Central Europe

504097 Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

On 9 November 2021, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro concluded her two-day official visit to Switzerland. During her visit, Ribeiro met with several government authorities, including Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga, State Secretary Livia Leu, OFCOM Director Bernard Maissen and the President of the Swiss Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Josef Dittli. She also met with representatives of media freedom organizations and media representatives to discuss media freedom and freedom of expression in Switzerland and across the OSCE region.

These representatives addressed several issues with Ribeiro, including the overall increasing polarization in society contributing to anti-media sentiments and increasing media concentration in Switzerland since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ribeiro also discussed with the authorities challenges and opportunities of digitalization and digital transition, and their close interlinkage with traditional media’s economic viability, the safety of journalists, and the urgent need for platform governance in terms of how the platforms’ business practices affect freedom of expression and media pluralism.

In the margins of the visit, Ribeiro and Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, Head of Peace and Human Rights Division at the Swiss Foreign Ministry, signed a new funding agreement for the OSCE Freedom of the Media project “Safety of Female Journalists Online” (SOFJO), which will substantially contribute to the Representative’s work to promote media pluralism in the OSCE region.

504091 Marina Živaljević

In order to support national authorities in enhancing their capacities and whole-of-society approach to reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, organized a training course on their non-custodial rehabilitation and reintegration on 10 November 2021 in Podgorica.

The event was organized in close co-operation with the National Coordinator for Combating Violent Extremism and facilitated by a local expert and an NGO representative that are members of the National Operational Team.

More than 20 representatives from the Institute for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions as well as social service centers, NGOs and other stakeholders discussed instruments to screen and assess risks and needs of violent extremist prisoners. They also discussed the role of the Help and Protection Team in processing post-penal support and reintegration into the community.

In thanking the OSCE for its continued support, Rade Milošević, State Secretary in the Ministry of Interior and National Coordinator for Combating Violent Extremism emphasized the importance of preventive action in the fight against violent extremism. “This can be done through education with the involvement of educators and social workers. Although Montenegro is not affected by this phenomenon to the extent that some countries in the region are, it is necessary to continue with continuous preventive action,” he said.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 722 ceasefire violations, including 324 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 399 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 149 ceasefire violations, including 121 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded four 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 area near Zolote.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and repairs 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 observed four probable military-type trucks in areas near the border outside government control.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at one checkpoint of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of jamming and probable jamming.*

504070

On 12 November, the OSCE Mission to Moldova held its fourth art workshop for art students from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. The needle felting workshop conducted by art educator Natalia Iampolskaia brought together 12 students at the Republican College of Fine Arts “Alexandru Plămădeală”, in Chisinau.

Since September, the OSCE Mission to Moldova engaged art students and teaching staff of the Republican College of Fine Arts “Alexandru Plămădeală” from Chisinau and the Bender Higher Education Art College “Victor Postoikin” into a series of joint educational events. 47 students from art colleges from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River participated in four practical workshops on graphic art, painting, mosaic and needle felting delivered by teaching artists Cornelii Bulat, Veaceslav Fisticanu, Olha Horbachenko and Natalia Iampolskaia.

Through demonstration and individual coaching, young women and men developed their skills in multiple art-making techniques and approaches. They received in-depth, one-on-one guidance from the professional artists, experimented with various artistic processes, worked different materials and surfaces, and created unique works of art.

The workshops were interactive and attracted interest from students and teaching staff of both educational art institutions.

“Interaction between educational institutions and participation in joint projects unite and open up the world. Such activities contribute to strengthening professors and students’ professional skills, and gives momentum for further development of art” said Bulat.

The events were organized within the framework of the Mission’s project “Promoting peace through arts on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River” aimed at building confidence and trust between the art community from both banks.

504052 Marina Živaljević

Enhancing specialized crime units’ skills in information gathering as a prerequisite to investigating serious and organized crime, was the focus of a workshop the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Criminal Intelligence Division within the Montenegrin Police Directorate organized on 8 and 9 November 2021 in Podgorica.

Stephen Harmon, the Mission’s Acting Programme Manager for Security Co-operation and Governance, said that human intelligence and recognizing the use of informants as methods in intelligence-led policing can provide agencies with opportunities for gathering in-depth information on structure, activities and persons involved in criminal activities.

Ivan Jokić, Head of the Criminal Intelligence Unit, thanked the Mission for its support and continued promotion of the intelligence-led policing approach in Montenegro.

This event was part of the Mission’s efforts to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of Montenegrin institutions to prevent and combat serious and organized crime, support the implementation of a national serious and organized crime threat assessment and facilitate exchange of operational data between Montenegrin law enforcement units.

504040 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

From 10 to 12 November 2021, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized on online training course on the coverage of the pandemic and other health-related issues in the media.

The three-day event brought together journalists from the country’s leading print, broadcast and online media, representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry, and lecturers from the journalism faculties of the Institute of International Relations of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Magtymguly State University, and the International University for Humanities and Development

International experts from Israel and the Russian Federation provided detailed information on professional standards and the responsibilities of journalists when covering public health topics, including pandemics, content criteria for media messages and how to draw attention to media information. The course also addressed popular media formats and their effective use, data collection, information sources, and search techniques.

“While the media became a key instrument in raising awareness of the public about COVID-19, the pandemic posed new challenges to journalists, namely to disseminate accurate information in order to minimize rumour and misinformation and help prevent panic among the population, and help change people's behaviour and attitudes in order to limit the spread of diseases,” said William Leaf, Political Officer at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“Journalists are particularly powerful, because they are on the front line when it comes to informing the public about urgent news, especially on health security,” he added.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized this course in order to familiarize Turkmenistan's media personnel with new approaches and techniques needed to produce interesting, high-quality reporting on the pandemic and other health issues.

Richard Wheeler

Kazakhstan’s part of the working group on environmental protection under the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Chu-Talas Water Commission (Commission) held a meeting on 12 November 2021 in Almaty. The meeting was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in co-operation with the Commission and the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan.

Some 20 participants discussed the findings and recommendations of the OSCE-supported study on needs assessment for the conservation of wetlands in the Chu river basin. This study was implemented from July to November 2021 in co-operation with the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan. It was carried out by four national experts specialized in ichthyofauna, ornithology, geobotany and hydrology. The meeting’s objective was to  evaluate the condition of wetlands in the lower reaches of Kazakhstan’s part of the Chu river basin, with a follow-up action plan to preserve critical ecosystems. The study results will be discussed at the 9th meeting of the Working Group on Environmental Protection under the Commission's Secretariat .

The Chu river basin is shared by Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. In response to emerging challenges such as climate change, it is necessary to take preventive and adaptive measures to preserve ecosystems, ensuring a balance of ecological protection and socio-economic development.  

The Chu-Talas Water Commission promotes bilateral co-operation between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with the goal of improving access to information by involving stakeholders in the process of joint river basin management and promoting activities for the protection of ecosystems.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to raise awareness and to build capacity of state institutions in the area of water governance by contributing to the transboundary dialogue on managing water resources.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 399 ceasefire violations, including 26 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 343 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded four ceasefire violations (no explosions). In the previous reporting period, it recorded 29 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM corroborated three civilian casualties in Holmivskyi, Donetsk region.
• The Mission lost spatial control over its mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Perevalsk, Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission spotted two recent trench systems and fortifications to an existing trench on both sides of the river Kalmius near Hranitne, Donetsk region.
• 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 four 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 Donetsk region, as well as in and close to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, Luhansk region. Its UAVs again experienced instances of jamming and probable jamming.*

PARIS, 11 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 met separately in Paris with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on November 10. The Co-Chairs hosted both Foreign Ministers at a joint meeting, which was opened by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings. 

The Co-Chairs and Foreign Ministers continued the discussions begun in New York on a number of possible deescalatory measures and next steps in the process, including future meetings in this format and the Co-Chairs’ proposed visit to the region. The Co-Chairs and the Ministers also discussed the status of the implementation of the commitments made in the November 9 trilateral statement.

The Co-Chairs reiterated the importance of making progress on humanitarian issues — including, inter alia, detainees, demining, missing persons, voluntary return of displaced persons, and protection of historic and cultural sites — and called on the sides to provide unrestricted access to international humanitarian organizations. The Co-Chairs also stressed the importance of avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and provocative actions.

The Co-Chairs met with representatives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Elysee on November 10 and 11 to discuss their ongoing efforts to help the sides find comprehensive solutions to all remaining issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with their mandate.

SARAJEVO, 11 November 2021 – Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Selmo Cikotić, BiH Minister of Security, signed today an agreement to implement a small arms and light weapons (SALW) control project over the next three years.

The project will provide resources to help police canine units better detect firearms and explosives, improve security at police SALW storage sites, harmonize legislative and regulatory framework for SALW deactivation, and equip at least two SALW deactivation centres. The project aims to aid police and other law enforcement agencies in BiH to reduce security risks related to illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and ammunition, and improve arms control.

“The widespread availability of illegal small arms and light weapons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, their misuse and cross-border trafficking, pose a grave threat to the security and safety of all citizens in BiH, the South-Eastern Europe region and beyond,” said Kavalec.

"It is striking that almost 96% of all criminal offences in which firearms were used in Bosnia and Herzegovina involved the use of illegally owned weapons. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that we join forces and put in place mechanisms that will help improve arms control and save lives,” added Kavalec.

Five OSCE participating States – the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Lichtenstein, and the United States of America - are funding the project. They have committed EUR 2.5 million out of the planned project budget of EUR 3.5 million, while fundraising will continue throughout the project implementation.

The project will also support the development of an integrated database of all SALW and explosives related crimes and incidents in BiH, and help raise institutional and public awareness about SALW related security risks.

“This project will directly contribute to the implementation of the BiH Small Arms and Light Weapons Control Strategy and of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of small arms and light weapons in the Western Balkans,” said Cikotić.

“The signing of the Protocol represents the continued co-operation between the BiH Ministry of Security and the OSCE on the issue of small arms and light weapons control. We are grateful to the OSCE, its participating States contributing to this project, and the Mission to BiH, for being ready to respond to our call for assistance and for helping us address some of the priority needs when it comes to improving security and safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina."

The OSCE Mission to BiH is mandated with strengthening human rights, democratic governance, and security co-operation. It supports all BiH institutions dealing with SALW and arms control to improve the overall security in the country.

KYIV, 10 November 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 security situation along the contact line has further deteriorated. Since the last TCG meeting, SMM has reported 6746 cease fire violations, including 1451 explosions. During the last week of October, the Mission witnessed the highest number of cease-fire violations since July 2020.

Presence and use of weapon systems banned by joint commitments raises concern for risk of further escalation.

I am deeply worried by the recent intensification of difficulties that SMM is facing in implementation of its mandate. The number of impediments for SMM’s freedom of movement has increased. The Mission reports 37 freedom of movement impediments during the last two weeks, two of which on government-controlled areas. I reminded that SMM gives an invaluable role in different ways, from providing facts on the security situation all the way to contributing, by monitoring and by its presence, to the improvement of living conditions of the conflict-affected population.

A major theme in the Security Working Group concerned a continuous need for a possibility to exchange security guarantees for vital activities, such as critical infrastructure repairs.

Differences of views in the Political Working Group remain deep and prevented in engaging on substance related to the development of a single Plan of Action.

The meeting of the Humanitarian Working Group took place on the one-year anniversary of the planned opening of crossing points in Zolote and Shchastia. I am curious to learn and discuss, what still prevents this to happen and what are the other challenges relating to the crossing of the contact line.

The Economic Working Group had a good meeting and dealt in particular with water issues. With regard to ecological questions, the participants discussed concrete steps towards carrying out an inspection of IAEA. Pension payments and questions related to telecommunications were also addressed.”

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 343 ceasefire violations, including 52 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 565 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 29 ceasefire violations, all explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 114 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM followed up on reports of recent damage to civilian properties in non-government-controlled Donetsk city, Donetsk region and in Holubivske, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, 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 three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at two checkpoints of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region, as well as in and near the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote and at a border crossing point outside government control near Voznesenivka (formerly Chervonopartyzansk), Luhansk region. Its UAVs again experienced instances of probable jamming.*

Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

Impunity of human traffickers remains a crucial and persisting challenge in the OSCE area. The Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings hosted a roundtable discussion, on 8 and 9 November 2021, on effective prosecution strategies, in line with the recommendation stemming from the 20th Alliance Conference.

Participants from nine OSCE participating States (Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Sweden, Norway and the United Kingdom) took part in the discussion. Prosecutors, law enforcement, lawyers, and experts in the field shared experiences and worked on a fictitious scenario involving labour trafficking. A mock trial was held, with participants divided among judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, learning and critically reviewing victim-centered approaches to evidential issues around victim consent, law and practice.

During the event, Rahel Gershuni, an international anti-trafficking expert, noted that victims often become exploiters themselves to alleviate their own mistreatment. By highlighting cases from various jurisdictions, Gershuni emphasized how victim consent in exploitation is irrelevant when it undermines basic human rights and autonomy. European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) lawyer Kresimir Kamber presented ECHR case law in relation to human trafficking and victim protection, which served as the foundation for discussing different countries’ legislation and approaches.

“The issue of victim consent is particularly challenging in cases where the coercion is more subtle, such as through abuse of vulnerability,” said Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

Although the mock trial involved a fictitious case, participants noted how important this exercise was for their learning and understanding of different jurisdictions and legislation and hoped further roundtable discussions could be organized in the future.

For more information on the 20th Alliance Conference recommendations, visit 20th Alliance against Trafficking in Persons | OSCE.

503791

Recent developments in Afghanistan and related transnational threats in the Central Asian region were the focus of the 16th Central Asia Border Management Initiative (CABMI) Conference held on 8 and 9 November in Vienna.  

The Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department with the support of Germany, Austria and the OSCE Field Missions in Central Asia organized the conference.

Alena Kupchyna, Co-ordinator of OSCE Activities to Address Transnational Threats, Susanne Fries-Gaier, Director for Humanitarian Assistance, German Federal Foreign Office and Franziska Kandolf, Deputy Director-General on Aliens Issues, Austrian Ministry of Interior, delivered opening remarks.

“The security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan threatens the safety and stability in the Central Asian region. There are concerns about the possibility of the conflict spill-over into the region, fuelling cross-border threats, including transnational crime, the export of radicalization or the illicit trafficking of weapons or drugs,” said Alena Kupchyna, Co-ordinator of OSCE Activities to Address Transnational Threats. “With these evolving border security challenges confronting the Central Asian region, this CABMI Conference is arguably the most important one of all such meetings to date,” said Kupchyna.

“Effective border management is a key element in ensuring free and secure legal cross-border movements while mitigating the threat of terrorism and organized crime,” emphasized Susanne Fries-Gaier, Director for Humanitarian Assistance, German Federal Foreign Office. “The partnership and co-operation with the Central Asian participating States in the region, the OSCE and other international organizations will contribute significantly to making border crossing safer and monitoring border areas,” said Fries-Gaier. 

“It is in our joint interest to fight organized crime, extremism and terrorism in the Central Asian region,” said Franziska Kandolf, Deputy Director General on Aliens Issues of Austrian Ministry of Interior. “It is therefore crucial to have the OSCE Central Asian participating States as trusted partners and friends to achieve stability and security in the region.”

Representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, attended the conference in person and online. They discussed the emerging challenges in border security and management associated with the new security landscape in the region; following the developments in Afghanistan.

Possible responses, in a human rights compliant and gender sensitive way, to the anticipated large-scale refugee flows coming from Afghanistan and the possible increase in trafficking in human beings were discussed with experts from UNHCR, ODIHR and the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

Representatives from the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10), the German Federal Police, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Central Asia provided overview on existing and explored possible new initiatives on effective border control in response to the evolving security situation in and around Afghanistan.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 565 ceasefire violations, including 71 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 314 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 114 ceasefire violations, including 21 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 98 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM conducted an assessment of its damaged camera system near government-controlled Hranitne, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske and observed people inside the latter area.
• The SMM observed recent craters near government-controlled Bolotene, Luhansk region.
• 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 four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in Staromykhailivka, Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced instances of probable jamming.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 5 and 7 November, the SMM recorded 661 ceasefire violations, including 87 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 482 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 5 and 7 November, the Mission recorded 178 ceasefire violations, including 74 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 148 ceasefire violations in the region.
• A non-SMM unmanned aerial vehicle was seen and ceasefire violations heard close to the SMM patrol in Bolotene, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement 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 five entry-exit checkpoints and five corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM monitored border areas outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The Mission monitored the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including near the disengagement area near Petrivske, Donetsk region, and near a border crossing point outside government control near Leonove (formerly Chervonyi Zhovten), Luhansk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of probable jamming and jamming.*

COPENHAGEN, 8 November 2021 – Halfway through the 26th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) taking place in Glasgow, the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s economic and environmental committee, together with its envoys on Arctic issues and Sustainable Development Goals, have issued a “Parliamentary Plea for Resolute Climate Action.”

The statement notes that realizing the vision of comprehensive security championed by the OSCE is not possible without addressing the climate crisis. “There can be no politico-military, economic-environmental, or human security without climate security,” according to the Parliamentary Plea. Therefore, it urges national leaders to put short-sighted interests aside and take decisive action to mitigate and adapt to the crisis and protect the citizens.

The Plea emphasizes that the international community should urgently redirect co-operative efforts towards shaping a more sustainable, carbon-neutral development model in which environmental, economic, social and public health factors are duly factored in. Accordingly, it underscores the need to utilize the best available science and accelerate technological innovation for the common good of the planet and all people living on it, thereby promoting economic growth and countering poverty. The parliamentarians also call for:

• drastic reductions in emissions of greenhouse gasses,
• development of effective adaptation strategies,
• mobilization of the necessary financial resources and
• international collaboration across the board.

In particular, the Parliamentary Plea urges OSCE governments to commit to progressively ambitious emission reduction targets through realistic Nationally Determined Contributions in line with capping temperature increases at 1.5 degrees, boosting the low-carbon energy transition, promoting energy efficiency, and prioritizing green energy technologies, including by sharply reducing public subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. “While preventing energy and production bottlenecks, the transition should promote more resilient, diversified, accessible and affordable energy for all human needs”, the statement says, effectively leaving no one behind.

It also urges governments to take adaptation measures such as enhancing early warning systems and improving disaster preparedness and response, as well as scale up the level of public and private investments towards sustainable development priorities, including through well-regulated “green finance” schemes.

Finally, the document stresses the critical role played by parliamentarians in addressing the crisis, including by adopting relevant legislation, mobilizing adequate resources, promoting public participation, creating ross-regional responses, and ensuring that international commitments are consistently being met in the interest of all individuals. “As bridges between citizens and their institutions, we realize that our contribution is more critical than ever,” the Plea concludes.

The statement, posted today on the OSCE PA’s website, was signed by Pere Joan Pons Sampietro (MP, Spain), Artur Gerasymov (MP, Ukraine), Gudrun Kugler (MP, Austria) – the Chair, Vice-Chair and Rapporteur, respectively, of the OSCE PA’s General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment. It was also endorsed by OSCE PA Special Representative on Arctic Issues Bryndis Haraldsdottir (MP, Iceland) and Special Representative on Sustainable Development Goals Askar Shakirov (MP, Kazakhstan).

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international co-operation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.

For the full text of the Parliamentary Plea for Resolute Climate Action, please click here.

Richard Wheeler

An OSCE-supported three-day training seminar on the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (Paris Principles, 1993) and human rights report writing was concluded on 5 November 2021. The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, in co-operation with National Center for Human Rights.

The event focused on the Paris Principles, the independence and effectiveness of the Ombudsperson, functions of a national human rights institution and its structure, and effective report writing and communication with media, civil society and the international community.

Some 13 participants representing the Institute of Legislation and Legal Information and the National Center for Human Rights attended. They discussed defining a target audience, key messaging and writing human rights reports. They also learned communications techniques.

The training seminar is part of the Programme Office’s efforts in supporting the host country in strengthening human rights and fundamental freedoms.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

At 14:15 on 6 November, while positioned on the western edge of Bolotene (government-controlled, 22km north-east of Luhansk), the Mission heard four bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of less than 50m south of its position. SMM patrol members immediately re-entered their vehicles.

A few seconds later, while driving away, the Mission observed soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces firing into the air and saw a grey non-SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle flying over positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and then over the SMM patrol at an assessed altitude of 100-150m, despite the ban on the operation of any aerial vehicles included in the 22 July 2020 agreement on Measures to strengthen the ceasefire. As the patrol continued to drive away, at 14:16, it heard and saw one impact explosion at an assessed range of 20-30m south-east of its position.

The shooting and the explosion both occurred very close to the SMM patrol and represent serious security incidents for the Mission. The SMM patrol immediately left the area and returned safely to its base in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk).

The SMM notes that 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, the ceasefire, the withdrawal of weapons, demining, as well as disengagement. The mandate also tasks the Mission to report on any restrictions of its freedom of movement or other impediments in the fulfilment of its mandate.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 482 ceasefire violations, including 125 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 78 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 148 ceasefire violations, including 145 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded eight 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.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation, assessment and maintenance and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM monitored border areas outside government control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed gatherings in Kyiv and Kharkiv.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region and at a checkpoint of the armed formations south of the disengagement areas near Zolote, Luhansk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of probable jamming and jamming.*