special investigative methods used in undercover investigations in Romania and effective ways to prevent corruption, such as integrity testing. They learned how to use intelligence in covert operations and how to apply criminal investigative techniques in corruption cases at the border.     

Members of the regional Anti-corruption Platform also presented their national practices on undercover operations in investigating corruption at the borders.

Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 26 November 2019 – On 25 November, the OSCE launched a campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries across South-Eastern and Eastern Europe during the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. The campaign aims to end the silence on violence against women (VAW) by informing the public about the alarming situation, raising awareness of the extent of the problem and offering solutions.

The social media campaign can be followed on the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Twitter @OSCEBiH and Facebook www.facebook.com/oscebih/ accounts as well as on the OSCE's Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/osceorg. In December,  700 posters will be distributed to police stations across the country to raise awareness of violence against women and the role of police in combating it.

The campaign is based on key findings of the 2018 OSCE-led Survey on the Well-being and Safety of Women, for which more than 15,000 women were interviewed. It covered 7 OSCE participating States: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine. The research was also conducted in Kosovo. Over 2,300 women

in Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in the survey.

The Survey showed that violence affects women of all ages and from all parts of the country, regardless of personal circumstances. Two out of three women interviewed in Bosnia and Herzegovina consider violence against women to be common, and one in 4 think it is very common.

One out of four women in Bosnia and Herzegovina consider domestic violence to be a ‘private matter’ that should remain within the family. The OSCE report covering Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found here: https://www.osce.org/secretariat/423470

“According to the OSCE Survey, half of the women in BiH have experienced some form of violence since the age of 15, with only 15% of women reporting non-partner violence. Women in BiH are subject to alarming levels of gender-based violence which is simply unacceptable. Concrete steps must be taken to ensure the well-being and safety of women. Governments should allocate adequate funds to increase the awareness of and access to support services for survivors of violence against women and should ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. This must be a priority for all, regardless of where they work and what position they occupy”  said Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Media have an important role to play in combating violence against women by informing the public about the issue and in particular, about the importance of reporting such cases. As the OSCE Survey revealed, only 3% of women interviewed in BiH reported the most serious incident of  sexual harassment to the police and 51% of women did not talk to anyone about it. Shame, economic dependence, fear of retaliation by the perpetrator and distrust in institutions are the main barriers to reporting.

The impact of violence is serious and long lasting and the implications for the health and well-being of women are complex and widespread. Survivors are often left with feelings of fear, shock, embarrassment or anger. Around 3 in ten women suffered from long-lasting psychological conditions, such as feelings of vulnerability, depression, a loss of self-confidence and difficulty sleeping. Violence against women is a result of gender inequality, harmful norms and cultural beliefs. Violence against women is not a private matter.

It is of greatest importance that the relevant ministries and institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina , together with non-governmental organizations and the media, implement regular information and awareness-raising campaigns to change the perception of traditional gender roles and stereotypes and bring attention to the consequences of VAW on individuals and society. Promoting available victim support services and informing the public on how to prevent violence are extremely important. Preventive measures include: establishing zero tolerance practices, delivering adequate sentences for perpetrators, and engaging men and boys to speak out against VAW and girls.

We all can report and need to help empower women to report any case of violence to the police at 122.

Assistance is available for women who experienced violence through use of the free SOS Lines 1265 (FBiH) and 1264 (RS). 

This report is for the media and the general public.

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 decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week. The ninetieth Russian convoy crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk BCP.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

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

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 decreased from 11,177 to 10,563 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of 63 per day for both BCPs.

The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was 24 this week compared to 11 last week: 14 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and 10 into Ukraine (75 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP). They continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed on foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since some of the private vehicles had tinted windows, and buses and minivans had drawn curtains.

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, four families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and two were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when two families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation and nine to 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. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses did not state their route; instead they had a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (475 compared to 483 observed during the previous week). There were 222 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 253 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 and “LPR” plates.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed 813 trucks (compared to 903 during the previous reporting week) crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs (354 at the Gukovo BCP and 459 at the Donetsk BCP); 432 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 381 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 and also with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks decreased from 80 to 56. 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 Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP decreased from 194 to 132; 81 trucks (61 per cent) were bound for Ukraine, the remaining 51 trucks (39 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] 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 frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans slightly decreased from 153 to 134 vehicles; 63 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 71 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 eight occasions; the OTs assessed that six trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and two to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine was regularly informed about the trains bound for Ukraine.

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 from Georgia.

On 21 November at 07:19, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed an ambulance entering the BCP from Ukraine. The ambulance had its flashing lights on and quickly crossed into the Russian Federation. 

On 25 November 2019 at 14:28, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a funeral minivan with Russian Federation licence plates entering the BCP from the Russian Federation side. The minivan bore the inscription “Funeral service” in Russian, on the side. It underwent border control and crossed into Ukraine.          

Convoy

On 21 November at 06:30 (Moscow time), the ninetieth[3] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP. A total of eight vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All eight vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 11:25 on 21 November. Ukrainian border guards and custom officers were present during the checking processes.

(See OM Spot Report of 21 November 2019: https://www.osce.org/observer-mission-at-russian-checkpoints-gukovo-and-donetsk/439700.)

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 22 October to 26 November 2019, please see the attachment here

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

[2] 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).                              

[3] Based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered the ninetieth convoy that has crossed into Ukraine through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” BCPs. However, so far all these convoys crossed through the “Donetsk” BCP.

BELGRADE, 26 November 2019 – The OSCE Mission to Serbia will present its 2019 Person of the Year Award at a ceremony today in Belgrade.  The recipients of this year’s award are: Bojan Cvejić, Web Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief at the daily Danas, Sonja Stonajović Gajić, member of the Managing Board of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCBP) and Aleksandar Ivanović, Director of the Citizen’s Association Monitor from Novi Pazar.

This award recognizes citizens of Serbia who contribute to the promotion of the OSCE values in the country. This year, the award focuses on youth as a means of enhancing security and stability in the OSCE region, and the importance of adapting to change.

Bojan Cvejić, Web Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief at the daily Danas, was responsible for the development of the digital edition of daily Danas, leading to its recognizable unique profile, different from the print edition.  He has significantly improved the digital/web and social media presence of the daily Danas by implementing skills and knowledge obtained in various media-related training courses organized by the OSCE. His accomplishments also include a fresh and novel approach to achieving self-sustainability of the daily Danas in a challenging, fast-changing technological environment. In his work, Cvejić combined, in a creative manner, quality and ethical journalism, entrepreneurial management and innovative perspective.

Sonja Stojanović Gajić, member of the Managing Board of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, is awarded for her dedication to promoting civilian oversight of the security sector in Serbia and youth inclusion in reform efforts. She performed a number of important roles, including as a member of the Gender Equality Council of the Ombudsperson and as co-chair of the Working Group for Chapter 24 within the National Convention of the EU. She has worked on numerous security initiatives including programmes introducing Serbia’s youth to research and reform efforts.

Aleksandar Ivanović, Director of the Citizen’s Association Monitor and Professor of Law from Novi Pazar, is a promoter of holistic initiatives in the fields of rule of law and human rights. Ivanović has made significant contributions in educating future generations on the rule of law, particularly incorporating clinical legal education and practical learning opportunities into students’ educational experiences. He initiated numerous projects and research initiatives aimed at combatting hate crimes, promoting multiculturalism and non-discrimination while fostering youth inclusion and co-operation among young people across the region.

440162 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The first penitentiary reform forum of Tajikistan, supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, was held on 20 November 2019 in Dushanbe and focused on the development of the prison system in Tajikistan.

The forum was organised in a joint effort with the Main Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sentences under the Justice Ministry of Tajikistan, the European Union, Penal Reform International, the Government of the United Kingdom, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The aim of the forum was to discuss key issues related to the effective management of penitentiary reform in the country. 

Experts, civil society representatives and government officials discussed issues ranging from the prevention of violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism in facilities to instituting probation. They also discussed the importance of strengthening safety and security measures in closed facilities by sharing best practices from different countries and by developing a comprehensive prison rehabilitation programme.

“The OSCE Programme Office promotes the implementation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, with a particular attention paid to prisons and future probation management,” said the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Valeriu Chiveri. “It is crucial to comply with international human rights norms and standards, including the rights to freedom of movement, freedom of expression and privacy, gender equality and the principle of non-discrimination.”

Mansurjon Umarov, Deputy Minister of Tajikistan’s Justice Ministry and Head of the Main Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sentences, said that 20,000 detainees were to receive amnesty by end of December 2019 of which 10,277 persons have already been released.

An OSCE-supported two-day workshop was held following the forum for prison staff on building an effective prison management system and the implementation of rehabilitation programmes.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 22 and 23 November, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• Between the evenings of 23 and 24 November, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• The SMM saw damage to a house in non-government-controlled Olenivka.
• Inside the disengagement area near Zolote, the SMM saw workers from non-government-controlled areas dismantling fortifications.
• The SMM continued to monitor the situation in disengagement areas near Petrivske and Stanytsia Luhanska.
• The SMM observed two weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.
• Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement continued, including at a checkpoint near non-government-controlled Zaichenko.

BRATISLAVA / VIENNA / WARSAW, 25 November 2019 – On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, OSCE leaders called on participating States to step up efforts to end gender-based violence in all spheres of life, including violence and harassment at home and in the workplace.

A recently released OSCE-led survey on violence against women was carried out in seven countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine. The research was also conducted in Kosovo. It shows that three in 10 women surveyed have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Many of the women surveyed saw workplace sexual harassment to be a common occurrence, demonstrating the urgency of the focus placed by this year’s 16 Days campaign on sexual harassment in the workplace.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovakia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčák said: “When it comes to gender-based violence, we are saying all the right things, and we are doing more than ever. But it is not enough. Gender-based violence is still rife – in homes, in the workplace, in both peace and conflict settings. These 16 days are not just about saying the right things, but about focusing on concrete actions still left to take to turn the tide on gender-based violence.”

Gender-based violence hinders progress towards comprehensive security for all. It not only affects the personal safety and security of its victims, but can also prevent them from being active members of society or from using their skills and knowledge to their full potential.

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger said: “As a regional security organization, the OSCE has a responsibility to combat violence against women and girls as a major human rights violation, and as a barrier to achieve security, stability and sustainable peace.” Greminger also noted the devastating impact of violence and sexual harassment in the workplace: “Zero tolerance to any form of gender-based violence is paramount to achieving equality in all spheres of life.”

The continued prevalence of gender-based violence in the OSCE area has a devastating effect on the lives of persons affected by it. Taking many forms, from sexual to economic and psychological, it cuts across geographical, cultural and class boundaries. It is a grave violation of human rights and its negative effects do not stop with the survivor but have a lasting impact on the community and on wider society.

“Many countries now have strong legislation to combat violence against women, and this is essential to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice,” said ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir. “But once the violence has occurred, no form of compensation can make up for the harm that has been done to survivors. That’s why we need to increase our work with governments, law enforcement and the judiciary, and civil society, so that instead of combating the after-effects of sexual violence, we prevent it from happening in the first place.” 

TIRANA, 25 November 2019 – Today, on the first day of the Annual 16 Days of Activism on against Gender-Based Violence, the OSCE is launching an awareness raising campaign in Albania entitled “End the Silence”. The campaign will take place during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

We will launch a social media campaign that can be followed on the OSCE Presence in Albania’s Twitter and Facebook accounts as well as on the OSCE's Instagram account. In December, we will deliver posters to police stations across the country with the aim of raising awareness of violence against women and the role of police in combating it.

The campaign is based on the key findings of the 2018 OSCE-led Survey on the Well-being and Safety of Women, for which more than 15,000 women were interviewed, in 7 OSCE participating States: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine. The research was also conducted in Kosovo. Over 1,800 women in Albania took part in the survey. Violence against women is a serious violation of human rights, yet it remains a widespread phenomenon all over the world.

According to the results of OSCE research violence against women also persists in Albania. 19% of women have experienced physical violence and 4% say they have experienced sexual violence by an intimate partner. More than half (62%) have experienced psychological violence by a partner. 34% of women have experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15, and 17% experienced it in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Women rarely report incidents of violence to the relevant authorities. Only 3% of womenwho have experienced violence at the hands of their current partner reported what they considered their most serious incident to the police and almost half the women interviewed in Albania (48%) think that domestic violence is a private issue that should be handled within the family. Shame, fear, economic dependence and distrust of institutions are the main barriers that women identify as reasons for not reporting violence.

Violence against women occurs in private and public spaces: at home, at work, in schools and universities, on the streets and on public transport as well as online. It can happen to any woman and will seriously affect her well-being and prevent her from fully participating in society.

Violence against women is a result of gender inequality, which is based on harmful existing norms and attitudes. In order to change the perception that sexual harassment or violence against women is normal and that it is a private matter, we all can and must support and encourage women to report any cases of violence and get the help they need. In Albania, help is available through National Hotline, www.hotlinealbania.org on 116 – 117.