Central Europe

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 16 May 2023 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will launch on Wednesday its Guidelines for the effective performance of Municipal Co-ordination Mechanisms against Domestic Violence (MCMDV), supported by the Government of France. The purpose of the MCMDVs is to improve inter-institutional co-operation in domestic violence cases and improve the local institutional policy response.

The Guidelines, which will be available in Albanian, Serbian, and Turkish, are a practical tool to facilitate more effective and co-ordinated responses to domestic violence at the local level. They cover the legal basis and purpose of the MCMDVs, the importance of a multi-institutional and coordinated approach, data collection and reporting, and training and capacity building for MCMDV members. The Guidelines are the result of a series of consultations with members of the MCMDVs established throughout Kosovo, including the MCMDVs of Prishtinë/Priština, Gračanica/Graçanicë, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica South and Mamuşa/Mamushë/Mamuša.  

Opening remarks will be delivered by Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, as well as by Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu, and French Ambassador Olivier Guérot.

Media representatives are cordially invited to attend the event on Wednesday, 17 May 2023, at Hotel “Sirius” in Prishtinë/Priština, starting at 15:00.

543606 Kunduz Rysbek

In an effort to address the growing security risks stemming from the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and conventional ammunition (CA) across Central Asia and beyond, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek began implementing two newly developed extra-budgetary projects aimed to mitigate such risks in Kyrgyzstan.

The inaugural event on launching these two projects, entitled “Improvement of SALW and CA life-cycle management capacity of Ministry of Defense of Kyrgyz Republic” and “Reducing risk of illicit SALW, ammunition and explosives proliferation across border of Kyrgyz Republic”, took place on 15 May 2023 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The event aims to raise awareness of the public on the projects’ concept, goals, and anticipated outcomes with participation of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Defense (MoD), the Border Service (BS) of the State Committee on National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as  the embassies of donor countries including the USA, Germany and Switzerland.

These multi-year projects aim to assist the MoD and the BS to enhance their capacities in reducing proliferation risks of SALW and CA across national borders and improving their life-cycle management. This will be achieved through strengthening their legal and organizational framework, enhancing training capacity, infrastructure, and information management in line with international standards and the OSCE best practices on SALW.

Notably, the projects were launched in response to Kyrgyzstan's official request for practical assistance in the field of SALW and CA at the 988th meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) on 13 October 2021. The projects are implemented by the POiB with the substantial support of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre/ FSC Support Unit, and the donor community including the USA, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

The projects are expected to have a significant impact on the SALW and CA control with the potential to improve the safety and security of lives of millions of people affected by these issues not only in Kyrgyzstan but also beyond its borders. Ultimately, the success of these projects depends on the national ownership as well as collective efforts of all stakeholders involved, including beneficiaries, donor countries, participating states, and implementing parties. The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek remains committed to supporting these initiatives for safer and more resilient communities for the benefit of people in Kyrgyzstan and the entire OSCE region.

543582 Marina Živaljević

Building on a training course conducted in March, the State Election Commission together with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a training session for municipal electoral commissions on how to train polling station staff ahead of 11 June parliamentary elections.

Duties and responsibilities of polling station staff, preparation of election materials, voting procedures, and counting ballots – were some of the topics discussed with representatives from municipal electoral commissions, who will further train their polling station staff across the country.

Darko Brajović, Mission’s Democratization Acting Programme Manager, said that polling station staff play a central role in election administration. “Their role is to ensure that voters are able to cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere, building public confidence in the election process,” said Brajović. He pointed to the Commission’s Handbook for Polling Station Staff as a useful tool for all poll workers.

Elisa Nurković of the State Election Commission said that this training session should ensure that election management bodies have the ability to fulfil their duties on Election Day. “I thank the OSCE Mission and the Union of the Blind for their continuous support and co-operation in improving the electoral process and the accessibility of polling stations for persons with disabilities,” said Nurković.

As a guest speaker, Katarina Bigović-Kulić of the Union of the Blind, introduced participants to standards in voting for people with disabilities, and pointed out to some of the most common problems that happen on Election Day.

The OSCE Mission has worked alongside the State Election Commission and municipal electoral commissions for over six years, and it will continue supporting their work in line with OSCE commitments and principles.

* This activity is part of the OSCE Mission’s 2023 project with the State Election Commission and is not linked to the current election observation activities conducted by ODIHR.

Tirana, 15 May 2023 – Albania’s 14 May local elections were generally well-administered, competitive and held with the participation of the country’s key political forces, but the process was characterized by continued polarization between the two main political parties in the country and deep divisions among the opposition, the international observers said in a statement today. Contestants could campaign freely, but issues of importance for local communities barely featured in the campaigns. Cases of the misuse of public resources at both the national and local levels, allegations of pressure on voters and public sector workers, in particular, and of vote-buying were of concern, the observers said.

The observers said the Central Election Commission (CEC) worked in a transparent and efficient manner, although the frequent replacement of members of lower-level commissions by nominating parties negatively affected those commissions’ stability. The rules for coverage of the campaign by broadcasters strongly favour the main parties, and the frequent use of party-produced content in news programmes undermined comprehensive and objective coverage of the campaign, the statement says.

“While fundamental freedoms were respected and the campaign was competitive, the polarization between the two main political forces in the country, as well as alleged pressure on voters and vote-buying were of concern,” said Ambassador Audrey Glover, head of the election observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. “We wish Albania all success in resolving the issues we have identified and ask the political actors to work on behalf of all citizens to bring the conduct of elections fully in line with OSCE commitments and other standards for democratic elections.”

Election day was generally peaceful but was negatively affected by numerous cases of party interference in the process, widespread group voting and problems with the secrecy of the vote, as well as technical and procedural problems, particularly early in the day. The vote count was assessed positively, overall.

The fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression were respected, overall. The mayoral contests drew greater attention than those to choose local councils, in a campaign where voters were given a distinct choice. The visible but rather low-key campaign revolved around the major parties and their national leaders and included confrontational rhetoric and style, rather than focusing on local candidates and issues, to the detriment of local democracy.

“We welcome the peaceful manner in which the elections were conducted. However, long- standing matters of concern for the Congress include technical and procedural difficulties on Election Day, the low representation of women, both as candidates and in election administration, and a lack of accessibility in polling stations for voters with disabilities” said Stewart Dickson, Head of the delegation from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. “In addition, local elections should be a vehicle for local people to decide their priorities on local issues through their votes and those whom they vote for, which unfortunately, as in previous occasions, was not the case in these elections.”

“We were glad to see that the opposition parties decided to participate this time, thus enabling a more democratic process, despite some observations that suggest the lack of a level playing field during the electoral campaign,” said Sven Simon, Head of the delegation from the European Parliament. “Further embracing democratic values and completing the necessary and awaited reforms, according to the recommendations by the international community, will strengthen Albania’s arguments in favour of accession to the EU.”

Although 2020 amendments to the electoral legal framework introduced additional safeguards against the misuse of public resources for campaign purposes, the State Election Commissioner ruled that this provision applies only to parliamentary elections, and there were numerous activities, both by the national government and local administrations, that ran counter to a new rule prohibiting the authorities from providing new benefits in the four months before election day. Often, there was no clear distinction between official and campaign activities.

The elections were generally well managed by the election administration, although some delays in the technical aspects of the process and the nomination of the lower-level commissions were noted. The observers were told there was increased transparency and openness in the CEC’s decision-making.  

While diverse, the media environment is characterized by systemic problems, including the concentration of media ownership and control exerted by intertwined business and political interests, that impact on media freedom and journalistic practice. The rules for election coverage by broadcasters, based on the current party representation in the parliament, provide the main parliamentary parties with a significant advantage. Media monitoring showed that coverage of the campaign focused on national party leaders and the candidates for the mayor of Tirana, with limited attention to issues relevant at the local level.

The electoral legal framework provides an adequate basis for the conduct of democratic elections, including at the local level. While a number of previous ODIHR and Congress recommendations were addressed in 2020, many others are yet to be implemented.

Thirteen of the 17 government ministers and 50 of the 140 members of parliament (35 per cent) are women. The law provides for the 50-per cent gender quota and the criteria for placement on council candidate lists, which was not always respected. In addition, only 15 of the 144 mayoral candidates were women. Although the Electoral Code prescribes a 30-per cent gender quota, women are underrepresented throughout the election administration, particularly in decision-making positions.

543555 OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities High Commissioner on National Minorities 20th anniversary conference

On 12 May 2023, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov co-organized an expert meeting in Flensburg, Germany, entitled “Three Decades of HCNM’s Experience in Quiet Diplomacy and Conflict Prevention: Lessons Learned and New Challenges”. This is the first of a series of events to mark 30 years since his office was first opened in The Hague.

During the meeting, High Commissioner Abdrakhmanov emphasized the importance of reflection in order to successfully confront the challenges of a changing security landscape. He drew inspiration from the situation in 1992 when his mandate was first created, noting that, as “participating States observed when they first created the position of High Commissioner on National Minorities, this is not only a time of instability and insecurity, it is also a time of promise.”

The expert meeting was organized jointly by the office of the HCNM and the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) and was hosted by the Danish Central Library of Flensburg. At the event, a group of fifteen experts critically reflected upon the quiet diplomacy approach employed by successive High Commissioners and the way in which all six High Commissioners have implemented their conflict prevention mandate to date since its adoption in 1992. The experts also focused on the role of the HCNM as a changemaker on the ground and the contribution of the HCNM Thematic Recommendations and Guidelines to the European minority rights regime. The outcome of the expert meeting will be reflected in a publication by ECMI, expected to be published later this year.

The High Commissioner will continue to mark the 30th anniversary of his office with several events aimed at consolidating lessons learned throughout the past three decades as a resource for his ongoing efforts, within his mandate.

In the margins of the visit, High Commissioner Abdrakhmanov met with representatives of minority communities, the Federal Union of European Nationalities, and authorities from both Germany and Denmark, including Stadtpräsident of Flensburg Hannes Fuhrig, Mayor of Flensburg Fabian Geyer, and Consul General of Denmark in Flensburg Kim Anderson. Pursuant to his mandate, the High Commissioner learned about good practices and contemporary challenges in the protection of national minorities in the German-Danish border region.

ANKARA, 15 May 2023 – Characterized by a high turnout, Türkiye’s general elections were well-managed and offered voters a choice between genuine political alternatives, but the current president and the ruling parties enjoyed an unjustified advantage. Continued restrictions on fundamental freedoms of assembly, association and expression hindered the participation of some opposition politicians and parties, as well as civil society and independent media, international observers said in a statement today.  

The joint observation 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 the legal framework does not fully provide a basis for holding democratic elections.

“These were competitive but still limited elections, as the criminalization of some political forces, including the detention of several opposition politicians, prevented full political pluralism and impeded individuals’ rights to run in the elections,” said Michael Georg Link, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission. “Political interference in the electoral process is not in line with Türkiye’s international commitments.”

Almost 61 million voters were registered to vote in the country as well as 3.5 million abroad, in an election that took place against the background of this year’s devastating earthquakes. Some limited steps were taken by the authorities to enable those affected by the earthquakes to participate in the elections, but despite these and additional efforts by civil society and political parties, a high number of these voters faced difficulties in voting.

“Turkish democracy is proving to be amazingly resilient. This election had a high turnout and offered a real choice. However, Türkiye does not fulfil the basic principles for holding a democratic election,” said Frank Schwabe, head of the PACE delegation. “Key political and social figures are in prison even after judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, media freedom is severely restricted and there is a climate of self-censorship. Türkiye is a long way from creating fair election campaign conditions.”

The election administration organized the elections efficiently and generally enjoyed trust, although there was lack of transparency and communication in their work, as well as concerns over its independence.  Voting day was mostly peaceful and smooth, despite a number of incidents in and around polling stations. While the process was generally well-organized, important safeguards, particularly during the counting, were not always implemented. Family and group voting were frequent, while the layout of half the polling stations observed made them inaccessible for people with disabilities.

The campaign was largely peaceful and competitive, but highly polarized and often negative and inflammatory in tone. A number of prosecutions as well as pressure on opposition politicians and parties, including ongoing proceedings to dissolve the second-largest opposition party, hampered their participation in the elections. While the constitution guarantees the equality of women and men, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions and generally in politics, and greater efforts are needed from the authorities and political parties in this area.

“Despite the promising opportunity for choice presented in these elections, there were significant challenges for citizens to exercise the right to vote, and unfortunately, women were underrepresented as candidates,” said Farah Karimi, head of the OSCE PA delegation. “Hundreds of thousands of individuals, people affected by the earthquakes and particularly students, had to make significant additional efforts to exercise their right to vote.”

The misuse of public resources in some cases as well as announcements of significant social benefit programmes provided undue advantage to those in power, and blurred the line between party and state. There were numerous cases of officials campaigning during the inaugurations of large-scale infrastructure projects, while the current president often campaigned while performing his official duties.

The freedom of expression and the media, although protected by the constitution, are limited by a number of laws. The recent criminalization of disseminating false information, the fact that websites are frequently blocked and online content removed, and the ongoing arrests and prosecutions of journalists further weakened freedom of expression. During the campaign, the ruling parties and their candidates were clearly favoured by the majority of national TV stations, including the public broadcaster, despite its constitutional obligation to remain impartial.

“Voters had a genuine choice to make on election day, and the high turnout was a good illustration of the democratic spirit of the people of Türkiye,” said Ambassador Jan Petersen, who heads the ODIHR election observation mission. “However, I regret to note that the election administration’s work was lacking in transparency, as well as the overwhelming bias of the public media and the limitations to freedom of speech.”

The international election observation to the general elections in Türkiye totalled 401 observers from 40 countries, made up of 264 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 98 from the OSCE PA, and 39 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

TOKYO, 15 May 2023 – OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded a visit to Japan, where she met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi and other officials and also took part in the Munich Security Conference Leaders’ Meeting hosted by Japan ahead of the G7 Summit. 

Over the course of the visit, Secretary General Schmid met with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada, Director General for Global Issues Takeshi Akahori, and a team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency led by Senior Vice President, Neoki Ando. The trip also included meetings with Keiko Okada, Director General of the Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office and Takehiro Kano, Director General of International Peace Cooperation Headquarters Cabinet Office. 

Throughout the meetings, the Secretary General highlighted the value of co-operation between the OSCE and Japan. She commended the generous contributions Japan has made to OSCE projects including the Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe, and the unique expertise Japan offers, including on inclusive disaster risk reduction.

“Japan has been a leading example of the value of co-operating beyond borders. Since becoming our first Asian Partner for Co-operation in 1992, the country has continuously played a vital role in sharing its unique perspectives and experience as well as in providing dedicated support to projects and activities,” said Secretary General Schmid.

“As one of our leading extra-budgetary donors, Japan has contributed greatly to the work the OSCE is doing to address common challenges. This ranges from strengthening border security in Central Asia to supporting women’s leadership in humanitarian responses in Ukraine. I am confident that the discussions held during this visit will help to advance this co-operation even further,” she stressed.

Japan was the first Asian country to be invited to a meeting of the then Conference for Security and Co-operation in 1992. Japan continues to play a role as an OSCE Partner for Co-operation and will host the 2024 OSCE Asian Conference, which was last held in the region in 2019. 

SARAJEVO, 14 May 2023 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, concluded a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). 

Chairman Osmani held talks with members of the BiH Presidency as well as with the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmedin Konaković. In the meetings, Osmani discussed the current political climate in the country and the need to continue progressing on reforms in areas such as elections, security, anti-corruption, human rights and reconciliation. Osmani reaffirmed the OSCE’s commitment to strong engagement and close co-operation with BiH.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina has made clear progress on consolidating peace and security and strengthening democracy and rule of law over the last 25 years. This cannot be taken for granted and should be defended and deepened,” Osmani said. “Constructive dialogue, compromise, and co-operation: these should be the focus of improving the current situation and taking steps to rebuild trust and ensure progress on reforms for people’s benefit.”

The Chairman also met with members of the Collegium of both chambers of BIH Parliament and members of the Central Election Commission. Their talks focused on the OSCE’s role in advocacy for election reform. The OSCE Mission continues to support BiH with strengthening the integrity of the election processes, and the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has provided recommendations to support BiH’s comprehensive election reform.

In addition to meetings with the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Brian Aggeler, and Mission staff, Chairman Osmani donated two vehicles for a Mission-supported demining and trust-building project, which were the result of financial support provided by Germany. The project and its funding are the outcome of a successful inter-municipal co-operation supported by the OSCE among five municipalities in the Majevica area.

Chairman Osmani also met with the mayor of Jablanica, Damir Sabanovic and visited Jablanica’s old municipal building (former military barracks) which hosts 17 NGOs. The building will be renovated within a joint project of the OSCE Mission to BiH, EU Delegation, UN and Council of Europe aiming to support municipalities across BiH which implement locally-driven initiatives to build trust and community cohesion. Minister Osmani congratulated Mayor Sabanovic for his commitment to the community and for promoting positive stories in BiH.

While on a field visit to Mostar, Osmani met with the Mayor of Mostar, Mario Kordić, and Municipal Council Speaker, Salem Marić. They spoke about efforts to build a more inclusive and multi-ethnic society and its crucial role in achieving sustainable progress. This included discussing and seeing first-hand the Mission’s work supporting these efforts on the ground.

The Chairman’s trip also included meetings with civil society representatives from around BiH. These meetings focused on how to foster co-operation and promote tolerance and ways to build trust.

“The motto of North Macedonia’s OSCE Chairpersonship is ‘It’s about people’. That’s what is at the heart of the OSCE’s work,” Osmani said. “Our partnerships on the ground are an important part of how we are helping BiH become stronger, more cohesive and more prosperous for the benefit of people in the country and throughout region.”

TIRANA, 12 May 2023 – International observers will hold a press conference to present their preliminary conclusions following the local elections in Albania.

What:

• A press conference of the international election observation mission for the local elections in Albania
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream here 

Who:

• Ambassador Audrey Glover, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission
• Stewart Dickson, Head of the delegation from the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
• Sven Simon, Head of the delegation from the European Parliament

When:

• 15:00 local time (GMT +2), on 15 May 2023

Where:

• Tirana International Hotel, Sheshi Skenderbej 8, Tirana

Registration:

• No registration is necessary if you are attending the press conference in person, but questions will only be taken from journalists
• To take part via Zoom, please register with Thomas Rymer, ODIHR election observation mission press advisor, thomas.rymer@odihr.al, and Giovanna Maiola, election observation mission media analyst, giovanna.maiola@odihr.al, by 11:00 local time on 15 May!

ANKARA, 12 May 2023 – International election observers will hold a press conference to present their findings following the general elections in Türkiye.

What:

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

Who:

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

When:

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

Where:

• Tulipia Ballrom I, Sheraton Ankara Hotel & Convention Center, Noktali Sokak, Kavaklidere, Ankara

Registration:

• To take part via Zoom, please register by 11:00 local time on 15 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 403 observers, made up of 264 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term, and short-term observers, 101 from the OSCE PA, and 38 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

543474 Marina Živaljević

A needs assessment to evaluate the fire mitigating measures in Montenegro concluded on 12 May, conducted by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) for the Ministry of Defense and with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

During the week, representatives of the Swedish delegation, the Mission and the Ministry held working meetings and field visits to assess the firefighting preparedness before the start of the forest fire season.

Representatives of the Ministry of Defense stated that the visit of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency was of great importance in advance of the fire season. “We are preparing and reviewing our fire system, so their experiences and support will help us enhance our system and readiness for all types of hazards,” said Ministry’s representatives.

Ulrika Hedman, Swedish Agency’s Project Manager, said that after a week of conversations, observations and exchange of experiences, they see room for improvement in the firefighting capacities of the country. “My firefighter team and I would like to thank both the OSCE Mission and the Ministry of Defence for organizing this assessment. We are looking forward to continued co-operation during the year,” said Hedman.

Dominique Waag, Head of OSCE Mission, expressed gratitude for the promised Swedish assistance as well as for seconding a Project officer to the Mission.

The Mission is supporting the Ministry of Defence in improving firefighting capabilities under the auspices of the extra budgetary project “Mitigation of Safety and Security Risks related to SALW/SCA in Montenegro”.

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is responsible for helping the Swedish society prepare for major accidents, crises and the consequences of war. In addition, the Agency provides international support to many partners and participates in a number of co-operation forums in the area of civil protection and preparedness, peace-support operations and more.

543450 Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

VIENNA, 12 May 2023 - Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro concluded her visit to the United States of America from 1 – 5 May, where she presented the Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy and hosted several events on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day in New York, while in Washington she met with high-level officials in the U.S. Department of State.

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), Representative Teresa Ribeiro, along with freedom of expression mandate holders from the United Nations, the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, presented this year's Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy. Aligned with the theme "Enabling a Future of Rights" for WPFD, the Joint Declaration emphasizes the crucial role of independent, free, and diverse media in providing reliable news and information, fostering robust public debate, and contributing to the cultivation of an informed and active citizenry.

On this occasion, the RFoM organized and participated in various side events. The first event, organized in collaboration with UNFPA, UN WOMEN and the Association for Progressive Communications (ACP), highlighted the interlinkages between freedom of expression and gender justice. The second event, organized in conjunction with the freedom of expression mandate holders, offered a more in-depth discussion with civil society and other stakeholders of the Joint Declaration’s main findings and recommendations. During a third event, jointly organized with UNESCO and its ‘Social Media 4 Peace’ project, focused on the question of how to build a healthier online information ecosystem to ensure access to public interest information. Another event focused on the interconnected nature of media freedom and security and was held in partnership with the North Macedonian Chairpersonship in Office and Albania as an elected member of the UN Security Council. This event received co-sponsorship from Sweden, Poland, and Finland, the recent and forthcoming Chairs of the OSCE.

The collective conclusion drawn from these events underscores the fact that challenges to media freedom have grown in scale and complexity. Many developments are interrelated and interconnected, negatively affecting the media system and its essential function in society. The broad spectrum of thematic areas covered by the events facilitated lively debates and pertinent discussions on some of the most urgent challenges to global media freedom, including those within the OSCE region.  These discussions also highlighted the important and unique mandate of the RFoM as part of a regional security organization.

While in New York, the Representative met with Anna Luehrmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the Federal Foreign Office of Germany. During their conversations, they explored possibilities for strengthening multilateral engagement in support of media freedom.

The Representative continued her trip to the U.S. with meetings in Washington with high-level officials from the U.S. Department of State. She met with Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Kami Winter, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Tom Selinger, and Deputy Assistant Secretary John M. Pommersheim. The discussions revolved around the regressing media freedom situation in the OSCE region, the growing challenges related to disinformation, alarming developments concerning media freedom in the context of Russian Federation's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the safety of journalists and media workers, and the situation of exiled journalists.

543420

Currently, judicial and legal reforms are one of the top priorities for the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and there is no doubt that lawyers play a crucial role in these processes.

This is why the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan – together with the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan and experts from the Centre de la Protection Internationale (Centre of International Protection) – organized the training titled “International Mechanisms for the Protection of Human Rights in the UN System”, held from 4 to 9 May in Samarkand. The event aimed to further develop the capacity of lawyers to protect and defend and human rights.

Overall, 36 participants (22 women and 14 men) took part in the training and focused on important topics including the role of the United Nations (UN) in the protection and the promotion of human rights, the procedure before the UN Human Rights Committee, the right to life and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as well as the right to a fair trial.

Ms. Nadia Yakhlaf-Lallemand, Head of the Human Dimension at the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, noted how the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan 2022-2026 reflects the Government’s priorities to develop legislation expanding the powers of lawyers to provide effective legal aid, increase their participation in pre-trial and conciliation procedures, and ensure accessibility of legal aid to the population.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator will continue to support judicial and legal reforms taking place in the host country in line with the aforementioned Development Strategy, particularly by contributing to the institutional and professional development of the Chamber of Advocates and its members.

VIENNA, 11 May 2023 - The current setbacks in media freedom in the OSCE region are not isolated incidents, but are closely linked to the larger political and social contexts in which they occur stated Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro today during the presentation of her bi-annual report to the OSCE Permanent Council.

She noted an erosion of democracy and a backsliding of human rights, accompanied by increasingly polarized societies, diminishing trust in democratic institutions, and the rise of extremist movements and populism. “Declining trust in democratic governance and institutions goes hand in hand with a decline in trust in the media. This, in turn, has affected adversely the sustainability, independence, and diversity of the media and their ability to promote democracy, the rule of law, security and peace,” said Ribeiro.

In her report, Ribeiro stressed that independent quality media is an essential pillar of democracy, holding power to account, promoting human rights, diversity and equality, and enhancing social cohesion and peacebuilding. She urged the participating States to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that media freedom is a fundamental prerequisite for the establishment of peaceful societies, fostering mutual understanding among nations, and is an integral component of overall security.

Ribeiro also addressed the challenges posed by the unprecedented spread of false narratives, propaganda and disinformation facilitated by digital technologies and their impact on our communities. She noted that manipulative practices that influence information have become instrumentalized, while emphasizing the dangers of amplifying malign content in the online information space. The Representative also noted that the war by the Russian Federation against Ukraine has created a new reality: “One where we are faced with an increasing level of weaponization of information, blurring the lines between freedom of expression and its misuse for disinformation and propaganda for war, creating chaos and distrust in the media and other democratic institutions.”

She cautioned against regulatory proposals aimed at further controlling information flows and restricting free speech online, stressing the need to center the use of technologies that impact online information spaces on international human rights standards.

Ribeiro urged the participating States to protect and enhance media freedom in the OSCE region, promote independent quality media, and foster an information space that serves the public interest. “By providing reliable information, explanations, and analyses, the media enables a public debate and an informed and active citizenry. This facilitates free and independent elections and other forms of public participation and community engagement, including in decision-making processes, and contributes to peace and democracy,” said Ribeiro.

The report can found here: https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/a/a/543366_0.pdf

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

Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

A three-day training course on strengthening North Macedonia’s capacity to implement targeted financial sanction regimes concluded today in Veles, North Macedonia. The training was jointly organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje.

The course brought together twenty-two participants from nine different agencies of North Macedonia involved in the countering of terrorist financing, including the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Customs Administration, Financial Police Office, Intelligence Agency, Ministry of Justice, Financial Intelligence Office, Agency for National Security, and National Coordinator’s Office for Countering Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism.

Sessions focused on the opportunities the sanction regime pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 present as a disruption tool, procedures derived from it, and let participants engage in exercises to use sanctions effectively through inter-agency co-operation. An expert from the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and the Taliban and associated individuals and entities presented the role of the Monitoring Team, the threat picture and a case study.

Mr. Zlatko Arsov, Deputy National Coordinator for Countering Violent Extremism and Countering Terrorism, highlighted in his opening remarks the need to foster regional and international co-operation in countering terrorism and thanked the OSCE for the support in organizing this series of training courses and more broadly for its support in drafting National Strategies on Countering Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism.

This was the final course in the framework of the progressive training programme on countering the financing of terrorism, jointly implemented by the OSCE and UNODC since 2021 in North Macedonia and organized with the financial support of the United States. The programme included five tailored training modules for officials from North Macedonia, delivered by local trainers. It aimed to support further compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards in the field of countering the financing of terrorism. The OSCE Mission to Skopje will ensure follow-up support to the national agencies responsible for countering terrorism.

543306 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Farhod Nabiyulloev

An OSCE-organized three-day training course on counteracting trafficking in human beings for facilitators from Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs) concluded on 28 April 2023 in Dushanbe.   

The course brought together some 25 participants and aimed at strengthening the knowledge of WRC facilitators on how to raise the awareness of the general public on human trafficking. Participants learned about the identification of persons at risk as well as survivors of the crime, the rights of victims of trafficking in human beings, and the rights of the child victims of trafficking as the special vulnerable group that needs enhanced protection. Other topics covered during the course were the difference between trafficking in human beings, smuggling of migrants, and illegal migration; direct and indirect actors in the field of combating trafficking in human beings; National Referral Mechanism for victims of trafficking in human beings and the role of WRCs within the National Referral Mechanism.

“I learnt about national and international human trafficking laws, the human rights of the victims of human trafficking, and how government agencies deal with this issue. Victims of human trafficking can be both women and men, orphans, refugees, and migrants. I will use my gained knowledge and skills at seminars with community members and will warn them against becoming victims of human trafficking,” said Abdurahim Kalandarzoda, Facilitator from “Darmonbakhsh” WRC in the Dusti district of the Khatlon region. 

“The training was prepared and organized at the highest level. The proposed topics were recognized as very important for the work of facilitators from WRCs,” said Inoatkhon Khojaeva, Facilitator of the WRC “Rohnamo” in the Lakhsh district of the Khatlon region adding that she will be able to apply this knowledge in practice.

Building the capacity of civil society representatives on counteracting domestic violence and trafficking in persons is one of the commitments of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in the implementation of the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2004) and OSCE Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings (2003).

The training course is being implemented within the Women’s Resource Centres project of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and funded by the United States of America, Finland, Norway, Germany, and Andorra.

543297 Farhod Nabiyulloev Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Twenty officers of the Tajik Border Troops completed the training course on operational planning on 5 May 2023 in Dushanbe. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (OSCE) organized the course in co-operation with the Tajik Border Troops. The training course was conducted in the framework of OSCE's project Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops through Promotion of Regional Co-operation - Phase II, financed by the Republic of France.

During a three-week course, participants learned seven steps of the operational planning process. The training included classroom instructions introducing the concepts of operational planning followed by practical exercises. The students applied the learned concepts to a realistic planning scenario related to dealing with security and humanitarian issues on the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border. Gender-sensitive border security operations, human rights and humanitarian law and the Google Earth geospatial analysis software were also the focus of the training course.

Two International instructors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania as well as two national experts from the Tajik Border Troops with expertise in operational planning conducted the course.

543255 Jeff Bieley Edita Buçaj

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo held yesterday in Gračanica/Graçanicë the first of six workshops with young members of non-majority communities to inform them about employment opportunities available with the Kosovo Police and to familiarize them with recruitment procedures.

The workshops will be conducted jointly with the police in different regions across Kosovo, and are being held in support of the ongoing Kosovo Police recruitment campaign.

The events will introduce participants to the application procedures to join the police, specifically focusing on the recruitment criteria and selection process, including written, physical and psychological tests. They will also learn about the basic professional police training course, and about the importance of police work in contributing to the communities they serve.

“Although the legal framework provides adequate protection and equal inclusion of all communities in the police ranks, the inclusion of non-majority communities remains a challenge for the police,” said Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.  

“A diverse and representative police force serves its community better. We commend the Kosovo Police for their efforts to reach out to all communities, providing first-hand information and answering questions, and motivating people to become part of the police to provide security and safety to the diverse communities of Kosovo,” he added.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human and community rights, as well as with democratization and public safety sector development.

Besides specialized training and development opportunities for the police, the Mission works with the Kosovo Police to further increase the participation of non-majority communities and women in its ranks.

A video message from Ambassador Davenport in Albanian and Serbian supporting this campaign can be viewed here: 

Albanian: (1) Facebook

Serbian: (1) Facebook

Today the OSCE Moscow Mechanism rapporteur Professor Hervé Ascensio presented his findings to the OSCE Permanent Council, collected in his report entitled ‘Report on the serious threat to the OSCE human dimension in Belarus since 5 November 2020’.

Ascensio was appointed rapporteur by the 38 participating States that invoked the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism on 23 March to examine “threats to the fulfilment of the provisions of the human dimension posed by human rights violations and abuses in the Republic of Belarus”.

The Mechanism, agreed by consensus by all OSCE participating States, allows for an investigation to be launched without consensus and independently of the OSCE Chairpersonship, institutions and decision-making bodies if one State, supported by at least nine others, "considers that a particularly serious threat to the fulfilment of the provisions of the [OSCE] human dimension has arisen in another participating State".

The Permanent Council is one of the OSCE’s main decision-making bodies, and convenes each week in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area and make decisions on future activities.

The report, which contains numerous recommendations, is available here.

Information for Google Short title:  United States mid-term elections 477766 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The November mid-term congressional elections were competitive and professionally managed, with voters actively taking part. Candidates could campaign freely, but the tone was highly polarized and the campaign negatively impacted by harsh rhetoric. In many cases, partisan redistricting reduced the competitiveness in some constituencies. Disclosure rules for campaign finance are generally comprehensive, but loopholes in the law make the impact of money in politics less transparent. There was generally a high level of confidence in the election administration, but the politicization of the offices of chief election officials and the intimidation of election workers were issues of concern.

These are some of the main conclusions detailed in the final report published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The report offers 31 recommendations to bring elections in the United States of America closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• Guaranteeing full representation rights in Congress, to citizens residing in the District of Columbia, as well as U.S. territories

• Ensuring that redistricting is carried out by independent bodies to ensure competitiveness and provide effective opportunity for voters, including minorities, to elect the representatives of their choice

• Considering comprehensive reform of the legal framework for campaign finance to ensure a more level playing field for smaller parties and independent candidates, as well as limiting campaign expenditures

• Legally requiring independent groups and non-profit organizations that engage in campaign activities or donate to campaign committees to disclose the sources of their funding within a specific timeframe

• Barring election officials at state and local level from overseeing elections in which they are competing

• Discouraging inflammatory and divisive rhetoric, including attempts to undermine trust in the electoral process

• Ensuring that voter identification documents are equally available to all voters

• Setting of policy by federal states, together with relevant federal institutions, to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of electronic absentee voting

• Strengthening legal, financial, technological, and educational support for local journalism to encourage a more diverse media environment

• Ensuring access to international and citizen non-partisan observers in all states and to all stages of the electoral process

ODIHR deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission (LEOM) to the United States of America from 25 September to 18 November to observe the 8 November vote.

In Paragraph 25 of the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Document, OSCE states committed “to follow up promptly the ODIHR’s election assessment and recommendations”. The ODIHR Electoral Recommendations Database tracks the extent to which recommendations are implemented by states across the OSCE region.