Central Europe

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 78 ceasefire violations, including 22 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 204 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded eight ceasefire violations, including five explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 46 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation, assessment and maintenance of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM 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 Mission monitored border areas outside government control in Luhansk region.
• The SMM observed a gathering in Kyiv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in Staromykhailivka, Donetsk region.

VIENNA, 5 November 2021 – A holistic approach to policing needs to be considered when maintaining public safety in diverse societies, said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov at a conference marking the 15th anniversary of the Recommendations on Policing in Multi-Ethnic Societies (Policing Recommendations), held today in the Hofburg in Vienna.

“At the same time, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each situation is unique and approaches should be adapted to contexts”, he emphasized. “The Policing Recommendations provide advice to policymakers on how to recruit, train and develop police services that are representative of the society they serve.”

“The Recommendations also provide guidance on how to enhance communication and trust between the police and national minority communities, thereby strengthening inter-ethnic relations, as well as increasing the operational effectiveness of the police,” Abdrakhmanov said.

In his welcoming address, Håkan Jevrell, Ambassador and Special Envoy on Organized Crime for the Swedish 2021 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, said: “The OSCE has unique assets in its autonomous institutions, including the High Commissioner on National Minorities. The Recommendations and Guidelines published by the HCNM, including the Recommendations on Policing in Multi-Ethnic Societies, are an important tool in supporting the participating States to address these challenges and to implement our joint commitments in this area.”

Alena Kupchyna, the OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats, emphasized that “the implementation of the HCNM’s Policing Recommendations is as relevant today as it was when they were published 15 years ago, as the document aims to address both the short-term triggers of inter-ethnic tension and conflict and any-long term structural concerns. Many police reform processes are ongoing in the OSCE area and the Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) stands ready to join efforts with the HCNM to provide participating States with comprehensive expertise on how police can better serve in multi-ethnic societies. The full use of the Recommendations can result in the inclusion of minority aspects in law-enforcement activities and support building lasting partnerships, based on trust.”

Speaking by video link, United States Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (US Helsinki Commission), said: “Recent events make clear that the High Commissioner on National Minorities’ Recommendations on Policing and Multi-Ethnic Societies, which outline ways to make law enforcement more representative and encourage enhanced co-operation and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve throughout the OSCE region, are as relevant today as they were 15 years ago.

“Strengthening co-operation between law enforcement and civil society, providing assistance to victims, and promoting democracy and equal opportunity must become key aspects of the OSCE efforts to address intolerance in the region,” he added.

Ulan Niiazbekov, Internal Affairs Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, said his Ministry paid particular attention to enhancing co-operation between police and minority communities in Kyrgyzstan.

The conference was an opportunity to discuss the key principles of policing in diverse societies and to exchange experiences and good practices in applying the Recommendations across the OSCE region today.

Dedicated sessions and panels discussed incentives and impediments for the representation of national minorities in the police services and how to enhance trust and communication between the police and diverse communities. They exchanged views on operational methods, professional development needs and measures to ensure the effective role of the police in promoting inter-ethnic relations as part of their law-enforcement duties.

Participants reflected on how the Policing Recommendations tackle racial profiling, cybersecurity and surveillance technology that may target specific groups in society. They also explored issues such as polarization and divisive and identity politics, and how they shape attitudes towards the police, and police responses.

The importance of countering hate speech, xenophobic rhetoric and hate crimes, particularly against minorities, was reiterated. Participants discussed the importance of preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/C VERLT) while taking care not to securitize or marginalize minorities.

The participants also exchanged best practices and ideas on how to mainstream gender in policing from the perspective of the HCNM’s early warning and conflict prevention mandate.

The Rural Women’s Forum, organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, took place in Nur-Sultan on 5 November 2021 in a blended format. The event was held in co-operation with the Coalition for Green Economy and G-Global Development, the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan and the Coca Cola Foundation.

The Forum focused on promoting development of an inclusive and innovative green economy in rural areas and strengthening local governance. Some 250 representatives of national and municipal governments, development and financial institutions, international organizations and private associations discussed institutional aspects of doing business in the region and the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event also covered topics such as social and gender issues, ways to achieve Sustainable Development Goals-2030 and aspects of starting one’s own business as an option to solve social problems.

The forum, launched in 2018, is currently in its fourth consecutive year. It serves as a platform for female entrepreneurs in the rural areas of Kazakhstan to promote local businesses and focus on the application of green technologies.       

The event was part of the Programme Office’s continuous efforts to support gender mainstreaming and economic empowerment initiatives in the host country.

Recent developments, challenges and achievements in preventing and countering corruption at the border were in focus of the two-day annual meeting of the OSCE-supported Regional Anti-corruption Platform, which concluded on 3 November 2021 in Vienna.

The event brought together officers from the internal control departments of border and law enforcement agencies from OSCE participating States in South-Eastern Europe, Moldova and Ukraine. Participants exchanged their views on the best practices related to assets’ declaration, and conflict of interest of law enforcement officers presented by experts from Romania with a view of assessing the applicability of those practices in their agencies/services.

Interagency co-operation between border police and customs services in preventing and countering corruption at the border was another major topic addressed at the meeting. The delegates looked into Customs – Police Cooperation Handbook developed by Interpol and World Customs Organization (WCO) and reflected on the possible ways the agencies can better coordinate their efforts to prevent and counter corruption.

Participants also discussed the findings of the 'Gap Analysis of Whistleblowers’ Protection Laws in Western Balkans and Moldova' presented by the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI).

The impact of gender mainstreaming in building integrity and preventing corruption in border and law enforcement agencies was also on the agenda.

The Regional Anti-Corruption Platform is part of the multi-year project aimed to build capacity and enhance the capacity of border security agencies in countering and prevention of corruption at the border. This event was organized with the financial support of Germany.

Judges and prosecutors from across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina worked to improve the efficiency of trials and reduce the length of proceedings during a workshop held on 5 November 2021 in Teslić. The event was organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina in co-operation with the Federation’s Judicial and Prosecutorial Training Centre.

Participants focused on the practical aspects of trial and case management, internal and external factors that contribute to delays, and tools that judges have at their disposal to ensure trials are completed within a reasonable time.

“Our trial monitoring indicates that the length of proceedings is still a major concern for the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is particularly worrying since an efficient judiciary is one of the prerequisites for ensuring the rule of law, equality of citizens before the law, and their right to a fair trial,” said Michael Schuetz, Head of the Mission’s Rule of Law Section.

The conclusions and recommendations on how to improve the efficiency of the judiciary stemming from the event will be shared with the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council.

This is the third such activity implemented by the Mission, following similar workshops held with judges and prosecutors from Republika Srpska and the Brčko District earlier this year. These feed into ongoing efforts to help align the work of the judiciary in Bosnia and Herzegovina with international fair trial standards, including provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, which are an integral part of the country’s constitutional framework.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina is mandated with strengthening human rights, democratic governance, and security co-operation. It is also committed to helping the BiH judiciary to improve efficiency and secure the unimpeded functioning of courts.

Modernization of seaport control procedures following the COVID-19 pandemic was the focus of an OSCE-organized online training course that took place from 1 to 5 November 2021.

An expert from the United States led the training course that focused on sharing experiences on maritime security issues and presenting modern methods in improving the security responsibilities of law enforcement, border control agencies, port officials and quarantine agents serving at the Turkmenbashy international seaport on the Caspian Sea coast.  

The agenda of the training course included sessions on maritime security concept and responsibilities, port security assessment and planning, emergency preparedness and security administration, threat identification and response among others. The trainer touched also upon gender balance in ports and border security and placed a specific focus on the ramifications of the ongoing pandemic crisis for seaport facilities and marine checkpoints, which resulted in the introduction of additional security and protection measures, increase of documentation procedures for passengers crossing borders, quarantine requirements for cargo shipments and extra medical check-ups.

“The global pandemic has brought changes to border security and management procedures for the safe movement of people and goods across borders, seaport logistics and international transportation chains. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, business continuity plans and emergency response mechanisms have become more important than ever,” said William Leaf, Political Officer at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. He added that seaports play a major role in the supply chain and it is important that security personnel is responsible for their part of safety management and the overall protection of the port facility.

The event brought together 22 operational level officers representing the Ministry of Defense, Transport Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry, the State Border, Customs and Migration Services, General Prosecutor’s Office as well as “Turkmendenizderyayollary” marine transport agency and Turkmenbashy International Seaport Administration.

The training was part of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat’s long-term support to the Government of Turkmenistan in strengthening border security policy and management mechanisms.

A four-day national simulation-based training on combating trafficking in persons concluded on 29 October 2021 in Safed-Dara, Tajikistan. The event was co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the OSCE’s Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

Some 40 participants from the Office of the Prosecutor General, Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry, Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the NGOs “Femida” and “Caravan of Hope” attended.  

Delivered for the first time in Tajikistan, this pioneering training exercise offered front-line responders the opportunity to simulate real-life anti-trafficking responses using actors to recreate trafficking scenarios. Cases of human trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation were simulated during the training.

The training agenda consisted also of a one-day theoretical part, which informed participants about the essence and content of the event, combating trafficking in persons legislation of Tajikistan and roles and rules of behavior of the simulation exercise.

“It’s been a terrific year for national simulation-based trainings to combat human trafficking, with exercises held in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Albania, and Tajikistan. Now that the Tajik national referral mechanism has been reviewed and a new national anti-trafficking plan is being discussed, this exercise is particularly timely,” said Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. “The training showed the participants the value of regular collaboration between law enforcement and social services, and provided a great opportunity for the newly-appointed staff of the state-run shelter to gain valuable experience from the specialized NGO. It also addressed the issue of labour exploitation, a form of trafficking that is often overlooked and requires special attention in the OSCE region and beyond. I look forward to seeing the lessons learned put into action,” said Richey.

The live simulation exercise was carried out as part of the Programme Office’s ongoing efforts in assisting the host country to combat human trafficking and better identify and assist victims of human trafficking through a new co-ordinated approach.

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 204 ceasefire violations, including 20 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 248 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 46 ceasefire violations, including ten explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 76 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM followed up on reports of recent damage to a civilian property in government-controlled Hranitne, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle spotted recent craters near non-government-controlled Boikivske (formerly Telmanove), Donetsk region.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation, assessment and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three 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 checkpoints of the armed formations in and near the disengagement areas near Petrivske and Stanytsia Luhanska, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

How to undertake financial investigations to better assess terrorist threats was in focus during a three-day training course for experts from North Macedonia, which concluded on 3 November 2021. The course was organized by the OSCE and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as part of a multi-year training programme for North Macedonia on countering the financing of terrorism.

Seventeen experts from law enforcement, the financial intelligence office, the public prosecutor’s office, the intelligence agency, customs and the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Interior learned about techniques and methods to assist in the successful conduct of counter-terrorism investigations. They also practiced how to apply these techniques to realistic and localized scenarios.

A cohort of national trainers, supported by lead experts, delivered the course. The trainers were prepared through an OSCE/UNODC train-the-trainer course held in October in Vienna where participants co-produced scenarios tailored to the North Macedonia context.

The training course is part of a multi-year progressive training programme for North Macedonia on countering terrorist financing (CFT), jointly implemented by the OSCE and UNODC, with the support of the OSCE Mission to Skopje. The programme aims to build up North Macedonia’s CFT framework and increase the country’s capacity to detect and combat terrorist financing and strengthen compliance with international commitments and standards in this area. 

The course was organized with the financial support of the United States.

Developing and strengthening the engagement between the police and the community in order to prevent and counter violent extremisms and radicalisation that lead to terrorism was the aim of an OSCE training course held from 3 to 5 November 2021 in Skopje.

The two-and-a-half-day course was organized by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje.

It brought together 20 police officers and community members representing organized groups and religious communities, as well as individuals and staff from local governmental agencies such as social services.

Community policing officers together with community representatives of North Macedonia learned about human rights-based, whole-of-society approaches to preventing terrorism and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT) and discussed common challenges and good practices.

The course was designed based on the OSCE guidebook Preventing Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism that Lead to Terrorism: A Community Policing Approach. It was also based on pilot courses run in 2018 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and in 2019 in Tirana, Albania by ODIHR and the OSCE Transnational Threats Department.

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA, 4 November 2021 – The 28th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will take place 2-3 December 2021 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The annual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the 57 OSCE participating States will be held at the invitation of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde.

The Ministerial Council is the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE. The annual meeting is an opportunity for the Foreign Ministers to review and assess the security situation in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area, as well as the organization's work in all its fields of activity.

Media representatives are invited to cover the event, which will be held at the Scandinavian XPO in Arlanda/Stockholm.

Advance accreditation of media representatives is mandatory. The deadline for registration is 6 p.m., 26 November 2021. Accreditation will be granted following place self-registration here (Password: reg-wrgZwb).

For registration, please fill in the requested information and upload a passport photo and a copy of your media credentials.

Media wishing to park vehicles for live broadcasting from the event (SNG trucks) in a designated parking area must register the SNG trucks and their drivers in advance.

For this purpose, please send an e-mail to OSCEMC21@gov.se giving the following information: Type of vehicle, license plate number, name of the media company, full name of SNG crew members.

The deadline for registration of SNG trucks is 26 November 2021.

Detailed information about media facilities, instructions for accreditation, booking of hotels and the visa application procedure is available here.  

Information on traveling to Sweden during the corona pandemic: Travel to and from Sweden | The Swedish Police Authority.

Visa requirements must be met before arrival in Sweden. Accredited media representatives are invited to make their own visa arrangements as soon as possible. Information on visas – Government.se

Follow the news about the Ministerial Council on Twitter at @OSCE, @SwedeninATOSCE and #OSCEMC2021 or the MC event page here.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the State Customs Service (SCS) of Kyrgyzstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 3 November 2021 in Bishkek. WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya and SCS Chairperson Adilet Kubanychbekov signed the document that grants the status of WCO regional training center to SCS training and specialized canine unit.  

Mikuriya noted that the new status will allow employees of canine training units of the customs of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia to acquire knowledge and skills in line with international standards that will ensure a higher quality of law enforcement, professional development and exchange of information. This in turn, will allow customs officers to apply effective measures to ensure economic security in Kyrgyzstan and the region as a whole.

During Mikuriya’s visit to Kyrgyzstan, the International Conference on trade facilitation measures during COVID-19 in Central Asia took place on 4 November in Bishkek.

Customs officers from Central Asian states, representatives of the Office of the Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, International Finance Corporation, German Agency for International Co-operation, International Trade Centre and international experts attended the conference,.

The participants learned the WCO instruments and best practices in implementation of trade facilitation, emerging developments in international supply chain, and modern technologies that could help to overcome risks caused by the COVID-19 to ensure the unhindered flow of legitimate trade.

The Conference was organized within the framework of the project “Capacity building of customs officers from Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan” of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, and in close co-operation with State Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic.

More than 100 representatives of youth and people with disabilities from across Kyrgyzstan attended the first inclusive youth conference “Three Whales” that took place on 29 October 2021 in Bishkek.

The event aimed to create a dialogue platform where representatives of modern economic structures - “green”, “creative” and “digital” - the “three whales” of sustainable development, could share knowledge and experience with contemporary youth.

The participants took part in the drafting of proposals for the development of the three economic structures, and attended exhibitions on digital technologies, creative industries, professions of the future, an upcycling fair, as well as, the Kut Bazaar exhibition on eco-products.

The event was held on the eve of the upcoming 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the annual Green Economy Week and it was co-organized by the NGO “Students of Kyrgyzstan for a Green Economy”, the Social Initiatives Fund, and with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 248 ceasefire violations, including 31 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 524 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 76 ceasefire violations, including three explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 66 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM observed damage to SMM camera system in government-controlled Hranitne, Donetsk region.
•  The SMM followed up on reports of recent damage to civilian properties in government-controlled Hranitne, Donetsk region and Trokhizbenka, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded four 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 three entry-exit checkpoints and four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM monitored the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The Mission monitored a gathering in Kyiv.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near the disengagement areas near Zolote and Petrivske and at a border crossing point and a railway station outside government control near Voznesenivka, Luhansk region. Its UAVs again experienced instances of probable jamming and jamming.*

In several European countries, dialogue policing, with its emphasis on the importance of oral and informal communication between the police and event organizers, has proven effective in preventing confrontations and violence during public gatherings, such as demonstrations or football matches. On 2 November 2021, the OSCE Mission to Skopje delivered a workshop to introduce the concept to the senior police management of North Macedonia.

“The openness and transparency of well-trained Dialogue Police Officers on the frontlines in mass gathering are critical to the country's continued improvement in public trust and confidence,” said Juraj Smolek, Head of the Mission’s Public Safety and Community Outreach Department, at the opening of the workshop.

“Dialogue creates an opportunity for an agreement that sets expectations for the behavior of the participants in the event, and what is more important, creates a relationship of trust,”  added Sasho Tasevski, Director of the Public Security Bureau.

“Certainly, this way of working must and should not restrict the right to freedom of assembly or public expression, and should guarantee the freedom and rights of citizens to a greater extent. The key benefits arising from this concept would certainly be: a guarantee of peaceful public gatherings and sports competitions, a reduced number of attacks on police officers, a smaller number of means of coercion used by police officers, and a reduced number of damages to the property of citizens,” said Tasevski.

He concluded that the concept of dialogue policing will be introduced to police officers throughout the country through an OSCE-supported training planned for next year.

At 10:45 on 2 November, the SMM arrived at its camera site near Hranitne (government-controlled, 60km south of Donetsk) to conduct scheduled camera maintenance. Upon arrival at the camera site, the Mission saw damage to the system. There were about ten holes in the camera’s metal casing and plastic parts of the outdoor electrical panel lying on the ground. On the cabin housing of a trailer-mounted camera system, the SMM observed one hole, one scratch and five pieces of shrapnel lying on top of it. There were also holes and dents on the trailer’s chassis. The fuel gauge cable of the diesel generator was severed and an unidentified metal object lay underneath the trailer. One impact hole was seen 1.5m from the trailer, near the metal fence surrounding the camera site. All the above-mentioned damage was assessed as recent and caused by probable shelling. The Mission could not assess the type of weapon used or the direction of fire.

The SMM did not observe any damage to the camera system’s three cameras, which all remain operational.

The SMM again notes that technical assets are an inseparable part of the Mission’s operational infrastructure; as such they are included in the specification of OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 that the SMM shall have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. Unrestricted and unconditional access to all areas, including by technical means, is essential to ensure the 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.

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 524 ceasefire violations, including 48 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 398 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 66 ceasefire violations and no explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 257 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission followed up on reports of damage to civilian properties in government-controlled Hranitne and in non-government-controlled Yakovlivka and Boikivske (formerly Telmanove), Donetsk region.
• Small-arms fire near an SMM patrol prevented it from conducting a mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight near non-government-controlled Khriashchuvate, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed people inside the disengagement area near 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 two border crossing points outside government control and monitored the border areas outside the government control in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations inside and near the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske, as well as near Novoazovsk, in southern Donetsk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of probable jamming and jamming.*

KYIV, 2 November 2021 - The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) and OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU), mark the 21st anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which recognizes the important roles of women and girls in peace and security efforts, and calls for their increased and meaningful participation in related decision-making processes.

“The observations made by the SMM in its latest thematic report on gender illustrate the many and varied roles of women in relation to the peace and security agenda in Ukraine. Women are key contributors in addressing conflict-related issues, identifying and supporting the needs of conflict-affected populations, and promoting peace by fostering dialogue and social cohesion,” said Halit Çevik, Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine.

“Whereas women’s participation in many spheres of peace and security remains limited, expansion of opportunities for them is a key priority for OSCE projects in Ukraine. It is also very important to take into account the various needs women and men have in the planning and delivery of assistance,” said Henrik Villadsen, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The Project Co-ordinator emphasized that the role of women in humanitarian demining can actively contribute to making communities safer, whilst inclusion of women’s perspectives into such operations ensures better clearance of the affected lands.

The SMM and PCU remain committed to including a gender perspective in their activities, contributing to a deeper understanding of women and girls’ experiences, needs and ideas for peace and security in Ukraine.

As part of the long-standing partnership with Parliament, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided IT equipment to it on 30 October 2021.

The equipment, among other things, included 20 laptops that will support E-Parliament and electronic sessions in the Blue Salon.

Aleksandar Klarić, Parliament's Secretary General, in thanking the Mission, said: “The co-operation of Parliament with the Mission is an example of a sincere partnership based on a clear vision of improving democratic capacities and transparency of the work of Montenegro’s highest legislative institution.”

Following a request from Aleksa Bečić, Speaker of Parliament, in April this year the Mission supported the work of Parliament through providing the video equipment for livestreaming and broadcasting parliamentary committees.

The Mission will continue to implement projects focused on improving the openness and transparency of Parliament, as well as strengthening the capacity of the committees and the parliamentary staff.

An OSCE-supported regional online conference on human rights protection in Central Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic took place on 29 October 2021. The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

Some 79 participants, including representatives of state officials from Central Asia,   international organizations and NGOs discussed current challenges faced by people working with human rights, as well as the needs of NGOs. The event provided a platform for experience and practice exchange amongst the participants.

The event was focused on review of human rights observance in Central Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic and illustrative approaches of cooperation between state bodies and civil society organizations.

The participants contributed to the development of a summary on the challenges, needs and experience exchange. Governmental representatives and regional experts from civil society organizations presented their views on the human rights situation in Central Asia.

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