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OSCE facilitated participation of the State Election Commission of Montenegro at the 28th Association of European Election Officials conference

OSCE - Fri, 09/27/2019 - 09:06
433832 Marina Živaljević

With the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the State Election Commission representatives attended the 28th Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO) conference, on “Judicial Protection of Electoral Rights and Transparency of Elections” in Ljubljana from 24 to 26 September 2019.

The Commission was represented by Ɖorđije Vukčević, Chairman and Velizar Čađenović, Secretary, together with three commissioners and an adviser.

Secretary of the Commission Čađenović said that the topics and speakers of the conference had been carefully selected. “Transparency of the electoral process is particularly significant for us, as the SEC is continuously working to improve its work in this sphere,” said Čađenović.

“This afforded us an opportunity to speak to our counterparts from Europe on legislative best practices, laws and secondary legislation, as well as challenges in co-operation between election management bodies,” said Commissioner Nataša Pešić.

Darko Brajović, the OSCE Mission Democratization National Programme Officer said: “The right to vote and to stand for an election has to be protected by an independent judiciary.”

The conference was an opportunity for the state election commissioners to discuss and share knowledge and ideas with European election officials on best practices in administering transparent elections. It was part of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro’s project on elections that aims to contribute to improving the transparency of the electoral process and enhance public trust in elections.

Categories: Central Europe

OSCE supports regional training seminar on climate change mitigation and adaptation in Central Asia

OSCE - Fri, 09/27/2019 - 09:01
433754 Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

Advancing legal expertise on climate change adaptation and mitigation to foster environmentally sound practices is the focus of an annual three-day training seminar taking place from 26 to 28 September 2019 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The event is organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in partnership with the German-Kazakh University. Some 20 government officials in charge of environmental protection, climate change and water management in Central Asia and Afghanistan are taking part in the event. Participants will discuss effective climate governance practices, ecosystems-based and human rights responses. The trainers will focus on advancing the Paris Agreement by applying innovations as well as market and non-market instruments.

The training seminar is a follow-up to a Central Asia Leadership Programme training for young leaders held in September 2019. It aimed to strengthen capacities of youth representatives from the region in the context of the changing climate.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to engage youth and promote environmental leadership in the Central Asia region and Afghanistan.

Categories: Central Europe

Freedom of expression and hate speech prevention on the Internet in Kazakhstan focus of OSCE-organized training course for journalists

OSCE - Fri, 09/27/2019 - 08:57
Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

An OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan-supported seminar on the protection of freedom of expression and policies to counter hate speech on the Internet took place on 27 September 2019 in Semey, Kazakhstan. It was co-organized with the NGO “Legal Media Centre”.

Some twenty journalists and representatives of civil society discussed the relationship between media and hate speech policies as well as ways to enhance co-operation between government, civil society and media organizations.

Together with national experts from Kazakhstan, participants also examined a number of electronic resources and print media examples to analyse the vocabulary journalists’ use. These real-life case studies offered the participants an insight into the damaging effects of stereotypes in the media.

The event aimed to equip journalists with the tools to counter hate speech in the media and on the Internet, including mechanisms to reduce the potential harm from a malicious Internet environment and destructive behaviour such as trolling, cyber-bullying and hate speech.

A similar seminar will be held in October 2019 in Aktobe.

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

Categories: Central Europe

Promoting women empowerment in socio-political and economic spheres in Uzbekistan

OSCE - Fri, 09/27/2019 - 08:53
433802 OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan

From 26 to 27 September 2019, the OSCE Programme Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) is conducting a round-table discussion on the advancement of women's participation in politics and business, investing in women's professional development and leadership skills. The event is jointly organized with the Committee on Gender Issues of Uzbekistan’s Senate of the Oliy Majlis (the upper house of the parliament).

The round table brought together more than fifty participants including senators, officials from the ministries and state agencies, members of political parties, academia, NGOs and the media. Particular attention was given to advancing the role of women in political participation and comprehensive support to business women, especially in the area of family entrepreneurship.

The round-table is part of the OSCE project Support to Women’s Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the financial support from the governments of Finland and Norway.

Svetlana Artykova, Deputy Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, said in her opening speech: “Creating equal opportunities in order to integrate women into various spheres of life is an urgent task, and the government of Uzbekistan is paying close attention to it. Not least important is the development and implementation of long-term state policy in this direction, aimed at improving the social status of women.” She also noted the importance of recently adopted laws On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men and On the Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence enabling “the consolidation of the equal status of men and women, and the guarantees for their rights and freedoms”.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, stressed that “the OSCE recognizes that equal rights of women and men are essential in fostering peace, security, and sustainable development. Moreover, gender equality is important for both women and men and therefore requires joined forces to better promote and integrate gender equality in all spheres of life”.

The round-table is part of a longstanding commitment of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan to assist the country in promoting women`s advancement in social, political and economic life within the society.  

Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 228/2019 issued on 26 September 2019

OSCE - Thu, 09/26/2019 - 19:36
SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

  • Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region.
  • The SMM followed up on injuries sustained by a woman due to shelling in Roza.
  • Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw workers from government-controlled areas working on the pedestrian bypass bridge, painting steel cables on both sides of the road north of the bridge, and cutting trees and clearing vegetation.
  • The SMM again observed anti-tank mines near the Petrivske disengagement.
  • It saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
  • The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure, including repairs to water pipelines between Zolote-3/Stakhanovets and Popasna, water pipelines near Kamianka and Zaitseve and an electricity substation in Betmanove, as well as the drilling of wells near Raivka.
  • Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued, including at a non-government-controlled checkpoint near the Petrivske disengagement area and a heavy weapons holding area in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE PA President Tsereteli appoints Miladinovic as new Special Rapporteur on Digital Agenda

OSCE - Thu, 09/26/2019 - 17:23

COPENHAGEN, 26 September 2019 – In order to better address relevant challenges linked to digitalization in the OSCE area, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (Georgia) has appointed Stefana Miladinovic (Serbia) as the Assembly’s Special Rapporteur on Digital Agenda.

“The fast digitalization process that is taking place across the OSCE area is substantially changing all spheres of life,” said President Tsereteli. “These developments are producing opportunities for cross-border co-operation and confidence-building, including in the economic and environmental dimension. They are however also carrying many security implications that we need to address.”

Tasked with examining the topic of digitalization and working in close co-operation with the OSCE PA’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, Miladinovic will report back to the President and the Assembly by the July 2020 Annual Session on suggested future work in this field.

The Special Rapporteur on Digital Agenda is mandated to:

  • Raise awareness within the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly regarding the benefits and the security implications of the digitalization process;
  • Promote within the OSCE area an inclusive digital society which benefits from all research, technology and innovation initiatives that enable future technologies, software, networks and services, including in the areas of transport and urban mobility;
  • Facilitate co-operation and discussions among OSCE PA delegations on how to increase information exchange and awareness in the field of cybersecurity in OSCE participating States;
  • Monitor the developments on digital transformation in the OSCE region;
  • Communicate with relevant actors within the OSCE and work in close co-operation with the OSCE PA Second Committee.

Stefana Miladinovic has been a Member of the National Assembly of Serbia since 2012. She serves in the Parliament as Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Spatial Planning, Transport, Infrastructure and Telecommunications. In the OSCE PA, she has been the Head of the Serbian Delegation since 2018.

The OSCE PA adopted a resolution on Digitalization as an Advantage for Gender Policies sponsored by Miladinovic at the recent Annual Session in Luxembourg.

For more on the work of OSCE PA Special Representatives and Rapporteurs, please click here.
Categories: Central Europe

ODIHR event explores ways to address racism, intolerance and violence against Roma and Sinti

OSCE - Thu, 09/26/2019 - 17:16
433610 Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), speaking at the event, as Dan Pavel Doghi (r), Chief of the ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, and Ismael Cortés (l), member of the Spanish Parliament, listen. Warsaw, 26 September 2019. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Ongoing racism, intolerance and hate-motivated violence against Roma and Sinti and the negative impact these have on their inclusion in society, as well as good practices in addressing these issues, were the topics of an event in Warsaw on 26 September 2019. It was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) as part of its annual human rights conference, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

Representatives of OSCE participating States as well as Roma and Sinti experts and activists discussed the measures undertaken to eliminate such violence and its root causes. There were also presentations of good practices and concrete recommendations to help participating States, OSCE institutions and other stakeholders effectively ensure the safety and security of Roma and Sinti.

“Good laws and policies alone cannot succeed in tackling anti-Roma discrimination and racism,” said Dan Pavel Doghi, Chief of the ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues. “To be truly effective in ensuring that Roma and Sinti can enjoy their rights and equality within their societies, legislation needs to be coupled with effective monitoring mechanisms guaranteeing its thorough implementation.”

Ismael Cortés, member of the Spanish Parliament, said: “This event provided an important opportunity to review the progress and challenges in fighting bias against Roma and Sinti. We need to mainstream the fight against racism, intolerance and hate-motivated violence, and shift from individual efforts to an interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaboration.”

ODIHR is mandated by the participating States to assist in their efforts to combat racism and discrimination against Roma and Sinti. The commitment, initially established in the 1990 Copenhagen Document, was later reiterated in the 2003 OSCE Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti.

Categories: Central Europe

Meeting of Structured Dialogue held at both political and expert levels in Vienna

OSCE - Thu, 09/26/2019 - 16:42
433490 Communication and Media Relations Section Katharina Kandt

High-level representatives from capitals and military experts of the 57 OSCE participating States gathered in Vienna on 19 and 20 September for a meeting of the Structured Dialogue chaired by the Netherlands. The combined session of the Informal Working Group (IWG) of the Structured Dialogue in the Capitals Format and an Expert-Level Workshop enabled discussions both at the political and expert level and was chaired by Ambassador Jeroen Boender, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the OSCE.

In his opening statement, Boender said: “the general climate surrounding the broader topics that we discuss in the Structured Dialogue has not become easier in the last months. These factors only reinforce the significance of what the process aims to achieve. By understanding better each other’s security concerns, we can collectively identify areas for small but substantial steps to reduce risks and contribute to rebuilding trust.”  

Representing the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship 2019, the Chairperson of the Permanent Council and Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the OSCE Radomír Boháč, said: “The spirit of the Hamburg Mandate remains vital. The Structured Dialogue is an open-ended process and an important Confidence & security building measure between States. Yet, it has proven that our dialogue is not an end in itself. Better implementation of commitments, including the Vienna Document, military-to-military exchanges and continued focus on transparency, risk reduction and incident prevention remain important.”

On the first day, high-ranking officials from the capitals discussed ways to reduce risks. They explored the tools and conditions to improve transparency, reduce risks and prevent incidents, and examined hybrid threats with respect to building resilience and awareness in a contemporary threat environment. The representatives of the participating States exchanged views and experiences on combating these types of threats, with a focus on disinformation and cyber/ICT security.

On the second day, military experts from the naval and air forces had an interactive discussion on preventing and managing incidents on and over the high seas. The innovative format of the discussion allowed for targeted discussions revealing national practices of dealing with such incidents with a focus on minimum safe distances, communication and risky manoeuvres. The discussions were opened by keynote speakers Kari Siekkinen, Chief Advisor at the Finnish Transport Safety Agency and Commodore RNLN (Royal Netherlands Navy) Boudewijn G.F.M. Boots, former Commander Standing NATO Maritime Group Two.

Following the meetings, Boender concluded that different perceptions and new technology make the security environment more prone to military incidents. “Many felt that the exchange of national practices, better communication and an understanding of applicable rules could help in better understanding intentions and preventing incidents,” he said.

The OSCE Structured Dialogue on the current and future challenges and risks to security was initiated by OSCE foreign ministers in their Declaration on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the OSCE Arms Control Framework at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Hamburg in December 2016. Addressing these challenges, the participating States aim to strengthen the dialogue on how to overcome existing divergences, find common ground and reverse the negative trends in the European security architecture. The OSCE Structured Dialogue complements the ongoing work of the OSCE on wider issues of co-operation in the politico-military field. 

The Netherlands was appointed IWG chair by the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship. Previous IWG chairmanships were held by Germany (2017) and Belgium (2018).

Categories: Central Europe

Lithuania presidential election 2019: ODIHR observation mission final report

OSCE - Thu, 09/26/2019 - 15:50
433358 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Lithuania, Presidential Election, 12 and 26 May 2019: Final Report

Following the presidential election in Lithuania on 12 and 26 May 2019, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published its final report. The report notes that the election was competitive and offered clear political alternatives, with fundamental freedoms largely respected in the campaign. The media provided extensive coverage, which enabled citizens to make an informed choice. Although some areas of election-related legislation could be improved, the election was effectively administered and enjoyed public confidence.

Key recommendations include:

  • Reviewing rules governing media conduct during campaigns to clearly distinguish paid political advertising from other forms of campaign coverage.
  • Amending electoral legislation to provide clear criteria for the dismissal of the chairperson and members of the CEC, if necessary.
  • Revising the legal framework to remove restrictions on voting rights and candidacy on the basis of mental disability.
  • Reviewing restrictions on candidacy based on prior removal from office, residency, and dual and naturalized citizenship.
  • Allowing all voters to file complaints and appeals on the electoral process.
  • Introducing interim reporting requirements, prior to elections, to enhance transparency.

ODIHR deployed an election observation mission on 30 April 2019 to observe the election. All 57 participating States across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

Categories: Central Europe

OSCE-supported delegation of Montenegrin media professionals meets their Danish counterparts in Copenhagen

OSCE - Thu, 09/26/2019 - 08:44
433151 Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a two-day study visit to Copenhagen, Denmark for six media professionals from Montenegro. The group met with representatives of the Danish Press Council, the Danish Journalist Union, the Politiken and the Danish Broadcasting Corporation on 24 and 25 September 2019.

The six representatives from Montenegro were: Ranko Vujović, Secretary of the Media Council for Self-Regulation, Aneta Spaić, Member of the Media Council for Self-Regulation, Slavica Jovanović, co-owner of the daily Dan, Borislav Višnjić, editor-in-chief of RTCG News Programme, Paula Petričević, ombudswoman of the daily Vijesti and weekly Monitor, and Mihajlo Jovović, Programmatic Director at the daily newspaper Vijesti.

The main topics of their discussion were the significance of media self-regulation in Denmark and Montenegro, freedom of the media, safety of journalists,  unresolved cases of attacks on journalists, confidentiality of sources and data, and traditional versus digital media.

Daniel Blank, the OSCE Mission Media Programme Manager, said that this visit was an excellent opportunity for the Montenegrin delegation to hear more on media self-regulation practices from the leading institutions in Denmark. “The OSCE Mission recognizes the need for strong and highly professional self-regulation as a precondition for responsible, accurate and precise media. In the world where changes are constant and the flow of information is overwhelming, media should strive to be strong and consistent with the Code of Ethics,” said Blank.

This visit is a continuation of the support of the OSCE Mission to strengthen self-regulatory mechanisms in Montenegro and to promote the concept of self-regulation, in order to contribute to the professional reporting of Montenegrin media outlets and their adherence to professional standards promoted by the Code of Ethics.

Categories: Central Europe

Press Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

OSCE - Wed, 09/25/2019 - 21:55

NEW YORK CITY, United States of America, 25 September 2019 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) met separately and jointly with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on the margins of the UN General Assembly. The Co-Chairs were joined in their meetings by the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk. They also met with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, and senior officials of the United Nations.

The Co-Chairs briefed the two Ministers on their activities since the joint meeting in Washington in June, including recent consultations in Paris and Geneva on the humanitarian and security dimensions of the conflict. The Co-Chairs noted the positive effects of the sides’ efforts to minimize violence during the summer period, including the use of the existing direct communication links, and expressed deep regret over the recent fatality. The Co-Chairs and the Ministers continued their discussion of additional measures to reduce tensions and sustain an atmosphere conducive to peace and favorable to substantive talks. Recalling their 9 March statement, the Co-Chairs encouraged the sides to minimize the use of rhetoric that is inflammatory or prejudges the outcome of negotiations.

The Co-Chairs intend to visit the region in the near future.

Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 227/2019 issued on 25 September 2019

OSCE - Wed, 09/25/2019 - 18:18
SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

  • Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
  • The SMM followed up on a shrapnel injury sustained by a woman in Pikuzy, and on craters and damage due to shelling in Verkhnoshyrokivske.
  • Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw workers from government-controlled areas working on the foundations of a pedestrian bypass bridge as well as workers both from government-controlled and non-government-controlled areas cutting trees and clearing vegetation.
  • The SMM observed anti-tank mines near the Petrivske disengagement area for the first time and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area.
  • The Mission saw 13 weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.
  • The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure, including repairs to water pipelines between Zolote-3/Stakhanovets and Popasna, a water pipeline near Kamianka and electricity substation in Betmanove, as well as the drilling of wells near Raivka.
  • Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Petrivske, Zaichenko and Novoazovsk and at heavy weapons holding areas in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
Categories: Central Europe

Respect for rules-based order key to achieving peace across Eurasia, OSCE PA President underlines at Speakers’ meeting

OSCE - Wed, 09/25/2019 - 16:45

NUR-SULTAN, 25 September 2019 – The fulfillment of international commitments and obligations is a pre-condition for honest dialogue, genuine trust, and stronger partnerships for peace and sustainable development, stated President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) in remarks delivered at the Fourth Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments.

The meeting, hosted by the Parliament of Kazakhstan, was held under the theme “Greater Eurasia: Dialogue. Trust. Partnership” and brought together parliamentary leaders from 65 countries. President Tsereteli was accompanied in Nur-Sultan by OSCE PA Vice-President Pascal Allizard (MP, France).

“Too often the OSCE principles and commitments that united us in the heart of the Cold War have been reneged and trampled: dialogue has eroded, trust has been diluted, it has been more difficult to build long-lasting partnerships. Fundamental disagreements, even regarding what should be undisputable facts, have seriously undermined our ability to find common ground,” said President Tsereteli. “In all conflicts in the OSCE area, we see that unfulfilled agreements and lack of political will only amplify human suffering. We must now step up to take effective international action. This is the OSCE’s calling.”

In his statement, President Tsereteli also highlighted the need to pursue dialogue on controversial issues, including the need to hold elections in line with democratic principles, promoting media freedom and defending journalists, safeguarding the environment and protecting biodiversity, encouraging trade and sustainable economic development, or enhancing effective migration governance.

During the conference, Tsereteli and Allizard met with Mazhilis Chairman Nurlan Nigmatulin and Senate Chairwoman Dariga Nazarbayeva, who serves as the Head of Kazakhstan’s Delegation to the OSCE PA. Tsereteli also exchanged with Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The conversations underlined Kazakhstan’s long-standing commitment and contributions to international dialogue and to the effectiveness of the OSCE and its Institutions, including through good co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan.

“Kazakhstan continues to play a unique role in the OSCE through its readiness to contribute to conflict resolution, to promote peaceful relations, and to boost economic development. When we address sensitive and critical topics, we all understand there can be no substitute to frank and honest dialogue,” said Tsereteli. “In that respect, it is important to note Kazakhstan’s continued willingness to overcome shortcomings and work together with its international partners in good spirit.”

Tsereteli, who served as the Special Co-ordinator and leader of short-term OSCE observers for the early presidential election of June 2019, also met today with NGO representatives to discuss post-election developments, including concerns related to limitations on freedom of expression, association, and assembly, as well as the state of co-operation between civil society and public authorities.

On the margins of the parliamentary conference, President Tsereteli and Vice-President Allizard held several bilateral meetings with Armenian Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan, Azerbaijani Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Moldovan Speaker Zinaida Greceanii, North Macedonian Speaker Talat Xhaferi, Tajik Speaker Shukurjon Zuhurov, and Uzbek Speaker Nurdinjon Ismoilov. They also exchanged with the Speakers from Austria, Belarus, Cyprus, and Turkey.

Discussions mainly focused on domestic developments and OSCE and OSCE PA activities, including election observation, as well as plans for upcoming OSCE PA meetings and presidential visits.

Vice-President Allizard visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko. Allizard, who is also the PA’s Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs, emphasized the need to pursue outreach efforts and promote regional co-operation to counter security challenges in the OSCE area.

“While the OSCE PA collectively represents one billion voices, we must lend an attentive ear to the billion more views expressed in our immediate neighbourhood,” said Allizard. “Events in the Middle and the Far East have considerable influence on developments in the OSCE region in general, and in the Mediterranean basin in particular. We need to better understand these to guarantee greater success in our joint efforts to enhance security.”

Later this week, President Tsereteli will be in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to address an international seminar on parliamentary oversight and meet with the Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament. Tsereteli and Vice-President Allizard will report on their visit during the OSCE PA’s upcoming Autumn Meeting to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, on 4-6 October 2019.

For the President's full remarks in Nur-Sultan, please click here.
Categories: Central Europe

ODIHR experts discuss electoral recommendations in North Macedonia

OSCE - Wed, 09/25/2019 - 14:37
Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report and recommendations of the observation mission to the 2019 presidential election in North Macedonia during a visit to Skopje from 16 to 19 September 2019.

The ODIHR experts met with representatives of the State Election Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other government ministries and agencies, as well as representatives of civil society organizations and the international community.

In these meetings, ODIHR reiterated that the elections were generally well-administered, but that the legislative framework still requires substantial review and revision, and urged the government and other stakeholders to take steps to implement a previously initiated reform. ODIHR drew attention to its priority recommendations, such as addressing gaps in the regulation of presidential candidates in the electoral law, updating and harmonizing population data across institutions to ensure a more accurate voter list, and refining rules related to media coverage of the campaign and election dispute resolution. 

“The week’s meetings were constructive and provided ODIHR and national stakeholders the opportunity to directly discuss the report’s findings and recommendations,” said Corien Jonker, Head of ODIHR’s Election Observation Mission to the presidential election. “We look forward to the next steps that the authorities will take to follow up on the recommendations and to identify ways ODIHR can offer assistance.”

The authorities discussed ODIHR’s potential engagement in providing legal and technical expertise to assist in implementing these recommendations, including a review of draft amendments to the electoral code, continued participation in a working group on electoral reforms and technical assistance in upgrading voter registration processes. All OSCE participating States have committed to promptly following up on ODIHR electoral assessments and recommendations.

Categories: Central Europe

Roma and Sinti youth as agents of change in spotlight at ODIHR event in Warsaw

OSCE - Wed, 09/25/2019 - 12:23
433208 Alen Umer from the Local Youth Council of Shuto Orizari, North Macedonia, addresses event participants. Warsaw, 25 September 2019. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

The challenges and opportunities related to the participation of Roma and Sinti youth in public and political life, as well as their civic engagement to defend and promote the human rights of the entire community, were the main topics of an event held on 25 September 2019 in Warsaw. The event was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) within the framework of ODIHR’s annual human rights conference, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

The event provided space for an open discussion between representatives of participating States and Roma and Sinti activists on ways to enhance the participation of Roma and Sinti youth and their capacity as human rights defenders.

“During this event we learned about the challenges Roma and Sinti youth face across the OSCE area and shared our experiences in engaging Roma youth at the local level,” said Alen Umer from the Local Youth Council of Shuto Orizari, North Macedonia. “Upscaling such practices and engaging with relevant authorities is essential for the effective participation of Roma and Sinti youth in the policy processes that concern them.”

The  active participation of Roma and Sinti youth is key to ensuring their involvement and empowerment in line with the OSCE’s broader capacity building mandate under the 2003 Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area.

Categories: Central Europe

Justice for hate crime victims through co-operation with civil society focus of ODIHR event

OSCE - Wed, 09/25/2019 - 10:19
432938 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Hate crime continues to threaten the security of individuals and entire societies, as evidenced by 2018 data from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) that was presented on 25 September 2019 in Warsaw. The presentation took place during ODIHR’s annual human rights conference, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting.

“Victims of bias crimes need to see official recognition of the crime as a hate crime. Their needs differ based on how they were attacked, by whom, and on what grounds. But in these differences, all hate crime victims are also similar – being attacked simply for who they are,” said Cristina Finch, Head of ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department.

Participants were able to learn from those who work most closely with victims during a discussion with representatives of three civil society organizations providing support to victims of hate crime. They spoke about how victims often lack trust in the authorities and instead seek assistance from NGOs, raising questions about victims’ access to justice, protection and support.

Following an assessment of support for victims of hate crime across the region, ODIHR has concluded that OSCE participating States need to do more to build victim support structures to bridge the state-civil society divide. Police and other officials have to be able to understand the needs of hate crime victims and refer them to a suitable service, which often comes from civil society.

For this to happen, the event introduced the Enhancing Stakeholders’ Awareness and Resources for Hate Crime Victim Support (EStAR) project. It will start on 1 January 2020 and will be run by ODIHR and the Association of Counseling Centers for Victims of Right-wing, Racist and Anti-Semitic Violence in Germany (VBRG) – a coalition of 14 organizations providing support to hate crime victims. The EStAR project, funded by the EU Commission and the German government, will develop tools for states to build integrative hate crime victim support systems over a two-year period.

ODIHR’s finalized 2018 hate crime data will be published on 16 November 2019.

Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 226/2019 issued on 24 September 2019

OSCE - Tue, 09/24/2019 - 19:19
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.
  • Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw workers from government-controlled areas working on pillars for the pedestrian bypass bridge as well as workers from non-government-controlled areas clearing vegetation and conducting demining activities.
  • The SMM observed new trenches inside and close to the Zolote disengagement area; it also saw anti-tank mines and new trenches near the Petrivske disengagement area.
  • The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs and the operations of critical civilian infrastructure, including repairs to power lines in Spartak and the drilling of wells near Raivka.
  • Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske, Shevchenko, and Petrivske.
Categories: Central Europe

On a visit to the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia, Head of OSCE Mission says Moldova’s diversity to be embraced with respect and tolerance

OSCE - Tue, 09/24/2019 - 17:32
432692 Anna Vorobeva OSCE Mission to Moldova

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Claus Neukirch paid a working visit to the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia on 24 September 2019. The Head of Mission met with Bashkan of Gagauzia Irina Vlah and the Speaker of the People's Assembly Vladimir Kissa. 

“Gagauzia has always been high on the agenda of the OSCE. A well-functioning Gagauz autonomy sends an important positive signal to the Transdniestrian settlement process,” Neukirch said. “We look forward to the resumption of the political dialogue between the Moldovan Parliament and the People’s Assembly. This dialogue should result in fully affirming Gagauzia’s special status as outlined in the 1994 law and in streamlining respective legislative acts,” Neukirch concluded. 

During his visit, the Head of Mission made a tour of the Fujikura Automotive factory, which is located in the Free Economic Zone. In Kongaz, he visited a kindergarten where the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) piloted a bilingual education programme in the Gagauz and Romanian languages for children attending Russian language pre-schools. 

“Gagauzia is an important part of Moldova because of its economic activity and linguistic diversity,” said Neukirch. “It represents Moldova’s complex ethnic make-up, which needs to be embraced with respect and tolerance.” 

From 2014 to 2017, the HCNM has been facilitating bilingual education in the state language and Gagauz at pre-school institutions in Gagauzia and has funded programmes for teaching civil servants the state language nationwide. In recent years, the OSCE Mission and the HCNM, support the Moldovan Government’s efforts to take over the responsibility of promoting bilingual education through implementing an action plan for the National Strategy on the Consolidation of Interethnic Relations. 

Categories: Central Europe

Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 24 September 2019

OSCE - Tue, 09/24/2019 - 17:09

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.

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 12,276 to 11,520 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 319 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 nine this week compared to 19 last week: two of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and seven into Ukraine (56 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, six families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and one was observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when twelve families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation and seven 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 (511 compared to 532 observed during the previous week). There were 267 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 244 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.

Among the bus connections observed by the OTs, the following “irregular” route was noted: Luhansk-Sevastopol.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed 920 trucks (compared to 935 during the previous reporting week) crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs (421 at the Gukovo BCP and 499 at the Donetsk BCP); 453 of these trucks crossed to the Russian Federation and 467 crossed to 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 Belarus and the Russian Federation and also with “LPR” plates. During the reporting period, trucks with licence plates from Lithuania and “DPR” plates were also observed.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks increased to 52 (compared to 50 during the previous reporting period). 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 114 to 86; 61 trucks (71 per cent) were bound for Ukraine, the remaining 25 trucks (29 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 increased from 133 to 152 vehicles; 76 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 76 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 17 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and 7 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 Belarus, Georgia and Lithuania; cars with “DPR” plates were also observed.

On 17 September at 10:50, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a military helicopter type Mi-17 flying from the north of the BCP which then turned in an easterly direction. During the entire time the aircraft flew over the territory of the Russian Federation at an altitude of around 50-100 metres.

On 20 September at 12:02, the OT observed at the Donetsk BCP a Russian police minivan entering the BCP from the Russian Federation, and parking in the checking area. Two policemen left the vehicle towards the main building and returned with two civilians. At 12:19, the minivan left the BCP for the Russian Federation with the two policemen and the two civilians on-board.

Convoy

On 19 September at 06:11 (Moscow time), the eighty-fourth[3] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP. A total of ten vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All ten vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 13:52 on 19 September.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 20 August to 24 September 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 eighty-fourth convoy that has crossed into Ukraine through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” BCPs. However, so far all these convoys crossed through the “Donetsk” BCP.

Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 225/2019 issued on 22 September 2019

OSCE - Mon, 09/23/2019 - 22:01
SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

  • Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 20 and 21 September, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
  • Between the evenings of 21 and 22 September, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
  • Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini unmanned aerial vehicle near Bohdanivka.
  • Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw workers clearing vegetation, working on pillars for the pedestrian bypass bridge, welding parts of the metal bridge structure, laying asphalt on the bridge, and cutting and welding roadside steel fencing cables.
  • The SMM observed anti-tank mines near the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas.
  • The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, including at the former Luhansk international airport.
  • The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the operation of essential civilian infrastructure and the drilling of wells near Raivka.
  • Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued, including at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske, Zaichenko, and Petrivske.
Categories: Central Europe

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