Central Europe

As we mark International Human Rights Day, much of the world is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. A new variant and increased cases have led many OSCE participating States to reimpose restrictions reminiscent of the conditions under which we commemorated this important anniversary a year ago. The pandemic has exacerbated our task of preserving and defending human rights around the world. It has further widened the political and partisan divides and fueled conspiracy theories that target minorities and persons in vulnerable situations. Some nations, while citing the necessity of measures to control the spread of the virus, have used it as a pretext for disproportionate security responses and repressive measures that undermine human rights, including the freedom of religion or belief.

As social media plays an even greater role in these difficult times, we see how it at times is misused, fractures our societies and increases antisemitism, racism, intolerance, and xenophobia. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on persons in vulnerable situations, which has resulted in numerous instances of stereotyping, stigmatization, scapegoating and discrimination, especially against ethnic, religious, and other minorities, including anti-Semitic attacks and hate crimes against Muslims, Christians and members of other religions, Roma and Sinti, migrants and refugees, and people perceived to be of Asian descent. This is documented in the most recent annual OSCE/ODIHR Hate Crime Report, which found that one quarter of all OSCE participating States still fails to meet their basic commitment to report hate crime data. Thus, thousands of hate crime victims are left without support or redress.

We very much hope that this International Human Rights Day will be a call to action. OSCE participating States can draw lessons from this crisis and step forward to meet their commitments. Combating antisemitism, racism, intolerance, and discrimination and promoting tolerance, stability and peace are more challenging and yet more necessary in these difficult times.

Human Rights are universal and indivisible, and they protect us all. When OSCE participating States implement these comprehensive commitments and share their best practice experiences they also strengthen international relationships and contribute to security and peace. As the Personal Representatives of the Chairperson-in-Office for tolerance issues, we are ready to assist. 

Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism; Ambassador Mehmet Pacaci, Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims; Professor Regina Polak, Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions

WARSAW, 10 December 2021 – As the world continues to struggle with the Covid-19 pandemic and the rising polarization and intolerance that has accompanied it, today’s Human Rights Day reminds us that that all countries across the OSCE have recognized that human rights are the birthright of all human beings, are inalienable, and are guaranteed by law, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

“The fundamental principles of human rights that all OSCE countries have signed up to are not abstract ideals, but the real aspirations of people around the world to live their lives in safety and in dignity,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “And human rights can only be respected in tolerant societies based on democratic standards, respect for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. Pluralism and inclusion are about ensuring everyone has a place at the table and a genuine opportunity to participate.”

The compilation of rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose anniversary we celebrate today, made clear as never before that every individual possesses the same rights, whoever they are, wherever they live, and whatever their history. It stipulates that everybody must have access to and be able to exercise their human rights without discrimination of any kind.

Today, all our societies continue to face challenges in translating these aspirations into reality and tangible human rights instruments. In this sense, countries do not only have primary responsibility for protecting people from discrimination, but also to help ensure their rights are respected and promoted in practice. But since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports have proliferated of hate-motivated attacks across the OSCE region against people of different backgrounds and from minority communities. It is a tragic irony that the most marginalized in our societies are often vulnerable to further discrimination and even violence.

ODIHR continues its assistance to OSCE countries in promoting and respecting human rights in everyday life, building more tolerant and inclusive societies and countering hatred, publishing guidelines to address the security of particular communities as well as teaching aids aimed at combating prejudice through education that is grounded in respect for human rights.  The understanding that diversity exists in every society and that we need to respect and celebrate those differences is key to ODIHR’s work and core to its mandate.

The OSCE’s unique approach to security recognizes that sustainable security is only possible when human rights are fully respected. All OSCE countries have emphasized the importance of continued and strengthened dialogue to promote greater tolerance and mutual understanding, and this dialogue is only possible when the human rights of every individual are respected. By working with governments and acting as a bridge between national authorities and civil society, ODIHR helps to increase respect for human rights and thus strengthen the security of the entire region. 

KYIV, 9 December 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the extraordinary meeting of the TCG held through video conferencing:

“Today, upon the initiative of Ukraine, the participants agreed to hold an extraordinary TCG meeting devoted to ceasefire adherence. The discussion focused on different options aimed at improving the security situation along the line of contact. Regrettably, there was no common understanding among the participants. Political will is the most important element to reach an effective ceasefire.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 815 ceasefire violations, including 146 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 145 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 32 ceasefire violations, including ten explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 51 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles near non-government-controlled Kashtanove, Donetsk region, and near non-government-controlled Kruhlyk, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored the operation of and repairs to critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM visited one border crossing point and monitored areas near the border outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at two checkpoints of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles encountered instances of GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by probable jamming.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

At 08:12 on 9 December, at a checkpoint near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), Donetsk region, a member of the armed formations delayed the passage of an SMM patrol with Deputy Chief Monitor Mark Etherington on board. The patrol was travelling across the contact line south towards Novotroitske (government-controlled, 36km south-west of Donetsk). The member of the armed formations cited “lack of information about the SMM patrol’s crossing”. The SMM had preannounced its passage as a temporary, COVID-19 related courtesy.

The SMM was allowed to travel across the contact line at 10:20, after two hours and eight minutes of waiting. The delay curtailed the SMM’s program, preventing its visit to the entry-exit checkpoint near Hnutove (government-controlled, 90km south of Donetsk) and a pre-planned road assessment.

The Mission again notes that such delays not only restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, but also impede the SMM’s logistical operations, which are essential for the effective functioning of the Mission.

The OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 specifies that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas is essential to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation, as well as other mandated tasks. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

On the morning of 9 December, the armed formations in Luhansk region denied the SMM passage to non-government-controlled areas twice. The SMM patrols were travelling from government-controlled areas.

The first denial occurred at 09:18, at the checkpoint near the southern edge of the disengagement area near Zolote. The second occurred at 11:30 at a checkpoint of the armed formations on road T-0504 about 1.5km south-west of Molodizhne. Members of the armed formations cited a “lack of security guarantees” on the first occasion and a “clear order from those in control not to let the SMM cross” on the second.

While close to the checkpoint near Molodizhne, at 11:38, the SMM patrol heard at least five shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 20m north, assessed as originating from positions of the armed formations. The Mission immediately left the area.

For recent restrictions faced by the Mission when crossing the contact line, see SMM Spot Reports 27/2021, 28/2021, 29/2021, 30/2021, 31/2021, 32/2021, 33/2021, 34/2021, 35/2021 and 36/2021.

The Mission again notes that such denials not only restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, but also prevent the SMM’s logistical operations, which are essential for the effective functioning of the Mission.

The OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 specifies that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas is essential to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation, as well as other mandated tasks. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate.

507461 Željka Šulc

To help improve border security of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to BiH, held a training course on identifying forged travel documents for instructors at the Agency for Education and Professional Training of the BiH Ministry of Security, from 6 to 10 December 2021 in Mostar.

The course focused on the travel document manufacturing process, their security features, forgery methods, and using specialized equipment to detect forgeries. It bolstered the existing skills of Agency instructors who will then share their knowledge with BiH Border Police cadets and serving officers.

“The training course will strengthen the capacities of relevant law enforcement agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina to discover and prevent misuse of forged travel documents and decrease the number of criminals able to move across the BiH border using a fake identity. This will in turn positively impact international efforts to combat transnational threats,” said Susan Penksa, Head of the OSCE Mission’s Department of Security Cooperation.

The training course will also improve the operational awareness of border officers and help them take a human rights compliant approach to the identification of forged travel documents.

The OSCE will also donate equipment for the identification of falsified documents to the Agency for Education and Professional Training, which will be used in future training courses of cadets and border officers.

507599

On the eve of International Human Rights Day, on 9 December 2021 the OSCE Presence in Albania organized a regional roundtable discussion for equality bodies and independent human rights institutions. Representatives from the Western Balkans discussed, in the hybrid-format meeting, their role and interactions with respect to judicial proceedings. 

The event gave participants the opportunity to exchange best practices and experiences, and to strengthen regional co-operation. It served as a momentum to raise awareness about respective governments’ obligations towards protection from discrimination and promotion of human right institutions’ work.

“Independent human rights institutions are essential synapses to ensure the effective implementation of international human rights standards at the national level, to act as a bridge between the citizens and the State, protect those in need, and hold governments accountable for their human rights obligations,” said Vincenzo Del Monaco, Head of OSCE Presence in Albania, at the opening of the event.

Albania’s People’s Advocate Erinda Ballanca said: “We, human rights institutions, should be a success story, because failure to succeed damages not only the authority and stability of our institutions, but also the very cause of human rights in general”.

“Today’s meeting is very important to know the competences of each other, to see what competences we have consolidated and how we can implement new ones in our realities”, said Robert Gajda, Albania’s Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination.

The Presence has been supporting independent human rights institutions in Albania since their establishment, and recently facilitated the signing of a co-operation agreement among them.

507587 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An online seminar on how to make the work of Aarhus Centres sustainable was organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat on December 9, 2021. Its participants presented best practices from OSCE participating States in implementing effective approaches for making them sustainable, taking into account their legal status.

The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, university students and specialists from Magtymguly Youth Organization of Turkmenistan and Public Association Enterprise “Tebigy Kuwwat”.

Two international experts from Kazakhstan and Tajikistan discussed the role of the Aarhus Centre in Turkmenistan in promoting the Aarhus Convention and peculiarities of its legal status. They also discussed effective mechanisms for co-operation and interaction between Aarhus Centres and the government.

Referring to the OSCE Madrid Declaration on Environment and Security and Maastricht Strategy for the Economic and Environmental Dimension, John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat said: “The Aarhus Convention aims to empower the role of citizens and civil society organizations in environmental matters and is firmly founded on the principles of participative democracy. It serves as an important tool in achieving good environmental governance through providing access to information, public participation and access to justice in all matters related to our planet`s nature that is declining globally.”

507962 Richard Wheeler

A three-day training course on basic business skills, organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, concluded on 27 November 2021 in Aralsk city in the Kyzylorda province of Kazakhstan. Some 15 rural women from the Aral Sea region attended the event.

The event was organized together with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and the Public Association "Aral ayelderi" (“Women of Aral”). It was a follow-up of the OSCE-supported training course on traditional felt making which took place in September 2021 in Aralsk for the same group of women. 

Participants learned the basics of starting and running a business, and the principles of time/finance management. Through theoretical material and practical cases, participants learned the different stages of starting a business, and how to develop a business plan, attract financial resources and launch a venture. The training course also covered the main aspects of the tax code and compliance with its requirements.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s longstanding efforts to promote gender mainstreaming and economically related empowerment initiatives for women as a means to promote comprehensive security, stability and sustainable development in the host country.

507740 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An OSCE-organized online course for law students on promoting international human rights standards in criminal proceedings and investigations took place in Ashgabat from 6 to 10 December 2021.

The five-day event brought together students and trainers from the Institute under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Institute of International Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly and International University for Humanities and Development of Turkmenistan.

Three international experts from Moldova introduced participants to the concept of human rights, the background, types and functions as well as respect for human rights in the context of criminal justice. They discussed actions to ensure the right to human liberty at the stage of pre-trial investigation, as well as the right of suspects and defendants to a fair defense and legal advice.

The course is designed to complement existing educational programmes in the field of human rights protection and criminal proceedings. It aims to build capacities of representatives of state authorities and students, as future state officials, to apply international human rights standards, including the OSCE gender-related commitments, in their day-to-day work.

"Security and respect for human rights are inseparably linked and the OSCE's founding document, the Helsinki Final Act, commits all OSCE participating States to a comprehensive catalog of human rights and democratic norms,” said John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“The human rights courses will contribute to the professional development of new generation of legal professionals in Turkmenistan equipped with up-to-date knowledge in the area of international human rights standards,” MacGregor added.

At the end of the training course, participants will receive certificates of attendance, and the most active students will be awarded with medals and gifts for their best performance and outstanding knowledge demonstrated during the event.

507524

On 9 December, the Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in co-operation with the OSCE Academy in Bishkek organized a national workshop on strengthening youth crime and drug use prevention in Bishkek.

The workshop was held in the framework of the new OSCE-wide and cross-dimensional project “Enhancing youth crime and drug use prevention through education on legality and awareness campaigns addressing threats of organized crime and corruption”. The project aims to prevent transnational organized crime, corruption and drug use, by complementing criminal justice efforts and promoting respect for the rule of law through education.

The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss youth initiatives on crime prevention, as well as main challenges and best practices among practitioners from government, civil society, higher education institutions and secondary schools. During the workshop, experts introduced the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Education4Justice and Global Programme on Prevention materials, which provide teachers, professors and civil society representatives with guidance on how to educate youth on the dangers of organized crime, corruption and drug use.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth of the Kyrgyz Republic, Soyuzbek Nadirbekov, emphasized that the measures to fight youth crime should not be limited to the activities of law enforcement agencies, but involve a wide range of other institutions and actors, such as schools, to prevent the criminalization of youth.

Dr. Alexander Wolters, Director of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, highlighted the unique place and role of education in transferring knowledge about the detrimental effects of organized crime and drug use to young people. He expressed his strong support for the project's collaborative effort to mobilize this resource.

Project managers Denise Mazzolani and Eni Gjergji emphasized that only through youth’s active participation in crime prevention efforts, lasting community resilience against organized crime, corruption and drug use can be built and sustained, and stability and security across the region ensured.

This workshop will be followed by an exercise at the beginning of January 2022, which will identify the needs of teachers, professors and civil society representatives to educate youth on preventing organized crime, corruption and drug use. Training-of-Trainers courses will be developed based on this assessment, using materials from the UNODC Education4Justice and Global Programme on Prevention.

This extra-budgetary cross-dimensional project is funded by Germany. 

KYIV, 8 December 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“The focus of today’s meeting was on the security situation. Lengthy discussions were held on the need to ensure adherence to the 22 July 2020 ceasefire agreement. There is a common understanding that the long lasting ceasefire is a priority. I invite the participants for further constructive work.  

Although the number of ceasefire violations reported by SMM the last two weeks is lower if compared with previous two weeks, the security situation along the contact line is still of concern with a high level of kinetic activity. The Mission continues to report observations of non-SMM UAVs along the contact line and the Mission’s freedom of movement has further worsened, especially in certain areas of Luhansk region of Ukraine (CALO).

The participants in the Security Working Group discussed in detail how to strengthen the ceasefire, though without reaching a common understanding.

The Political Working Group had a constructive discussion on issues related to the development of a single Plan of Action on Implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

The participants in the Humanitarian Working Group concentrated on conflict-related detainees and the possible opening of two new crossing points across the contact line in Zolote and Shchastia of Luhansk region.

The Economic Working Group discussed issues related to water supply, including tariffs for water payments, as well as pensions, telecommunication issues and ecological situation in the Donbas region.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

At 12:29 on 8 December, at a checkpoint about 200m west of Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, non-government-controlled, 86km south of Donetsk) in southern Donetsk region, a visibly armed member of the armed formations denied passage to an SMM patrol with one of the Deputy Chief Monitors on board. The patrol was travelling west towards Kulykove (non-government-controlled, 87km south of Donetsk). The member of the armed formations cited “ongoing engineering activities and demining” in the area. At 12:45, an additional member of the armed formations arrived at the checkpoint and told the SMM that the denial was due to “non-SMM unmanned aerial vehicles present in the area”.

While at the checkpoint, the Mission observed that civilian vehicles were being denied passage in either direction.

At 13:39, the SMM patrol left the area.

The Mission again notes that such denials not only restrict the SMM’s freedom of movement across the contact line, but also prevent the SMM’s logistical operations, which are essential for the effective functioning of the Mission.

The OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 specifies that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas is essential to ensure effective monitoring and reporting of the security situation, as well as other mandated tasks. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 145 ceasefire violations, including 40 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 442 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 51 ceasefire violations, including 21 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 178 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near government-controlled Talakivka, Donetsk region.
• The Mission corroborated reports of a civilian casualty in non-government-controlled Dovhe, Luhansk region.
• Members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage towards government-controlled areas near Zolote and Molodizhne and delayed its passage near Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored the operation and repairs of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM visited four border crossing points and a railway station outside government control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and monitored areas near the border outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The Mission monitored the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The SMM observed two gatherings in Lviv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region and near border crossing points outside government-control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Its unmanned aerial vehicles encountered multiple instances of GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by probable jamming.*

GENEVA, 8 December 2021 - The 55th round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place in the Palais des Nations on 7 and 8 December 2021, with requisite COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures in place. As mandated by the six-point agreement of 2008, the GID process continues to serve as the primary venue in which the consequences of conflict are addressed and other important issues are discussed.

The 55th round began with meetings to address issues of importance to conflict affected populations, including freedom of movement and related issues, as well as an expert exchange between medical professionals focused on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the course of two days, participants met in the GID’s two parallel working groups focused on security and humanitarian issues, respectively. The overall security situation on the ground was assessed as relatively stable. Discussions once again addressed the GID’s core agenda item of non-use of force and international security arrangements. Participants engaged in frank exchanges on outstanding issues such as freedom of movement, documentation, and travel abroad, detentions, unresolved missing persons cases, and specific security concerns in localised areas.

However, despite constructive engagement on a variety of humanitarian issues, a discussion on the core issue of internally displaced persons and refugees could not take place due to a walkout by some participants.

The Co-Chairs welcomed the continued function of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Ergneti, and took note of positive signals on the potential resumption of the Gali IPRM.

The Co-Chairs again called on all participants to increase efforts to build trust and confidence and to address all elements of comprehensive and human security, including by engaging constructively in technical-level discussions, as well as with international humanitarian and human rights organisations.

The participants agreed to hold their next meeting in Geneva on 29 and 30 March 2022.

507467 Marina Živaljević

To build the capacity of inter-ministerial actors responsible for implementing gender mainstreaming across ministries, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a basic training course on mainstreaming gender into policies at the central level, from 6 to 8 December 2021 in Podgorica.

The training course was organized with the support of the Directorate for Gender Equality within the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights. It gathered 15 employees from six ministries to enhance their capacities to effectively mainstream gender into policies, procedures and internal operating systems. 

Biljana Pejović, Head of the Directorate for Gender Equality said that the Ministry appreciates the support of the Mission in developing tools to implement gender mainstreaming into policies and strategies.. “This training course assisted staff to implement gender tools and understand how to include a gender perspective in policies, evaluate their impact on the lives of women, men, girls and boys, identify gender gaps and introduce tailor-made measures to eliminate gender inequalities”, said Pejović.

The Mission will continue to support the government and its institutions in their efforts to adopt and implement gender-responsive policies. 

Increasing transparency in the use and management of public funds, with a special focus on public procurement, was the focus of an online seminar held on 8 December by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

Representatives from governments, OSCE institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations from across the OSCE area participated in the event. Speakers shared examples of emerging technologies that have successfully countered corrupt practices and improved good governance, helping to ensure a positive business climate. Discussions included best practices in introducing and expanding open data initiatives and opportunities for translating them into strong legal and policy foundations to advance the good governance agenda. 

Ambassador Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, underscored the importance of an approach that includes all of society to make the public sector more efficient. “The public sector provides strategies on how to tackle consequences of the COVID-19 crisis and proper recovery. Businesses’ ability to get back on track and ensure few disruptions, especially to supply chains, are critical for economic recovery. Civil society organizations are there to closely monitor and provide advice, ensuring these processes are transparent and accountable to citizens,” said Hasani.

Anita Ramasastry, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Corruption, and Courtney Austrian, Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Mission to the OSCE, also echoed this message.

Ambassador Adam Hałaciński, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Poland to the OSCE in Vienna provided an overview of the priorities of the Incoming Polish Chairpersonship and stated during the opening session that: “ Poland will not only prove to be an engaged and dedicated partner in regards to the promotion of anti-corruption and good governance, but also as a credible example of how to successfully implement commitments and solutions when it comes to e-government, open-data or data re-use mechanisms”.

Irene Charalambides, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Fighting Corruption, said: “I am pleased to note that many governments have been launching timely e-government initiatives to enhance the efficiency and transparency of public administration and improve interaction with citizens. Good governance in public spending can yield benefits for all while lowering the risks for corrupt behavior, thus increasing public trust in state institutions and, ultimately, in democracy.”

This webinar was organized as part of the project “Promoting good governance and a positive business climate in the OSCE region through digitalization and the use of open data,” funded by the United States.

507434 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 8 December 2021 - The Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to BiH, launched today in Sarajevo the 13th strategic political-military seminar. The themes this year are cybersecurity and crisis management.

Experts from the relevant ministries of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska, and the Ministry of Defence of Montenegro, as well as representatives of academia, the EU Delegation to BiH, the US Embassy in Sarajevo, and the OSCE Secretariat are attending the three-day seminar.

In his introductory remarks, BiH Minister of Defence, Sifet Podžić, pointed out that modern security threats are common in the entire Western Balkans and that they are most effectively addressed through co-ordinated actions, adding that exchanges of experiences, such as these taking place at political-military seminars, are needed and welcome.

"The frequency of hacker attacks on vital parts of various information systems is forcing countries to improve their security capabilities. The experience and knowledge we have gained in recent years, as well as the trust we have built, certainly benefit our institutions. It enables us to work together in the field of cybersecurity and to speed up the development of BiH's strategic document in this field," said Podžić.

"Crisis management, as the second topic of this seminar, is a continuous process, in which individuals, groups and communities work together to mitigate disasters that occur due to cyber risks, and natural and other disasters. We have always been and remain available to civilian institutions to engage the Armed Forces of BiH also in these challenges," he added.

The OSCE Mission to BiH has supported the strategic political-military seminar for 13 years. Previous seminars have contributed to several important processes, including the deployment of members of the BiH Armed Forces in UN peacekeeping missions, and the development of the Ministry of Defence's Cyber Security Action Plan and guidelines for military support to civilian authorities.

"This year’s Seminar focuses on crisis management and cyber security, two areas that demand inter-institutional co-operation," said Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH.

“Over the past several years, the OSCE has intensified its support to building cybersecurity in BiH. Our support in this area now focuses on the operationalization of the OSCE cyber confidence-building measures, development of a cybersecurity framework strategy for BiH, and establishing Computer Emergency Response Teams.”

Speaking about crisis management, Kavalec called on BiH institutions to develop a comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, which would serve as a basis for the development of disaster protection plans at various levels of government. She further emphasized that, as of next year, the Ministry of Defence and the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of BiH will take sole responsibility for the organization of the seminar, and congratulated Minister Podžić on successes achieved thus far.

VIENNA, 8 December 2021 — The winners of the OSCE–Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH) Essay Competition: Conventional Arms Control and Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CSBM) in Europe were announced today at a virtual award ceremony held during an OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) meeting organized by the Austrian FSC Chairmanship.

The competition, which counted 36 entries submitted by young professionals under 35 years of age from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, aims to strengthen youth engagement in the field of arms control and CSBMs. It is a joint initiative between the OSCE, the IFSH, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), Moscow State Institute of International Relations and the Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-proliferation (VCDNP).

“We need the young generation of specialists on conventional arms control and CSBMs who will promote and develop it further either as members of diplomatic service or academia. Young people have a critical role to play in raising awareness and contributing to the development of new confidence and security-building strategies to reduce threats from conventional arms “, said Ambassador Florian Raunig, Permanent Representative of Austria to the OSCE, during his opening remarks at the ceremony. 

The first and second prizes were co-shared between Anna Nadibaidze (University of Southern Denmark), who addressed artificial intelligence, and Nicolò Miotto (Charles University Prague), who discussed distributed ledger technologies. Their essays considered the “untapped potential” of European arms control and laid out policy proposals and recommendations on how to strengthen the role of the OSCE in the field of emerging technologies. Third prize was awarded to Claudia Ditel (Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz) for her essay that explored mine action as a confidence-building measure.

“We need the active participation and fresh ideas of a young generation of experts to build on our knowledge of conventional arms control and CSBMs. Learning more about their innovative ideas and opinions is important, and is one of the reasons why the OSCE supports this initiative”, said Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre.

“One of the most worrying aspects of the worsening security situation in Europe is the absence of a sense of alarm,” said Cornelius Friesendorf, Head of the Centre for OSCE Research (CORE) at the IFSH, who spoke on behalf of all the partners involved in the competition. “Many politicians, government officials, and citizens seem to believe that the current crisis will solve itself. Arms control and confidence- and security-building measures are urgently needed to avoid possible escalation. This competition gives a voice to students and young professionals whose ideas and engagement for peace militate against the politics of confrontation, apathy, and complacency.”

This is the second essay competition on this topic, following the first iteration held in 2020. Participants were invited to submit original essays on five topics related to conventional arms control and confidence- and security-building measures (CSBMs) in Europe. Each entry was evaluated anonymously by a jury of experts from the field using a process and scoresheet defined prior to the competition launch. Of the entries received, 53% were from female participants.

Read more about the winners and their entries here: https://www.osce.org/forum-for-security-cooperation/507332.