Central Europe

In November, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized two training modules for the commission for monitoring the implementation of the National Strategy for Gender Equality to enhance its capacities to facilitate inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral co-operation and to monitor, evaluate and report on implementation progress.

The training courses were organized with the support of the Directorate for Gender Equality within the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights. A total of 20 participants attended.

The first training module was held from 9 to 11 November and provided participants, both as organizers and contributors, with important skills and techniques for more effective meetings. The second module, held from 17 to 19 November, addressed how to effectively monitor, evaluate and report on the implementation of the National Strategy for Gender Equality.

Biljana Pejović, Head of the Directorate for Gender Equality said that this activity was a joint effort of the Ministry of Justice, Human and Minority Rights and the Mission to build capacity of employees in implementing gender equality policies and the National Strategy for Gender Equality. “The Ministry is responsible for co-ordination and annual reporting on the progress in the implementation of the Strategy. This training is an opportunity for employees of the Ministry to master the skills of organizing and modelling meetings of working bodies in charge of policy monitoring, reporting and evaluation and improve their overall co-operation,” said Pejović.

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

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supported a review meeting on the implementation of Tajikistan’s National Action Plan in the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. 

The meeting was held from 11 to 13 November 2021 in Guliston, the Sughd region and was conducted by the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Agency, the national co-ordinating agency on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 in Tajikistan.

Some 15 national participants representing local government administrations, branches of agencies dealing with chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear materials, emergency services, national border and customs services took part in the review meeting. The US Export Control and Related Border Security Program also attended.

As outlined by Ilhom Mirsaidzoda, National Coordinator on implementing of UN Resolution 1540 in Tajikistan, some tangible results have been achieved in the 2016-2021 period. “Approval of the national lists of dual use goods by Government of Tajikistan in October 2021 and the expected approval of the Commission on Export Control in Tajikistan, are among positive changes in 2021,” said Mirsaidzoda.

Parviz Shomahmadov, National Politico-Military Officer at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe said: “Considering the latest security developments in the region of Central Asia and risks stemming from the neighboring Afghanistan, more attention is needed to issues of physical protection of potentially dangerous chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear materials and preventing their fall into the hands of non-state actors.” He noted that improving co-operation with other countries of Central Asia and international agencies dealing with the agenda would be beneficial in further improving the overall security in the region.

Vienna, 17 November 2021 – The OSCE and Uzbekistan agreed to strengthen their co-operation in countering corruption and increasing transparency in public administration today by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) of Uzbekistan.

This agreement will further advance collaboration between the OSCE and Uzbekistan by supporting the country’s anti-corruption efforts through increased digitalization and the use of open data. The MoU aims to enhance the transparency of state institutions and assist civil servants through training and education on open data and improving relevant legislation.

The agreement was signed by the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan, Akmal Burkhanov and the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Igli Hasani.

Ambassador Hasani stressed that “Through our work in open data and good governance, the OSCE strives to build sustainable institutional capacity, strengthen existing and build new networks of expertise to improve the business and investment climate in our region. The OSCE remains committed to supporting Uzbekistan in implementing open data initiatives to prevent corruption and enhance transparency in public administration.”

During the ceremony, Mr. Burkhanov said “In recent years, Uzbekistan has improved structural and legal mechanisms for combating corruption in order to increase the effectiveness of corruption measures, considered one of the priority areas of state policy. It has adopted commitments to implement international principles on open government data and has expanded open data initiatives to enhance transparency and accountability in public institutions and businesses.”

These activities will build upon the work of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), which has been a key partner of the Government of Uzbekistan in reforming the open data ecosystem.

The activities resulting from this agreement will be implemented within the framework of the OCEEA extra-budgetary 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.

The protection of human rights in penitentiary institutions and the exchange of information on prisoners' legal rights and freedoms were the focus of a two-day online seminar on 16 and 17 November 2021. The event was organized jointly by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).

Experts Laura Jaffrey from the OSCE/ODIHR office in Warsaw and Olivia Rope from Penal Reform International presented international standards, emphasizing the treatment of women prisoners. Experts Zhanna Nazarova and Maya Tulendieva from Kazakhstan, Victor Zaharia from Moldova and Ruslan Romanov from Kyrgyzstan shared national experiences in developing a probation system and discussed a broad range of issues concerning the exercise of legitimate rights and freedoms of prisoners, security in penitentiary institutions and prison staff training.

The seminar was organized for representatives of the Mejlis (lower chamber) of the Milli Gengesh (Parliament) of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Justice, Prosecutor General's Office, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Security, State Migration and Border Services, Supreme Court, Ombudsperson's Office, Bar Association, and Institute of State, Law and Democracy.

“Penitentiary officers should have the necessary knowledge to carry out their duties and receive appropriate training to ensure their knowledge and skills are up-to-date. This is particularly relevant for officers working with special groups of prisoners, such as juveniles and youth, women and people with mental health problems, as well as high-security prisoners,” said John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

Discussions focused on the importance of protecting prisoners’ health and countering the spread of COVID-19 in the institutions of the penal correction system.

Since 2009, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in co-operation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, has jointly organized a number of workshops and training courses in the field of prisoners’ rights, and on other aspects related to the work of the penitentiary system.

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 299 ceasefire violations, including 57 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 268 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 145 ceasefire violations, including 91 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 678 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at two checkpoints of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of probable jamming and jamming.*

As a part of its continuing co-operation with the University of Montenegro’s Faculty of Political Sciences, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided three drones to its Department for Media Studies and Journalism. This was accompanied by a three-day training course for students that took place from 16 to 19 November 2021 in Podgorica.

This will bring new skills and a new dimension to the journalistic work that will be undertaken by the students in a highly competitive market.

Zuzana Paukova, the Mission’s Media Programme Manager, said that students are the greatest strength of any society. “Empowered and well-trained journalism students grow into successful and quality journalists who contribute to the overall information of society and quality reporting,” she added.

Nataša Ružić, Head of the Department for Media Studies and Journalism said that the OSCE Mission recognized the needs of this study programme, helping it to align with the latest trends in the media market and improve the quality of education. “We see that journalism, in addition to accurately reporting information, needs to constantly change and evolve under the influence of technology. Having this in mind, working with drones is a great opportunity for students to grow professionally,” added Ružić.

Last month, the Mission supported the Department for Media Studies and Journalism with intensive workshops on project management cycles, while in September 2020, it provided laptops and professional cameras as part of the activities aimed at strengthening the practical and hands-on teaching of journalism at the University of Montenegro.

A two-day seminar hosted by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on ethics, conflict of interest, and disciplinary practices for judges and prosecutors from across BiH started on 17 November 2021 in Sarajevo. The event aims to help improve the integrity, independence, and accountability of BiH judiciary.

The seminar — the second such event organized by the Mission — is being carried out in co-operation with Federation of BiH’s Judicial and Prosecutorial Training Centre and with the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel, which investigates and prosecutes allegations of professional misconduct by judges and prosecutors. 

“All parties to a dispute, including defendants and those filing charges against them, expect the judiciary to act in an unbiased, ethical, and professional manner," said Michael Schuetz, Head of the Mission's Rule of Law Section.

“We started monitoring disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel in 2019. Our observations indicated that training on ethical standards was needed across the judiciary to improve current practices and to prevent unethical behaviour by judges and prosecutors and the occurrence of both intentional and unintentional bias.”

A 2019 survey conducted amongst judges and prosecutors by USAID’s Justice Project indicated that there is still a need for training on the topic of ethics and conflict of interest, as 75 per cent of respondents said such a training course should be mandatory, while 54 per cent have not attended such training over the last five years.

The OSCE Mission to BiH is mandated with strengthening human rights, democratic governance, and security co-operation. Through targeted monitoring and reporting, and the provision of relevant training courses, the Mission assists in enhancing the integrity, transparency and effectiveness of the judiciary.

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 268 ceasefire violations, including 43 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 479 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 678 ceasefire violations, including 381 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 547 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske and spotted people inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and the four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM visited three border crossing points and monitored border areas outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The Mission observed an event in Kyiv.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donetsk region and at three checkpoints of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of probable jamming and jamming.*

STRASBOURG, 16 November 2021 - The largest annual gathering of National Anti-trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs took place this week in Strasbourg. Representatives from 60 countries across the OSCE region discussed how to address current human trafficking-related challenges and implement international commitments, policies and standards set forth by the OSCE and the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

The Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (OSR/CTHB) and the Council of Europe (CoE) co-organized the meeting.

“National Anti-Trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs play a fundamental role in developing national priorities and aligning efforts across the region. This meeting offers a unique opportunity to raise common challenges, identify priorities for action, and encourage implementation,” said Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, added: “The annual meetings of National Anti-trafficking Coordinators and Rapporteurs that we co-organise with the OSCE are an opportunity to learn from each other and mutually reinforce our efforts to be more efficient in combating human trafficking.”

Participants discussed combating trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation, the need for National Action Plan (NAP) implementation, and ways to improve monitoring and evaluation of States’ anti-trafficking actions.

Recently, countries have been particularly active on prevention of labour exploitation in supply chains with announcements of a joint emphasis from the G7, new laws in a number of OSCE participating States, and a proposal for import bans of goods produced by forced labour from the EU.  

The need for National Action Plans to build momentum and maximize national anti-trafficking responses was also discussed. Findings from a recent study conducted by the OSR/CTHB on NAPs in the OSCE region show that many countries lack dedicated funding to support implementation and current challenges, such as tech-facilitated trafficking, financial flows, supply chains, and demand related to sexual exploitation are not addressed.

Participants also examined ways to improve monitoring and evaluation of States’ anti-trafficking action. Finally, the countries discussed the need to provide support and assistance to victims of trafficking independent of the criminal justice process.

THE HAGUE, 16 November 2021 — OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Ben Knapen will present the 2020 Max van der Stoel Award to Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre from Ireland. The award ceremony will take place in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Friday, 19 November.

The 2020 Award Ceremony was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

Pavee Point was selected as the winner of the award for its continued efforts to strengthen the genuine integration of Ireland’s society by advocating for and protecting the rights of the Traveller and Roma communities. 

Pavee Point seeks to celebrate the cultures and traditions of Traveller and Roma communities in an inclusive manner by advocating for participation, social justice and genuine equality at the regional, national and international levels. Pavee Point supports the integration of Ireland’s diverse society through education and healthcare initiatives, and works to combat violence against women and support participation in programmes that bridge economic and societal inequalities.

The Max van der Stoel Award — a prize of €50,000 — has been co-sponsored by the HCNM and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs every two years since 2003. It is presented to a person, group or institution in recognition of their extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of national minorities across the OSCE countries.

Other event material can be found here.

Pavee Point Chairperson, Anastasia Crickley; Pavee Point Co-Director, Martin Collins; current and former OSCE High Commissioners Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Lamberto Zannier; OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid; Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Director Matteo Mecacci; Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Ireland, Roderic O’Gorman; and General Director of the Carnegie Foundation — Peace Palace, Erik de Baedts will address the event. The full event programme is available here.

The event is by invitation only. Media representatives who wish to attend the in-person event at the Peace Palace in The Hague on 19 November 2021 starting at 15:00 should send their name, contact details and the name of the media organization they represent to Michelle Pirotta, michelle.pirotta@osce.org, before 17 November.

Follow the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #mvdsAWARD.

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA, 16 November 2021 - In a world shaped by ever-increasing divisions within nations and societies the need for tolerance could not be greater. The problems we face are clearly demonstrated in the most recent 2021 Hate Crime Report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in numerous instances of stereotyping, scapegoating, and stigmatization. It has fueled hate-motivated attacks both online and offline directed at persons in vulnerable situations,  at persons belonging to minorities,  including ethnic and religious groups and anti-Semitic attacks and hate-crimes against Muslims, Christians and members of other religions, Roma and Sinti, migrants and refugees, and people of Asian descent. They are not only a catastrophe for the victims and a breach of human rights, but they damage the social cohesion of our society at large.  Trust and solidarity are lost, and democracy is threatened.

States are obliged to respect and protect the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals. They must take the necessary political and legal measures to safeguard ethnic, religious or belief, and other communities from intolerance and discrimination. OSCE participating States have made commitments to enact and strengthen legislation to combat anti-Semitism, racism, and xenophobia, and all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief; to establish national bodies to promote tolerance and non-discrimination; and to develop educational programs and share best practice models.

On this International Day of Tolerance, we urge all participating States to redouble their efforts to implement these comprehensive commitments. This should include the adoption and enforcement of robust hate-crime legislation and the collection and reporting of hate crime data- preferably in a comprehensive, accurate and disaggregated form. Governments should work cooperatively with civil society, especially with religious and belief leaders and communities as well as with young persons, and women. We also underscore the importance of civil society coalitions as a tool to fight intolerance and strengthen resilience in a time of crisis.

We must strive to see that “tolerance” will come to mean not only acceptance but true respect and appreciation for the pluralism and diversity in our societies. All of us are responsible for making this a reality. The ODIHR is offering participating States its expertise and resources to implement their commitments. As the Personal Representatives of the Chairperson-in-Office for tolerance issues, we are also 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, 16 November 2021 – More decisive action needs to be taken across the OSCE region to work towards eliminating violence against women, who continue to face violence in both public and private, OSCE leaders said on the opening of a two-day conference dedicated to preventing and combating violence against women and girls.

“Violence against women is both a grave violation of their human rights and a threat to human security,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “Leaders of countries across the OSCE need to take responsibility and more decisive action to make their societies safe for women – not just to live in, but to live well and play an active role in shaping their future. This is no longer the time for complacency or delays – our societies expect effective measures to prevent and stop violence against women for the current generations and all those who come after us.”

Almost 400 people have registered for the two-day conference, which will serve as a platform for a discussion between OSCE states, international organisations, and the many civil society organisations across the OSCE working to make the region a safer place for all women and girls. A specific emphasis will be placed on women belonging to vulnerable groups in particular migrants, refugees and displaced persons, and people at risk of displacement as well as Roma and Sinti women.

There have been improvements in combating violence against women, for example in legislation that criminalises domestic violence or through new helplines and other services, increasing support for survivors. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns and restrictions led to an increase in reported violence against women across the OSCE region. As people spend ever more time online for both work and pleasure, a larger proportion of women are also finding themselves the target of abuse online.

A key part of the discussions will be the chilling effect of violence or simply fear of it, which is stopping women from taking an active role in public life, and therefore from participating in policy- and decision-making. Violence against women smothers their voice and participation, whether as politicians, human rights defenders, military or police officers, or simply active citizens engaging in the public democratic space.

“Strengthening gender equality has been a key priority throughout the Swedish Chairpersonship of the OSCE, as there is a direct link between gender equality and comprehensive security,” said Ambassador Ulrika Funered, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OSCE. “Violence against women and girls is a persistent human rights violation that not only threatens the security and safety of its victims, but also hinders women and girls around the world from being full and equal participants in society.” 

All countries across the OSCE have committed to combating violence against women and underlined the importance of actively addressing the root causes of gender inequality and violence, in order to not just address the violence once it has taken place, but to prevent it. In this, policies that engage men in measures to prevent gender-based violence are particularly important. Close co-operation with civil society is also key to finding solutions that both protect and support survivors.

Human Dimension Seminars are a platform for the OSCE’s participating States and OSCE institutions, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange views and good practices on a specific issue of topical relevance across the OSCE region.

WASHINGTON/PARIS/MOSCOW, 15 November 2021 - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation, and Brice Roquefeuil of France) released the following statement today:

The Co-Chairs view with deep concern recent incidents in the region, including those along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. The Co-Chairs call on the sides to take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation immediately. The Co-Chairs also urge the sides to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and provocative actions, and implement in full the commitments they undertook under the November 9 statement and other jointly agreed ceasefire arrangements.

The recent increase in tension underscores the need for a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement of all remaining issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Co-Chairs urge the sides to build on the progress made during the joint meetings of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan held under the auspices of the Co-Chairs in New York and Paris, by continuing to engage in direct dialogue aimed at contributing to security, stability, and prosperity in the region. 

Summary

• In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 12 to 14 November, the SMM recorded 1,240 ceasefire violations, including 441 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 723 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 12 to 14 November, the Mission recorded 649 ceasefire violations, including 248 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded nine ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near government-controlled Novozvanivka, Luhansk region
• The SMM saw four non-SMM UAVs near government-controlled Luhanske, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations inside the area near Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at six entry-exit checkpoints and four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including in southern Donetsk region and at a border crossing point in non-government-controlled Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk), and at the Chervona Mohyla railway station in Voznesenivka. Its UAVs again experienced instances of probable jamming.*

WARSAW, 15 November 2021 – While many countries across the OSCE are taking greater  efforts to combat hate crime, more action needs to be taken to increase knowledge of the true number of hate crimes committed and more done to support victims, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on publishing its annual hate crime report ahead of the 2021 International Day for Tolerance.

“Hate crime is a human rights abuse,” said ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci. “While I congratulate the many states that have undertaken concrete steps to tackle hate crimes, most of them still remain unreported, unrecorded and unprosecuted, leaving victims without support or redress.”

ODIHR’s hate crime data for 2020 show that more countries across the OSCE region are collecting statistics on hate crime, with a total of 42 OSCE states reporting official hate crime data to ODIHR for 2020. However, many of them are based on inadequate or insufficient recording mechanisms that do not identify the bias motivation behind hate crimes, and also fail to distinguish hate crime from other types of crime. Approximately 25 percent of OSCE countries consistently fail to meet their basic commitment to reporting hate crime data to ODIHR.

As well as improving the mechanisms they use to record hate crimes and collect data, countries also need to do more to raise awareness about the special nature of hate crimes. This includes increasing the capacities of criminal justice officials to recognise, record, investigate and prosecute hate crimes effectively.

Hate crimes are particularly abhorrent crimes, sending a message to individuals and indeed to entire communities that they are neither wanted nor welcome, and that threats and violence will never be far away. It is therefore also essential that OSCE countries recognise the overwhelming harm that hate crime causes and take action to ensure that legislation stresses the bias motivation and adequate penalties are imposed on perpetrators.

To ensure that victims are protected, enjoy full access to justice and receive tailored specialist support, countries also need to strengthen their victim support systems and work closely with civil society organisations, which often offer the most specialised and direct support to those who have become the target of hate crime.

ODIHR’s hate crime database is the largest of its kind worldwide. It is updated each year with information from official as well as civil society and other non-governmental sources, and includes data on hate crime legislation, recording, prosecution and sentencing, as well as best practices.

It is important to understand that a lack of official hate crime data does not indicate there is no hate crime, but rather that these crimes are currently not recognised or recorded by law enforcement. ODIHR offers countries across the OSCE region a range of resources and tools to help them support hate crime victims, improve hate crime monitoring and recording practices, and strengthen co-operation with civil society. The full range of ODIHR resources on countering hate crime is available on the website here.

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 723 ceasefire violations, including 172 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 722 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded nine ceasefire violations, all undetermined explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 149 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM followed up on reports of damage to buildings and vehicles of a water company in government-controlled Nyzhnie, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It spotted people inside the areas near Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations inside the area near Petrivske.
• An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a howitzer firing a round near non-government-controlled Fedorivka, Donetsk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission visited four border crossing points outside government control and also monitored areas outside government control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including on the southern edge of the disengagement area near Zolote. Its UAVs again experienced instances of probable jamming.*

The rapid growth of technology and social media has redefined how people communicate. It has also significantly changed the way organized crime groups operate. It is essential that criminal and financial investigators are familiar with and trained in recent best practices in collecting information from open source. To support training needs of criminal justice practitioners, OSCE supported 5-day online workshop (from June to December 2021) on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) for criminal investigators from South-Eastern European countries.

Following the workshops held in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, participants from various law enforcement agencies such as Financial Investigation Units and Police Directorates in North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia had the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on OSINT. Specifically, they learned how to collect, analyze and use information for criminal investigations from various publicly available sources such as open government documents, social media, journals, databases, pictures, videos and other data on the internet.

In the age of data abundance, with increasing amounts of false information, the main challenge for criminal investigators is to filter the data, consolidate information, and present it in an accessible manner. The OSCE-supported workshops equipped investigators with techniques, tools and resources that can be put into practice.

The five workshops were organized within the framework of OSCE’s extra-budgetary Asset Recovery in South-Eastern Europe project, financially supported by the United States, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Following the conclusions of the 25 April 2021 parliamentary elections and the recent discussions on a new electoral reform, Vincenzo Del Monaco, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania hosted a meeting with the Ambassadors of OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania on 10 November 2021 to exchange information and co-ordinate assistance on electoral matters.

At the meeting, State Election Commissioner Ilirjan Celibashi briefed participants on how the 25 April elections were administered, preparations underway for the next elections and the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) assistance needs. He thanked the OSCE and other international partners for their support, considering it a key factor for the CEC successful performance despite the very tight deadlines. Celibashi added that despite shortcomings in elections, for the first time the political parties did not criticize the work of the CEC.

Both Celibashi and Del Monaco welcomed political parties’ readiness for electoral reform, and emphasized the importance of a quick finalization of the electoral reform to address OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.

Participants commended the CEC for preparing and managing elections professionally in a short time, and expressed their readiness to continue supporting the CEC’s efforts to improve future electoral processes. They also encouraged the State Election Commissioner, political parties and all other election-related stakeholders to use this momentum to start addressing the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.

Del Monaco welcomed Celibashi’s suggestion, supported by the participants, for the Presence to co-ordinate the international community’s assistance to the CEC.

GENEVA, 12 November 2021 – “By increasing the economic empowerment of minorities, we also contribute to sustainable development and towards creating prosperous and stable societies throughout the OSCE area and beyond,” said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Kairat Abdrakhmanov today at an OSCE-UN conference on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Economic Life as a Strategy for Conflict Prevention, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

“Economic prosperity and stability are a cornerstone of peace and security,” Abdrakhmanov added.

To enhance international co-operation on this issue, the OSCE HCNM, the United Nations office in Geneva (UNoG) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) co-organized the conference, which also aims to increase understanding of the challenges involved in developing inclusive social and economic recovery policies that take into consideration the social and economic vulnerabilities of national minorities in the aftermath of COVID-19.

In her welcoming remarks, Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya said: “I am convinced that today’s discussion will forge new synergies and build bridges between the United Nations organizations in Geneva and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe on various cross-sectorial issues related to the effective participation of minorities in economic life, which helps in reducing poverty and preventing tensions. Multi-stakeholder and cross-sectorial partnerships is a key element in implementing our shared blueprint – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” 

Abdrakhmanov, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues Fernand de Varennes addressed the panel on enhancing multilateral efforts on conflict prevention and participation of minorities in public life, including in the economic sphere.

Patrick Eba, Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection for Policy and Law, UNHCR; Dr. Jennifer Jackson-Preece, Associate Professor in Nationalism, European Institute of the London School of Economics and Political Science; Joshua Castellino, Director of Minority Rights Group; and Professor François Grin,

FTI, Université de Genève, shared effective policies and strategies regarding the participation of minorities in economic issues, including amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Improving the effectiveness of training in the police and justice sector to prevent and combat violence against women and girls, with a focus on South-Eastern Europe, was the topic of an online expert roundtable discussion on 11 and 12 November 2021.

The event was organized by the OSCE Gender Issues Programme as part of the “Women and Men Innovating and Networking for Gender Equality” (WIN) project. Representatives of national authorities, civil society, academia, international organizations and OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation took part in the event.

Participants discussed the findings of an OSCE-implemented mapping of South-Eastern European training curricula in the police and justice sector on violence against women and girls. They also shared good practices from other regions regarding police and justice training curricula.

Opening the discussion, OSCE Senior Advisor on Gender Equality Amarsanaa Darisuren said: “The OSCE is committed to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. We conducted this mapping through the WIN project in response to the clear need for additional tools to better support women and girls who experience gender-based violence.”

The mapping follows a recommendation of the 2019 OSCE-led Survey on the Well-being and Safety of Women, which found that only seven per cent of women experiencing current partner violence in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe contacted the police and that the majority of women did not expect an adequate response. 

Participants of the roundtable discussion concluded that combating violence against women and girls needs to be a top priority of police and judiciary training curricula. They stressed the importance of a multi-sectoral approach and impact-based evaluations of the training.  

The mapping and the expert discussion of its findings provide a critical baseline and will guide the work of OSCE executive structures to prevent and combat violence against women and girls, not only in South-Eastern Europe but also across the OSCE sub-regions.  

The extra-budgetary OSCE WIN project aims to advance gender equality as a prerequisite for achieving and maintaining stable, prosperous and peaceful societies in the OSCE area.