Central Europe

Colin McCullough, OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan

Strengthening co-operation in addressing trafficking in human beings was the focus of the international roundtable which concluded on 27 September 2019 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

The two-day event was jointly organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy in Nur-Sultan.

Some 40 officials from law enforcement, border control, migration control, prosecutorial offices and NGOs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan attended. Participants discussed effective measures to tackle modern-day slavery, problems concerning inter-agency response, the ways to promote co-operation, as well as the U.S. State Department’s 2019 Trafficking in Persons report. Experts from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Latvia and Moldova also presented the best practices of their countries on ways of counteracting organized crime on human trafficking in their respective countries. 

The event was part of the OSCE Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to support the host country in combating human trafficking and in implementing the OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings.

NEW YORK, 29 September 2019 – Attending the high-level week of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign and European Minister of Slovakia, Miroslav Lajčák, held  bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, North Macedonia, and the Russian Federation, as well as the OSCE Minsk-Group Co-Chairs and his Special Representative on Combatting Anti-Semitism Rabbi Andrew Baker, among others. With his counterparts, he spoke about the current situation in the OSCE region, the Slovak OSCE Chairmanship, and expectations for the Ministerial Council in December.

“I am pleased to see small, incremental, but important, signs of progress in different parts of the OSCE region, which give us hope for the future. It shows that positive change is always possible if we engage in dialogue,” Lajčák said, reflecting on ongoing efforts of the Slovak 2019 OSCE Chairmanship to foster progress in the prevention and resolution of conflict on the margins of his discussions.

“The various topics discussed here at the UN General Assembly – the epicentre of diplomacy - have shown that there are more countries who want to work together than those focused on a narrow national agenda”, Lajčák stressed. “But,” he continued, “there is a clear sense that time is running out. If we keep doing what we are currently doing, we will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We will not be able to hand the planet over to our children in as good as – or better – a condition than we, ourselves, inherited it. And we will not move from conflict management to conflict prevention. There is still time to do all of this – but only if we act quickly, and act together.”

Looking ahead, towards the OSCE Ministerial Council in December, he added that he hopes for a constructive and cooperative spirit to move the needle for all people in the OSCE region.

The Chairperson also hosted a Troika, in which representatives of both Albania and Italy representing the incoming and outgoing OSCE Chairs, respectively, as well as OSCE Secretary-General, Thomas Greminger, participated. They discussed opportunities to enhance the Troika co-operation, and the challenges and opportunities of holding a chairmanship, along with the way ahead for the OSCE as the world’s largest security organization under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw a temporary pedestrian bypass bridge being connected with the broken section of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. The SMM also saw workers from non-government-controlled areas cutting trees about 100m south-west along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets river.
• The SMM observed military and military-type presence inside the Petrivske disengagement area, as well as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM observed seven weapons in violation of their respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas 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, to power lines in Novoluhanske and Kruta Balka, as well as the drilling of wells near Raivka.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations near the Petrivske disengagement area, Verkhnoshyrokivske and Novolaspa.

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 the same number of ceasefire violations in Luhansk region.
• A man from the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district was injured due to small-arms fire.
• Inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM saw workers from government-controlled areas working on the foundations of a pedestrian bypass bridge and members of the armed formations burning wood and trash along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets river.
• The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repairs and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure, including repairs to water pipelines in Kamianka and  between Zolote-3/Stakhanovets and Popasna, to power lines in Novoluhanske,  as well as the drilling of wells near Raivka.
• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued, including near government-controlled Topolyne and at a checkpoint of the armed formations near the Petrivske disengagement area.

434027 Communication and Media Relations Section

A one-day workshop on how to prevent human trafficking in the OSCE’s supply chains was organized by the OSCE on 27 September 2019 in Belgrade. More than 50 of the organization’s staff working in procurement and human trafficking as well as experts from OSCE participating States, the academic community and the International Labour Organization attended.

The workshop, organized by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the OSCE Department of Management and Finance, highlighted procurement practices that can prevent human trafficking in the organization’s supply chains in line with OSCE commitments on combating human trafficking. Participants discussed inputs from the procurement experts on guidance that is being developed for OSCE procurement staff.

The workshop is part of a wider effort by the OSCE to mobilize international efforts and support OSCE participating States in promoting policies and practices to prevent human trafficking.

It was the first time that staff working in the OSCE’s procurement community, THB experts from across OSCE Executive Structures and Field Operations, and external experts gathered to discuss how to leverage procurement to fight trafficking.  

According to the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Strengthening Efforts to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings (2017), the OSCE Secretary General has been tasked to review existing policies, audit and reporting procedures and recruitment safeguards, and to ensure that no activities of the OSCE executive structures, including the issuing of contracts for goods and services, contribute to any form of human trafficking.

433976

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo’s four-day Youth Forum Academy, held at Hotel International Prishtinë/Priština, concluded on 26 September 2019.

The Youth Forum Academy, gathered more than 90 students of law and other faculties and young activists from different ethnic and religious communities. It aimed to promote youth leadership and activism on human rights issues in Kosovo and expand awareness on issues facing youth, including barriers to their political participation.

The Forum hosted three plenary sessions and numerous workshops and training events, including Training of Trainers on human rights education, and included talks from regional experts and team-building activities. Speakers came from international organizations, the Ombudsperson Institution, NGOs, local political structures and judges and reflected on how youth organizations and youth work can empower young people to create and maintain stable democratic societies, where diverse identities and cultures and equal opportunities are fostered. 

Over the Forum’s four days, there were sessions and lectures on a variety of youth-related issues in Kosovo, from gender equality, which raised important questions on women and property rights, to youth participation in political processes and how institutions can act as facilitators. Under the guidance of experts, participants engaged in productive discussions on these topics in interactive workshops designed to spark debate and inspiration. A variety of team-building activities were held in the evenings which included visits to cultural sites, a bowling session and a live music concert. On Wednesday, participants visited Novo Brdo/Novoberdë and learnt about its historical significance and the need to preserve sites of cultural heritage.

In the final session, the Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jan Braathu, emphasized the need for youth in Kosovo to be leaders of progress. “For a sustainable change, a new mind-set is needed. This mind-set is brought to us by you. Our job is to listen to you and try to facilitate the implementation of your ideas and to be here for you while trying to make things easier for all of us in Kosovo,” he said.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, democratization and public safety sector development. It remains committed to working alongside young people to help them become leaders of positive change within their environment.

Communication and Media Relations Section

Practitioners from Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine completed a three-day OSCE-supported workshop in Minsk on 26 September 2019, which focused on best practices and effective regulations to counter money laundering risks in the use of cryptocurrencies, and the criminalization of crypto-exchanges.

The workshop was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in co-operation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), EU Action on Drugs and Crime (EU-ACT) and with the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.

Participants discussed current regulations concerning cryptocurrencies. They compiled a set of counter-measures which can be employed by national authorities to regulate the use of cryptocurrencies. The workshop also provided a basis for future collaboration in the sector.

This workshop was a continuation of previous discussions on corrupt practices related to the “new digital economy”. It follows up on a workshop on combating the misuse of the Darknet and cryptocurrencies in corruption and financial crime schemes in June 2018 in Vienna and a workshop on the challenges of combating corruption and financial crimes that make use of new technologies in November 2018 in Minsk. Both events were also co-organized by the OCEEA and UNODC.

BISHKEK, 27 September 2019 – Effective oversight may be the most important long-term contribution that parliamentarians can make to democracy and good governance in their country, stated President Tsereteli in a keynote speech to the participants of the international seminar on strengthening parliamentary oversight in the Kyrgyz Republic today.

The two-day seminar, organized by the United Nations Development Programme in Kyrgyzstan, together with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the Bishkek-based Legal Clinic “Adilet,” seeks to take stock of the current status of parliamentary oversight functions in the Kyrgyz Republic and in other countries. Participants discussed progress made and shared best practices and innovative approaches that specific national parliaments have taken to engage in oversight of government activity.

The international seminar brought together over 120 participants from 10 different countries.

“Even if oversight is embedded in law, the political will to drive the process forward remains a key requirement for effective implementation,” said President Tsereteli. “Finding the political will to hold governments to account can be hard to find – especially if they are your political friends.”

“We should also bear in mind the problems parliamentarians face related to access to information and also that some sensitive topics, such as investigating corruption issues, may even require providing security to parliamentarians who are conducting their legitimate oversight work,” he added.

Tsereteli called upon members of parliament to lead by example and adhere to the same strict standards which they demand of members of government.

The President also used the opportunity to highlight the important work of the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assembly in the field of oversight of the security sector. He touched upon the OSCE PA’s resolutions calling for strengthening parliamentary oversight in the field of combating crime and corruption which has led to the appointment of a Special Representative of the President on Fighting Corruption to complement the OSCE’s efforts in this area.

In his address, President Tsereteli also stressed the need for a vibrant civil society, a free and professional media as well as representative parliaments which reflect the diversity of society and the plurality of political opinions, as preconditions for effective parliamentary oversight.

In a bilateral meeting with the Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Dastanbek Dzhumabekov, Tsereteli underlined the Kyrgyz Republic’s strong engagement within the OSCE PA, as demonstrated by its hosting of the 2018 Autumn Meeting in Bishkek and its commitment to strengthening democracy and parliamentarism, the need for an engaged civil society and the need to promote fundamental rights and freedoms.

Noting that the negative trend of deterioration of the media environment which occurred in the run-up to the 2017 presidential election seemed to have been reversed, Tsereteli expressed the hope that Kyrgyz authorities would continue to promote respect for freedom of the media and expression.

Tsereteli reiterated the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s steadfast commitment to support Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to strengthen its parliamentary democracy and to build a society based on law and order. Tsereteli in particular noted the readiness of the ODIHR to offer its legal expertise in relation to legislative reform.

Tsereteli and Dzhumabekov also discussed preliminary preparations for the 2020 parliamentary elections, which the President said the OSCE PA stands ready to observe.

Speaker Dzhumabekov also encouraged the international community to promote economic and social development in Kyrgyzstan in order to reinforce its efforts to implement democratic reforms.

The President also visited the OSCE Academy to meet its leadership and the new cohort of students. A working meeting with Amb. Pierre Von Arx, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek is also planned to discuss how the PA can further support the work of the OSCE in the country.

This was President Tsereteli’s third visit to Kyrgyzstan in his capacity as president. The Kyrgyz Republic was the first country in Central Asia to adopt a parliamentary democracy. Earlier this week President Tsereteli was in Kazakhstan to attend the Fourth Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries’ Parliaments and to hold bilateral meetings with high-level Kazakh officials.

Tsereteli will report on their visit during the OSCE PA’s upcoming Autumn Meeting to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, on 3-6 October.

For the President's full remarks to the seminar in Bishkek, please click here.

433964

The international conference Open Data Tashkent 2019 took place at Inha University in Tashkent on 27 September 2019. The event is part of the project Support of Uzbekistan in improvement of Open Data Management-2019. The project is implemented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan together with the State Committee on Statistics, and the Ministry for the Development of Information Technologies and Communications.

The conference was attended by the heads of the ministries and other state bodies responsible for introducing and updating open data at the state portal; international organizations, international and local open data experts, and students of Inha University.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, John MacGregor, underlined that most of the priorities of Uzbekistan’s 2017 – 2021 Action Strategy are related to OSCE commitments. “Today’s event is important because it offers a platform for dialogue on co-operation and innovation for the future of Uzbekistan. The conference stresses the importance of the accessibility of data in a useable format as individuals, entities or investors,” he said.

The conference was organized in recognition of the state policy for further development of open data in Uzbekistan, and in particular the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On additional measures to ensure openness and transparency of public administration, and improving statistical capacity of the country."

During the event participants discussed recommendations on improving the quality of data at the state portal data.gov.uz. Uzbekistan’s accession to the International Open Data Charter and development of a road map to improve Uzbekistan’s positions in the international rankings "Global Open Data Index" and "Open Data Barometer", as well as upcoming hackathon "Open Data Challenge"  were also part of the discussion.

433289 Communication and Media Relations Section

Twenty-three participants (including eight women) completed a five-day training course on 27 September 2019 held in Golem, Albania, aimed at further strengthening their capacity to counter the financing of terrorism. The participants were from Albania’s General Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering, the State Intelligence Service (SHISH), the Albanian State Police, the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecution Office for Serious Crimes. The course was jointly organized by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, the OSCE Presence in Albania, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP).

The course was designed to strengthen Albania’s compliance with international standards, in particular UN Security Council Resolutions, especially the recently adopted UN Security Council Resolution 2462 (2019), standards of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), and OSCE commitments. The course was led by international experts together with five local government officials. Prior to the seminar the local officials had completed a train-the-trainers course organized by the UNODC and the OSCE in Vienna.

Participants learned about the key role of inter-agency co-operation in investigating and disrupting terrorist financing. Based on country- and region-specific scenarios, it included sessions on financial investigation, creating financial profiles, briefings, decision logs, case management, and converting financial intelligence into evidence. A separate presentation on international co-operation was delivered by Europol’s liaison officer in Albania.

More than half of the course was devoted to practical work on exercises highlighting specific instruments and techniques that play an important role in countering the financing of terrorism.

The course was organized with the financial support of the OSCE Presence in Albania and ICITAP. This was the third course in a series of courses that form part of a comprehensive multi-annual capacity-building programme to support national efforts to counter terrorist financing in South-Eastern Europe.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.