Central Europe

545215 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

On 1 June 2023, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, who is on an official visit to Turkmenistan, and Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev cut the symbolic ribbon opening the new premises of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat provided by the Government of Turkmenistan free for use.

Representatives of foreign embassies and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan as well as national and international media joined the ceremony.

In her speech at the inauguration, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid said:

“With the designation of this building the OSCE Centre will be able to better meet its needs and tasks under its mandate, so we look forward to continuing to support Turkmenistan on strengthening border management, regional connectivity, environmental protection, and women’s empowerment.”

“The new building of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat marks a significant contribution to our partnership and the promotion of our common values and objectives,“ said Deputy Foreign Minister Vepa Hajiyev.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan’s authorities for the designation of the premises.

“This is evidence of the host country’s good will and commitment to co-operation with the OSCE,” he said.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat was established in 1999 to assist Turkmenistan in implementing its OSCE commitments across three dimensions of security. 

545200

On the eve of International Children’s Day, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) co-organized the III Cycling Marathon for preschool children on 31 May 2023 in Khiva.

The third edition of this yearly initiative gathered 120 children and was attended by high-level officials, including the First Deputy Minister of Preschool and School Education, the Deputy Minister of Youth Policy and Sports, the Deputy Governor of the Khorezm region, the Governor of Khiva city, as well as the Secretary General of the Uzbekistan Cycling Federation.

The event aims to engage children from an early age in regular physical exercise, and promote cycling and healthy lifestyles among the population. By involving the new generation in cycling culture and green mobility, the PCUz seeks to foster environmental education and include cycle training for children in pre-school education.

Prior to the competition, the PCUz supplied 500 balance bikes to pre-school facilities in Khiva, while teachers and physical education instructors were trained to teach pre-school children how to cycle in compliance with international standards.

For several years, the PCUz has been promoting green economy and sustainable development by integrating environmental education into the national pre-school education curriculum, with the programme “The Earth is Our Common Home”.

545188 Željka Šulc

To help uphold the effectiveness, integrity and reputation of the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the BiH Armed Forces, on 31 May and 1 June the OSCE Mission to BiH supported the Ministry’s General Inspectorate in holding a two-day roundtable in Konjic on promoting responsible social media use among defense sector personnel.

Participants discussed approaches to ensuring the optimal balance between professional conduct online and freedom of expression. They also considered the intricate landscape of internet regulations, privacy, security, handling of sensitive information, and combating misinformation and disinformation.

"In today's interconnected world, the pervasive use of social and digital media platforms for communication means there is not always thorough consideration of the implications of online conduct and its impact on employers," emphasized Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. "Given that the standing and effectiveness of the Armed Forces of BiH are at stake, military personnel are naturally held to a higher standard of diligence than an average employee. It is our shared responsibility to act with integrity, preserving trust and camaraderie."

Brigadier General Mirsad Ahmić, the Inspector General of the BiH Ministry of Defence stressed that he is pleased that this exchange of best practice, opinions, and ideas among representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, the Ministry of Defense, the BiH Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies, the OSCE Mission, and the academic community will help shape practical guidelines and recommendations on the responsible use of social media. “These results will further strengthen the framework for ensuring the ethical and professional online conduct by members of the defense sector of BiH,” concluded Brigadier General Ahmić.

545170 Marina Živaljević

Being a police officer is not just a job, but a life call that brings challenges, opportunities for professional growth and support for the state and citizens, providing a new family that is always with you. These, and many other things important for police work, have been introduced to high school graduates and their parents through the “I choose the police” campaign, implemented in the past month by the Ministry of Interior - the Police Directorate and the Police Academy, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

Videos seen by almost 300,000 people via social networks, meetings and conversations with more than 800 high school students across Montenegro, a day spent with the police officers in the field, informative flyers, numerous guest appearances on national and local media, testimonials... were just some of the parts of the campaign.

Through the campaign, in anticipation of the upcoming Police Academy’s call for applications in June, the public could have learnt about police work in relation with the protection of citizens, the obligations and challenges that this job entails, and ways to become a police officer and what kind of career development awaits those who become part of the police.

With special attention, the campaign encouraged girls to join the police, making the police inclusive and capable to respond in a best ways to the needs of diverse communities and groups the police serve. Montenegrin police women have a special role to build a safer future for everyone, they are an inspiration and a role model for others, while breaking down stereotypes and building a path towards a society of equal opportunities.

In addition, during May, representatives of the Police Directorate and the Police Academy visited high schools throughout Montenegro and discussed with the students of the final grades about the characteristics of police work, like the importance of teamwork, integrity, and the concrete tasks of the police in ensuring safety including on the roads and fighting criminality. This week, a group of interested high school students from all Montenegrin municipalities spent a day with the police in the field, in order to become more familiar with the police work and working conditions. It is important to point out that there were more girls interested in the day with the police than boys, which proves the campaign’s success in promoting gender equality.

Bearing in mind the success of the campaign and the interest young people showed, the OSCE Mission believes that this initiative will contribute to a greater number of qualified young men and women deciding to apply for the Police Academy. All information about enrolment - conditions, required documentation and application method - will be available on the website www.policijskaakademija.me during the month of June.

This year’s campaign was a continuation of the previous one supported by the OSCE Mission – “We are the power of the team - For more women in policing", which contributed to a significant increase in the number of female candidates admitted to the Police Academy.

The OSCE Mission will continue to support the Montenegrin police in strengthening its efficiency and developing a professional and accountable police fully devoted to the protection of citizens andthat enjoys the trust of society.

VIENNA, 31 May 2023 - OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will visit Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan from 31 May to 8 June for meetings with high-level government officials, parliamentarians and civil society.

In Ashgabat, the Secretary General will meet with President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Speaker of the Mejlis (the Parliament) Dunyagozel Gulmanova, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vepa Khadjiev, Ombudsperson Yazdursun Gurbannazarova and other stakeholders.

In Bishkek, the Secretary General Schmid will hold meetings with President of the Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Zhaparov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zheenbek Kulubaev and other interlocutors.

She will also visit the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, an OSCE flagship project and unique educational institution, to meet with its staff and students.                         

In Astana, the Secretary General's agenda will include meetings with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Speaker of the Senate Maulen Ashimbayev, Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and other high-level officials.

Throughout the visit, Secretary General Schmid will also meet with OSCE field operations staff and civil society representatives.

NEW YORK, 30 May 2023 – At the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, a high-level event was organized by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in close co-operation with the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of North Macedonia to the UN, and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Poland to the UN, representing the OSCE Chair and its Troika, respectfully.

The event set the stage for an insightful discussion about the sustainable integration of diverse societies. Marking the 30th anniversary of the first OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel, assuming his duties and the opening of the HCNM office in The Hague, regional models of preventive diplomacy were discussed with the participation of several other regional organizations and the UN.

“My main message to all governments is to recognize diversity as an asset and source of strength in their societies and communities. From my observations, increasing the participation of national minority youth and women in all aspects of public life has a positive impact on strengthening integration and cohesion within society,” said High Commissioner on National Minorities, Kairat Abdrakhmanov. “On occasions such as this, when we take a moment to discuss how to capitalize on our different roles, we learn a great deal from our respective experiences in conflict prevention. It also gives us the space to generate new ideas and forge new alliances,” he added.

The event brought together a broad range of multilateral institutions and their representatives, including Assistant Secretary General Nestor Mendez of the Organization of American States and Hameed Ajibaiye Opeloyeru, Permanent Observer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to reinforce partnerships on approaches to conflict prevention. The event builds on a well-established tradition, initiated in 2018 between the OSCE HCNM and partners at the UN, to hold joint engagements in the margins of the UN General Assembly. This year, the President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, delivered the opening remarks at the start of the event together with the co-hosts.

Ljubomir Danailov Frchkoski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of North Macedonia to the UN, and representing the 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship, stressed that “The nature of conflicts is shifting: today, cultural conflicts are often tied up with identity issues, discrimination, hate speech and propaganda – spread by social media – with the aim of striking fear in the heart and mistrust towards migrants, refugees, and the cultural ‘other’. We see this in increasing acts of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia within the EU and on its borders.” “Facing this challenge with neutral, passive and pale multilateralism is not an option! All of us here today – international actors together with local initiatives – need to make a stand. Let us strive for inclusivity and gender equality, especially for vulnerable groups. Serious energy and efforts are needed to expose fake news, conspiracy theories, and hate speech which spread fear,” he said.

Krzysztof Maria Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN, representing the 2022 OSCE Chairpersonship, went on to emphasize that “Conflict prevention efforts often go unnoticed by the headlines, yet their primary objective is to ensure that crises never escalate to that level.” “Poland firmly believes that preventive diplomacy is a crucial tool in maintaining peace and stability in our increasingly interconnected world. Rather than waiting for conflicts to escalate and lives to be lost, it is imperative that we take proactive measures to prevent conflicts from arising in the first place,” he said.

In his address, Fernand de Varennes, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, reminded us that: “Preventive diplomacy must keep up with the changing landscape of modern conflicts and focus on addressing the grievances of minorities in areas such as socio-economic and public participation – failure to do so is reflected in a more unstable, violent and conflict-prone world.”

Panellists, including Alice Wairimu Nderitu, UN Under-Secretary-General & Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide and Ilze Brands Kehris, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, shared their perspectives on how the UN and regional organizations can work together to amplify the impact of their efforts in preventive diplomacy. In addition, Paivi Kaarina Kannisto, Chief of Peace and Security at the UN Women called for decision-makers to meaningfully engage with national minority women and youth, including when designing policies focused on integration and the effective participation of all members of society in public life and the socio-economic sphere.

Participants reiterated their commitment to continue engaging in active dialogue, and share experiences and best practices to build an enabling environment to promote peace and security.

544924 Communication and Media Relations Section

The 2023 OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security, a nine-week online training course organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, was launched on 29 May.

The call for applications closed on 10 April, with a record number of applicants resulting in 150 young professionals (85% female) from 48 OSCE participating States and 9 Partners for Co-operation being enrolled this year. Between 29 May and 28 July, participants will learn about conflict prevention and resolution tools through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation in the OSCE area via the OSCE’s E-Learning Platform. Later this year, some successful graduates will be invited to a one-week in-person training in Vienna.

The Scholarship for Peace and Security in the OSCE area seeks to empower young professionals, in particular women, to engage in the security sector, especially the politico-military security field. The course emphasizes preventive responses to crises and conflicts and strengthens mediation support and post-conflict rehabilitation efforts; through arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation; towards confidence- and security-building in the OSCE area.

Alina, a 2023 participant from Ukraine, said “Learning about preventive actions of war and putting emphasis on preemptive diplomacy, mediation, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace, will be a unique and invaluable experience. I am sure that the program will contribute to my professional development in my future career in peacekeeping and human rights protection”.

Sophia, from Germany, shared “I am eager to share my insights with the other participants and challenge their thinking that gender in the politico-military security field is mainly adding women and stir. I am also eager to listen to and learn from the other participants and experts, as knowledge is key”.

The Scholarship for Peace and Security in the OSCE Area is held annually, targeting the underrepresentation of women and youth at all levels of the decision-making process in peace and security. Follow the event page for additional information and regular updates.

544906 ODIHR election experts present the final report on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2022 general elections to representatives of the country's Constitutional Court. Sarajevo, 23 May 2023. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2022 general elections in Sarajevo between 22 and 25 May 2023. The visit also presented an opportunity for a mid-term review as part of the Support to Elections in the Western Balkans project.

The experts discussed the report’s key findings and recommendations with government officials, members of the parliament, courts and representatives of the media and civil society. Discussions focused, among others, on the revision of the legal framework and elimination of discriminatory restrictions on the right to stand, impartiality and professionalism of polling station commissions, the need to investigate and deter practices of pressure and misuse of administrative resources, protection of journalists from threats and intimidation, facilitation of women’s active participation in public and political life, and protection of the right to vote in secrecy and a free atmosphere.

“We appreciate the constructive dialogue with our counterparts in Bosnia and Herzegovina following our observation of the general elections last year,” said Ambassador Peter Tejler, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the 2022 general elections. “We encourage the authorities to intensify their efforts in implementing ODIHR’s outstanding recommendations and to facilitate co-ordination and exchange among all relevant electoral stakeholders.”

To bring elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections, ODIHR offered assistance including expert support, thematic workshops and legal reviews related to potential changes to the electoral legislation.

ODIHR election observation missions also assess the country’s efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, the ODIHR mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations from the ODIHR final reports on the 2014 and 2018 general elections and concluded that nine had been fully implemented, five had been mostly implemented, 18 were partially addressed and 20 remain to be addressed.

In the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Document, all OSCE participating States committed themselves to “follow up promptly the ODIHR’s election assessment and recommendations”.

ANKARA, 29 May 2023 – The second round of Türkiye’s presidential election was well run and gave voters the opportunity to choose between real political alternatives, but was characterized by increasingly inflammatory and discriminatory language during the campaign period. Media bias and ongoing restrictions to freedom of expression created an unlevel playing field, and contributed to an unjustified advantage of the incumbent, international observers said in a statement today.

The joint mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) found that although the election authorities introduced some regulations ahead of the first round to ensure the smooth running of a potential run-off, the legislation does not address important aspects of holding second rounds, which has a negative impact on legal certainty and the stability of the overall legal framework.

While candidates were able to campaign freely, supporters of some opposition parties continued to face intimidation and harassment. Inflammatory and discriminatory language was used on both sides, with mutual accusations of collaboration with terrorist organisations.

“Concerns raised during the first round over the lack of a level playing field and the unfairness of the campaign remained unaddressed, with the incumbent president continuing to benefit from an unjustified advantage,” said Farah Karimi, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission / Head, OSCE PA delegation. “Regretfully, the use of harsher rhetoric by both contesting sides that was discriminatory and inflammatory further polarized the political environment. Voters came out in great numbers yesterday, and it is crucial that the winner makes genuine efforts to ensure the unity of the people of Türkiye.”

The campaign period ahead of the second round was generally peaceful. At the same time, instances of campaigning while performing official duties continued ahead of the second round, with breaches of the ban on inauguration events during the campaign period. Together with the ongoing use of public resources for campaign purposes, this provided an undue advantage to the incumbent that was also noted in the first-round campaign.

"The second round of the presidential elections has resulted in a clear winner. Nevertheless, this second round also took place in an environment that in many ways does not provide the conditions for holding democratic elections,” said Frank Schwabe, Head of the PACE delegation. “Türkiye must now implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights and, above all, release Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş. In the future, the Supreme Electoral Council must be committed to the greatest possible transparency in order to strengthen trust in the electoral process.”

The election administration managed the preparations for the second round efficiently within a short timeframe. However, the national election authorities postponed the declaration of the final parliamentary results until after the second round, missing the deadline earlier set. It also continued the practice noted during the first round of holding closed sessions and withholding the publication of most decisions, including on complaints related to the first-round results. This further impacted the transparency of its work.  Election day was largely peaceful, but there were isolated instances of violence that were mostly directed against opposition supporters. Observers also noted cases of group or family voting, while the secrecy of the vote was potentially compromised due to the layout of some polling stations.

Trials and arrests of journalists and bloggers continued ahead of the run-off, further restricting freedom of expression. At the same time, observers noted that many broadcasters did not meet a legal obligation to provide impartial coverage of the campaign and equal opportunities for the two presidential candidates, with the public broadcaster significantly favouring the incumbent and a similar bias noted in numerous private media outlets.

“It’s true and positive that voters had a real choice between political alternatives on election day,” said Ambassador Jan Petersen, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission. “But voters were left underinformed by the lack of transparency on the part of the election administration, and the lack of balanced media coverage was concerning. In contributing to the unlevel playing field overall, this was certainly among the greatest shortcomings of this election. ODIHR stands ready to assist in addressing these.”

The international election observation to the second round of the presidential election in Türkiye totals 232 observers from 31 countries, made up of 181 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 31 from the OSCE PA, and 20 from PACE.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Nat Parry, OSCE PA: +45 60 10 81 77 or nat@oscepa.dk

Sylvie Affholder, PACE: +90 536 958 97 70 or Sylvie.AFFHOLDER@coe.int

SKOPJE/VIENNA/COPENHAGEN, 26 May 2023 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Margareta Cederfelt and Secretary General Roberto Montella today made the following statement:

“We denounce the continued missile attacks against Ukraine, which have intensified in recent weeks.

Such missile attacks constitute major human rights violations, are contrary to international humanitarian law, and achieve nothing but indiscriminate death and destruction, including on civilians – women, men, boys and girls. Today’s strike against a medical clinic in Dnipro is an especially egregious act. 

We condemn in the strongest possible terms this senseless violence, committed against a civilian population that continues to pay a terrible price in this war. 

We reiterate our call to the Russian Federation to immediately put an end to the attacks, stop violating international law, and uphold the principles and commitments of the OSCE. 

We continue to stand united with Ukraine and remain committed to supporting its people.”

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 26 May 2023 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, concluded his one-day visit, during which he met President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, and visited the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

His talks focused on recent developments and the security situation in the north of Kosovo. Chairman Osmani called for de-escalation and defusing of tensions. During the visit, he also addressed OSCE Mission’s support of ongoing reforms in promoting human and community rights, strengthening the rule of law and enhancing public safety. Youth related work and the role of young people in promoting dialogue and trust building was a strong focus of the visit.

“It is essential to reduce tensions on the ground in the north of Kosovo in order to give room to the political process of the EU-facilitated Dialogue. The OSCE stands ready to continue to support the implementation of agreements reached within the Dialogue,” said Chairman Osmani.

During his visit to the OSCE Mission, Osmani was briefed on programmatic activities by the Head of Mission, Michael Davenport, and other staff.

“Supporting the work of field missions is a top priority for our OSCE Chairpersonship. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has credibility and trust with both people and institutions, which is crucial to preserving peace and stability,” Osmani said. “I want to express my appreciation for the Mission’s dedicated work in strengthening the rule of law, supporting democratic institutions and enabling a safer environment for all communities.”

The Chairman saw the impact of the Mission’s work during his visit to the Kosovo Academy for Public Safety, where together with Prime Minister Kurti he met with police cadets from all communities.

“I was impressed by the work I saw at the Academy today, training the next generation of women and men police cadets to serve their local community. A diverse police force benefits all,” he said.   

Speaking with participants of the OSCE Youth Academy, one of the Mission’s flagship projects, Osmani praised this successful model for engaging young people in decision-making and fostering inclusive societies, which he said could be replicated elsewhere.

“If we are serious about reconciliation in this region, our young people must be the bridge to a brighter future,” Osmani said. “My message was that the young generation has a critical role in building peace. As the OSCE Chairman, I will always be ready to amplify young people’s voices in shaping their future.”

544633 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

The Special OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group met today to discuss key aspects for ensuring women’s participation in political and public life. The meeting was convened by the Polish Chair of the Group.

The session particularly highlighted the critical human rights situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, which has worsened as a consequence of developments in the country. The marginalization of women from the public sphere and the denial of their rights to education, work, and freedom of movement results in grave long-term effects on the country’s development and prosperity. This poses significant risks to regional stability as the country’s capacity to cope with transnational threats deteriorates.

A stable Afghanistan, with an inclusive and representative government that respects and protects the rights of girls and women, is not only in the interest of the OSCE and its participating States but also of the whole international community.

“Among a plethora of human rights violations and abuses, the situation of women and girls stands out as particularly alarming. Women have been pushed away from the public sphere. They have been denied their rights to education, work, and freedom of movement. This does not only constitute a grave violation of basic human rights but also translates into a deplorable loss of human capital and creative potential in Afghanistan.”, said Ambassador Adam Hałaciński, Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE and Chair of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group.

The meeting identified the main obstacles to women’s political and social engagement during crises in the context of the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, and further explored the direct impact this has on the human rights of women and girls in the country.

“The institutionalized and systemic exclusion of Afghan women and girls from public, social and economic life is a sobering reminder of how swiftly women’s and girls’ rights can be taken away. These severe violations of human rights erode also our collective security”, said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, “the OSCE will continue to continue to address the regional consequences of developments in Afghanistan and to support the courageous and inspiring women and girls who continue their resilient resistance and struggle for their human dignity”.

Participants drew on previous international responses to the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and explored future initiatives aimed at improving women’s engagement in public and political life.

Fawzia Koofi, Former Member of the Parliament of Afghanistan added “What is happening in Afghanistan in fact does not happen anywhere in the world, without changing the political ecosystem of the situation in Afghanistan nothing will progress."

The OSCE supports the Asian Partnership in its efforts to further promote common values in the international community and address the new challenges affecting European security and beyond.

544645 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor Colours of the Dniester

The award ceremony for the winners of the 14th edition of the basin-wide contest “Colours of the Dniester”, organized for children and youth from the Dniester River basin in Ukraine and Moldova, took place on 26 May, 2023.

The contest uses creative expression to increase awareness for conservation and environmental management topics among schoolchildren and students in the Dniester River basin. Participants were invited to join in person or virtually both in Moldova and Ukraine. 

The key objectives of the contest include nurturing the environmental consciousness of children and youth, mobilizing the public to join environmental protection efforts in the basin, cultivating a sense of belonging, and recognizing the increasing importance of using water resources of the Dniester River in a sustainable manner. While both the means of creative expression and the background of the competitors might have differed, participants were united by their shared values: preserving the Dniester River and its valuable resources and ecosystem for present and future generations.

“The young generation represents our future. However, it is also the generation that will face the consequences of current actions and, more importantly, the cost of inaction,” said Sylvie Goyet, Deputy Co-ordinator and Head of Environmental Activities at the Office of the Co-ordinator for OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA).

“It is our duty to contribute to awareness raising and capacity-building activities for young people, as well as enabling their participation in the decision-making processes,” Goyet added, underscoring the significant link between youth and environmental issues.

Mariia Shpanchyk, Head of the Department of Water Resources Management at the Ukrainian State Agency of Water Resources, highlighted the connection between environmental issues and good neighbourly relations.

“An environmentally conscious future in partnership with friendly neighbours is of great importance to Ukrainians, including in the Dniester River basin,” Shpanchyk said.

Furthermore, she underlined that “Ukraine and Moldova are jointly following the European path and developing a management plan for the Dniester River basin. This is a strategic document for achieving good water status. “

In the closure of the event, Mr. Petru Tataru, Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Moldova, announced the opening of the 15th edition of the “Colours of the Dniester” competition. “The transboundary art competition "Colors of the Dniester" is an event that aims to attract pupils, students and civil society to activities aimed at contributing to the protection of the entire basin of the Dniester River, its ecosystems and biodiversity," Tataru said.

"The competition is focused on international cooperation and the participation of territorial communities in solving environmental problems. This year, the motto of the competition is: 'With small steps - towards big changes'," Tataru added.  

The event is part of the long-term engagement of the OSCE in supporting transboundary water management between Moldova and Ukraine. It is driven by a successful collaboration between national and local authorities, educational institutions, civil society and the youth community.  The event took place ahead of the celebration of the Dniester River Day, which will take place on 28 May, 2023.

544612 Marina Živaljević

With the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, the Ministry of Interior - Police Directorate launches the “Respect Life – Return the Weapons” campaign, which should raise citizens’ awareness of the dangers and harmful consequences of firearms possession.

The Mission supported production of three videos that will be published on social networks and broadcast on national TV stations, inviting citizens to voluntarily surrender firearms to the police, without legal consequences, regardless of the category of firearms and whether they are in illegal or legal ownership.

The produced videos illustrate three different situations in which citizens decide to return their weapons and thereby protect themselves and their families. The videos also contain instructions on how citizens can surrender their weapons.

By calling the number 122, a citizen can inform the police that he/she wants to return weapons. A police officer will come to the place where the person is located, collect the weapons and issue a certificate about it. It is important to note that, primarily for safety reasons, citizens should not bring weapons to the police stations by themselves.

Since the entry into force of the Law on Weapons in 2015, a total of 2,315 firearms, 49,712 pieces of ammunition of various calibres, 419 mine-explosive devices and 1,285 parts of weapons have been returned.

The Mission and the Police Directorate express gratitude to all the citizens who have voluntarily handed over their weapons, thus contributing to the personal and safety of their families and the society as a whole.

ANKARA, 26 May 2023 – International election observers will hold a press conference to present their findings following the second round of the presidential election in Türkiye.

What:

• A press conference of the international election observation mission to the second round of the presidential election in Türkiye
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream here

Who:

• Farah Karimi, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission / Head, OSCE PA delegation
• Frank Schwabe, Head of the PACE delegation
• Ambassador Jan Petersen, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission

When:

• 15:00 local time (GMT +3) on 29 May 2023

Where:

• Da Vinci 1, Divan Ankara Hotel, Yıldızevler, Jose Marti Cd. No:2, Ankara

Registration:

• To take part via Zoom, please register by 11:00 local time on 29 May using the following link.      

The international election observation is a joint mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The observation mission totals 232 observers, made up of 181 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 31 from the OSCE PA, and 20 from PACE.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Nat Parry, OSCE PA: +45 60 10 81 77 or nat@oscepa.dk

Sylvie Affholder, PACE: +90 536 958 97 70 or Sylvie.AFFHOLDER@coe.int

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The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) plays an important role in providing guidance and assisting with the implementation of ambitious anti-corruption reforms in Uzbekistan. The PCUz is supporting the host country in its reform agenda to strengthen the integrity of the public sector and combat corruption, including in co-operation with other international organizations and partners.

To this end, the PCUz supported the visit of a delegation of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ACA), headed by its Deputy Director Ms. Umida Tukhtasheva, to Paris from 23 to 25 May 2023. On 24 and 25 May, the delegation participated in the 2023 OECD Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum to discuss policy solutions and business innovations that strengthen integrity and fight corruption. Emphasis was placed on the importance of leadership, partnership, political integrity, open data and zero-tolerance against corruption.

As Uzbekistan’s National Anti-Corruption Coordinator, the ACA is carrying out the work and ensuring progress within the framework of the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan under the aegis of the OECD Anti-corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN). The Forum was therefore an opportunity for the ACA to study the OECD standards and best international practices ahead of the next ACN round of monitoring.

During the visit, the delegation also met with representatives of the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) and the French National Judiciary School (Ecole Nationale de la Magistrature, ENM). The ACA and the AFA exchanged anti-corruption expertise, including advanced French preventive measures and Uzbek anti-corruption reforms, and explored areas and mechanisms of cooperation on the basis of the interagency Memorandum signed in 2022. The meeting at the French National Law School then allowed for discussions on the training and professional development of legal personnel, as well as possible areas for future co-operation.

The PCUz continues to support the capacity building of the Anti-Corruption Agency as part of its project to improve good governance reforms in Uzbekistan.

544582 For Media inquires

An OSCE-supported regional training seminar on the practical implementation of the Vienna Document 2011 concluded on 25 May 2023 in Astana. Twenty-seven military officers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan took part in the seminar.

The Vienna Document was adopted by all OSCE participating States and obliges them to share information on their armed forces and military activities. It also contains provisions on compliance and verification, such as conducting and hosting inspections and evaluations, as well as on risk reduction, military contacts and co-operation, and prior notification of certain military activities.

The seminar aimed to increase understanding, raise the role of confidence- and security-building measures, while taking into account contemporary developments, and promote military co-operation between OSCE participating States in Central Asia and Mongolia. Military and civilian experts from Belarus, France, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan, the Benelux Arms Control Agency (BACA), and the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre shared their expertise in the field of organization and co-operation between Vienna Document verification centres. The seminar also included lectures by professors of Gumilyov Eurasian National University, theoretical exercises and a simulated inspection visit to the 36th Air Assault Brigade near Astana city, where participants conducted a simulated assessment in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document on compliance and verification.

Yuri Fenopetov, Deputy Head of Mission of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana said: “OSCE participating States should continue to uphold, support and further strengthen arms control and confidence- and security-building measures in order to reduce the risk of conflict, increase confidence and promote greater openness and transparency in military planning and activities. We believe that the development and strengthening of confidence- and security-building measures are always relevant and we welcome the active role of Kazakhstan in this matter.”

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana organized the three-day event in co-operation with Kazakhstan's Defence Ministry, OSCE Secretariat Conflict Prevention Centre, and with the support of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

The Office has been organizing seminars on the Vienna Document in Kazakhstan since 2006. The seminar is part of the Programme Office's long-standing efforts to promote OSCE confidence- and security-building measures and regional security.

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From 22 to 24 May 2023, six prominent Ukrainian women peacebuilders, civil society representatives and mediators gathered in Vienna to discuss actions required to support women's leadership and participation in all decision-making processes. After two online meetings, this was the first in-person gathering of the group, organized by the Gender Issues Program in the Office of the Secretary General within the framework of the WIN-supported OSCE Networking Platform of Women Peace Leaders, including Peacebuilders and Mediators launched by Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid in December 2021.

During their visit, the participants shared their experiences and perspectives on the war against Ukraine with the OSCE Secretary General, the participating States and donors of the WIN project, as well as staff of the OSCE Secretariat. Among many issues, participants called for ensuring women’s meaningful participation in recovery planning and strengthening the support for grass-root women activists. They welcomed the networking platform provided by the OSCE as a unique opportunity to connect diverse women mediators and peacebuilders and to provide them with a safe space to share experiences and shape common strategies.

"Supporting the work of women peacebuilders and women-led organizations operating on the ground remains a top priority for the OSCE," said OSCE Secretary General Schmid, "they must be empowered, supported, and recognized for the critical work they do for their communities in times of peace and in times of war. The OSCE is well placed to provide these spaces to enhance women’s participation and influence in peace processes at all levels," she underscored.

Despite the overwhelming challenges posed by the ongoing war, Ukrainian women have stood at the forefront of humanitarian responses. Leading civil society organizations, they provide life-saving and essential support to entire communities, addressing the consequences of war and providing support to survivors of gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence.

But despite progress, further efforts are necessary to ensure the continued inclusion of women in all relevant decision-making processes. "The variety of women's experiences and voices must be heard and considered when shaping the present and future of Ukraine," highlighted Marta Chumalo, a prominent human rights defender and co-founder of the NGO "Center "Women's Perspectives".

During the event, the participants presented concrete recommendations on how to amplify the voices of women. The three-day event also included sessions on how to build self-resilience within women’s civil society and how to develop strategies to enhance women's leadership during and after conflict.            

Above all, the participants emphasized the importance of including women in decision-making and peace-building processes and the need to bring their participation and crucial work to the forefront. In this context, the OSCE has a vital role to play in empowering and supporting Ukrainian women.

The event is a part of the multi-year project WIN for Women and Men on strengthening comprehensive security through innovating and networking for gender equality, which aims to build capacity and increase participation of women in conflict prevention, mediation, and other processes relevant to comprehensive security.

Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 26 May 2023 – In response to the recent passing of the draft amendments to the Criminal Code of Republika Srpska, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHIR) raised concerns about their compatibility with the right to freedom of expression.

In a newly published analysis requested by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, ODIHR says: “The right to freedom of expression is a human right crucial to the functioning of a democracy and is central to achieving other human rights and fundamental freedoms. The full enjoyment of this right is one of the foundations of a free, democratic, tolerant and pluralist society in which individuals and groups with different backgrounds and beliefs can voice their opinions, while bringing visibility to marginalized or underrepresented groups”. 

“Bearing in mind the negative impact that defamation laws may have on the freedom of expression, international human rights bodies, including the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, have called upon states to abolish any criminal defamation laws.State practices show that criminal defamation laws are often used against journalists, political opponents, human rights defenders and others who are critical of government officials and policies,” the legal analysis continues. “It is acknowledged that the right to protection of reputation is also a fundamental right which is protected under international law, and could be impacted by defamatory statements. At the same time, defamation laws could have a chilling effect on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. Therefore, it is important that defamation laws when they exist are formulated in a way that excludes potential abuse by the public authorities, and at the same time conform to the principle of proportionality.”

ODIHR calls upon the authorities not to pursue the adoption of the provisions that aim at criminalizing “insults” and “defamation” in the Republika Srpska. In its analysis, the Office suggests considering a number of possible alternatives, at the same time ensuring that they are carefully crafted to exclude arbitrary application or abuse by the public authorities and fully comply with all international human rights standards.

The full analysis can be found here: Urgent comments on the draft criminal offences against honor and reputation in Republika Srpska | OSCE

544522 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

A five-day train-the-trainers course (ToT) for twelve staff members (seven women and five men) of the Women’s Resource Centres (WRC) concluded on 19 May 2023 in Dushanbe. The ToT provided the participants with skills and knowledge on how to promote harmony within vulnerable families and help reduce violence through a combination of gender norms, behavioural change and income-generating activities. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the ToT with the financial support of the United States of America, Finland, Norway Germany and Andorra.

The training module included social components of the Zindagii Shoista (Living with Dignity) methodology, which is effective in preventing domestic and intimate partner violence and helps to improve mental and physical well-being, livelihoods and food security. The ToT also addressed questions of gender, relationships, family conflict, violence and communication.

Each WRC will identify ten vulnerable families in their respective regions upon completion of the training and apply acquired knowledge to help selected families reduce the tension among the family members, rebuild relations and improve social and economic well-being.

“The skills and knowledge that we acquired in this training will help us to conduct awareness-raising events among those families exposed to violence and help them ease the tensions, improve communications and relations and live their lives with dignity and in harmony,” said Ms Saodatkhon Allayarova, a representative of WRC from Balkhi district.