osce--2020-11-05--COVID-19 creating risks for human trafficking crisis, say anti-trafficking leaders from over 50 coun

COVID-19 creating risks for human trafficking crisis, say anti-trafficking leaders from over 50 countries in joint OSCE-Council of Europe meeting

VIENNA , 5 November 2020 - Leaders of anti-trafficking efforts from over 50 countries across Europe , North America and Central Asia met online on 3 and 4 November 2020 for the largest annual meeting of its kind focused on human trafficking at the international level .
The event , jointly organized by the OSCE and the Council of Europe , focused on challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to anti-trafficking responses .
Participants shared promising practices in the prevention of human trafficking , the protection of victims , and the prosecution of traffickers amid the pandemic .
They highlighted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all sectors .
“ This is not the time to turn our back on trafficking and its victims ; it is time to double-down on our investments and efforts , ” said Valiant Richey , OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings .
Participants underscored how the COVID-19 pandemic has created more favorable conditions for traffickers by exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities and creating new ones , pushing people in difficult economic circumstances into risky and exploitative situations .
“ COVID-19 is testing our capacity to protect victims but will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In many countries , national anti-trafficking co-ordinators , in partnership with civil society , are taking inspiring initiatives to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic , ” said Petya Nestorova , Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings and Head of the Anti-trafficking Division of the Council of Europe .
Experts noted high-risk sectors included agriculture and food-processing industries , where opaque recruitment procedures , low-qualification requirements and low-wages created favorable conditions for traffickers .
Industries characterized by long supply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as potentially at risk for exploitation .
Lockdown measures and movement restrictions contributed to a surge in some forms of exploitation , particularly online child exploitation and so-called “ webcam exploitation ” .
Participants recognized that these forms of exploitation made victims increasingly ‘ invisible ’ to the law enforcement systems and harder to reach with support services .
The meeting also focused on solutions to these challenges , including some promising national practices that have emerged in recent months .
Broader use of trafficking hotlines , an increase in law enforcement presence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in high-risk sectors were highlighted as positive anti-trafficking responses .
“ Meetings like this , where governments can share their best practices and experiences , are a key component of what in the OSCE we call ‘ co-operative security ’ ” , said Richey .
“ Common challenges are tackled more effectively together and taking inspiration from peer actions adds to our common efficiency in eradicating human trafficking .
”

VIENNA, 5 November 2020 - Leaders of anti-trafficking efforts from over 50 countries across Europe, North America and Central Asia met online on 3 and 4 November 2020 for the largest annual meeting of its kind focused on human trafficking at the international level. The event, jointly organized by the OSCE and the Council of Europe, focused on challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to anti-trafficking responses.
Participants shared promising practices in the prevention of human trafficking, the protection of victims, and the prosecution of traffickers amid the pandemic. They highlighted the need for enhanced anti-trafficking action across all sectors.
“This is not the time to turn our back on trafficking and its victims; it is time to double-down on our investments and efforts,” said Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.
Participants underscored how the COVID-19 pandemic has created more favorable conditions for traffickers by exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities and creating new ones, pushing people in difficult economic circumstances into risky and exploitative situations.
“COVID-19 is testing our capacity to protect victims but will not break our resolve to combat human trafficking. In many countries, national anti-trafficking co-ordinators, in partnership with civil society, are taking inspiring initiatives to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic,” said Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings and Head of the Anti-trafficking Division of the Council of Europe.
Experts noted high-risk sectors included agriculture and food-processing industries, where opaque recruitment procedures, low-qualification requirements and low-wages created favorable conditions for traffickers. Industries characterized by long supply chains with several sub-contractors were also considered as potentially at risk for exploitation.
Lockdown measures and movement restrictions contributed to a surge in some forms of exploitation, particularly online child exploitation and so-called “webcam exploitation”. Participants recognized that these forms of exploitation made victims increasingly ‘invisible’ to the law enforcement systems and harder to reach with support services.
The meeting also focused on solutions to these challenges, including some promising national practices that have emerged in recent months. Broader use of trafficking hotlines, an increase in law enforcement presence online, and more on-site labour inspections in high-risk sectors were highlighted as positive anti-trafficking responses.
“Meetings like this, where governments can share their best practices and experiences, are a key component of what in the OSCE we call ‘co-operative security’”, said Richey. “Common challenges are tackled more effectively together and taking inspiration from peer actions adds to our common efficiency in eradicating human trafficking.”


osce--2020-11-05--Crisis management, new challenges and enhanced co-ordination in border management focus of Central A

Crisis management, new challenges and enhanced co-ordination in border management focus of Central Asian Border Management Initiative 2020

The current global health crisis , associated challenges for border agencies in Central Asia and Afghanistan as well as the need to enhance co-ordination in the region , were the focus of the four-day Conference of the Central Asia Border Management Initiative ( CABMI ) held from 2 to 5 November .
The Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department with the support of the OSCE Field Missions in Central Asia organized the online conference .
Barbara Schrotter , Head of Unit , International Relations , of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Interior , Liga Jermacane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service , and Alena Kupchyna , Co-ordinator of OSCE Activities to Address Transnational Threats delivered opening remarks .
“ Security threats have dramatically evolved over the last decades to transcend national boundaries and conventional borders .
The effects of these threats have similarly expanded beyond security alone .
Managing borders during a health crisis became an even more complex and challenging task , ” said Kupchyna .
Twenty-five representatives from Afghanistan , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attending the conference elaborated on the persistent and emerging challenges in national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the International Centre for Migration Policy Development ( ICMPD ) , the International Organization for Migration ( IOM ) as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) Regional Office for Central Asia provided an overview of their responses to the current health crisis .
Representatives from the OSCE Field Offices in the region , the Border Management Programme in Central Asia ( BOMCA 9 ) , the IOM Sub-regional Coordinator for Central Asia , OSCE ’ s Border Management Staff College , the United Nations Office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representatives from OSCE ’ s Border Security and Management Unit , presented ongoing international and bilateral initiatives in support to border security and management in Central Asia and Afghanistan .
During the interactive working groups , officials from border services in the region , together with representatives of international organizations , identified current needs for technical assistance in border security and management and developed recommendations for enhanced co-ordination among international , regional and bilateral actors .

The current global health crisis, associated challenges for border agencies in Central Asia and Afghanistan as well as the need to enhance co-ordination in the region, were the focus of the four-day Conference of the Central Asia Border Management Initiative (CABMI) held from 2 to 5 November.
The Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department with the support of the OSCE Field Missions in Central Asia organized the online conference.
Barbara Schrotter, Head of Unit, International Relations, of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Interior, Liga Jermacane, Political Adviser, European External Action Service, and Alena Kupchyna, Co-ordinator of OSCE Activities to Address Transnational Threats delivered opening remarks.
“Security threats have dramatically evolved over the last decades to transcend national boundaries and conventional borders. The effects of these threats have similarly expanded beyond security alone. Managing borders during a health crisis became an even more complex and challenging task,” said Kupchyna.
Twenty-five representatives from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attending the conference elaborated on the persistent and emerging challenges in national border security and management.
Representatives from the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Central Asia provided an overview of their responses to the current health crisis.
Representatives from the OSCE Field Offices in the region, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 9), the IOM Sub-regional Coordinator for Central Asia, OSCE’s Border Management Staff College, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) as well as representatives from OSCE’s Border Security and Management Unit, presented ongoing international and bilateral initiatives in support to border security and management in Central Asia and Afghanistan.
During the interactive working groups, officials from border services in the region, together with representatives of international organizations, identified current needs for technical assistance in border security and management and developed recommendations for enhanced co-ordination among international, regional and bilateral actors.


osce--2020-11-05--OSCE PA leaders vigorously condemn recent terror attacks, call for increased social cohesion at time

OSCE PA leaders vigorously condemn recent terror attacks, call for increased social cohesion at times of unprecedented health and economic challenges

COPENHAGEN , 4 November 2020 – The leaders of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly firmly condemn the terror attack which took place in Vienna on Monday , killing at least four people and injuring 22 .
“ We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims and wish a speedy and full recovery to those injured in these horrific events .
Vienna is the home of the OSCE and of international diplomacy , and its citizens have always stood by multiculturalism and tolerance , ” stressed OSCE PA President George Tsereteli .
The recent surge in terrorist activities across the OSCE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , Turkey , Afghanistan , Germany , and Croatia , whether Islamic State- , right-wing- or lone-wolf-incited , are only some of the latest stark examples , Tsereteli pointed out .
They demonstrate that terrorism and violent extremism remain global security threats affecting all OSCE participating States .
“ The OSCE PA stands by belief that the brutal acts of terrorism have no religion , race or nationality , and certainly no place in modern democratic societies .
They know no borders , and are never justifiable wherever and by whomsoever committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly distressing , terrorist acts tend to sharpen the international community ’ s resoluteness against terrorism .
“ Far from dividing us , such dreadful attacks only reinforce our determination to actively defend our shared freedoms and values , including freedom of expression , ” noted Reinhold Lopatka , Chair of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism .
“ At the same time , acts which , under the banner of freedom of expression , fuel hate speech , hatred and radicalization should also be avoided and widely condemned as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dialogue , ” Lopatka added .
“ The economic and social distress triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is no reason to shift our attention away from the terrorism threat .
On the contrary , this prolonged health crisis provides a particularly fertile ground for terrorist groups to boost their popularity and recruit new sympathizers among vulnerable groups , stigmatize minorities , foment divisions in our societies , spread violent ideologies and prepare new attacks .
Thus , countering terrorism and radicalization must always remain a top priority , ” concluded Chair Lopatka .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism and its strong network of partnerships with the OSCE , the United Nations and like-minded inter-parliamentary fora , continues to mobilize parliamentarians on counter-terrorism and to promote co-ordinated responses at international level , ” emphasized OSCE PA Secretary General Montella .
“ At the same time , we call on authorities of all OSCE participating States to strongly denounce all forms of extremist rhetoric , racism and hate speech , as well as to more effectively address the underlying social , economic and political factors conducive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play a vital role in bridging diverging views and building cohesive societies which reject all forms of terrorism and violent extremism , ” concluded Montella .

COPENHAGEN, 4 November 2020 – The leaders of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly firmly condemn the terror attack which took place in Vienna on Monday, killing at least four people and injuring 22. “We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims and wish a speedy and full recovery to those injured in these horrific events. Vienna is the home of the OSCE and of international diplomacy, and its citizens have always stood by multiculturalism and tolerance,” stressed OSCE PA President George Tsereteli.
The recent surge in terrorist activities across the OSCE region is worrisome. Appalling attacks in France, Turkey, Afghanistan, Germany, and Croatia, whether Islamic State-, right-wing- or lone-wolf-incited, are only some of the latest stark examples, Tsereteli pointed out. They demonstrate that terrorism and violent extremism remain global security threats affecting all OSCE participating States.
“The OSCE PA stands by belief that the brutal acts of terrorism have no religion, race or nationality, and certainly no place in modern democratic societies. They know no borders, and are never justifiable wherever and by whomsoever committed,” underscored President Tsereteli.
While certainly distressing, terrorist acts tend to sharpen the international community’s resoluteness against terrorism. “Far from dividing us, such dreadful attacks only reinforce our determination to actively defend our shared freedoms and values, including freedom of expression,” noted Reinhold Lopatka, Chair of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism. “At the same time, acts which, under the banner of freedom of expression, fuel hate speech, hatred and radicalization should also be avoided and widely condemned as undermining fundamental intercultural and inter-religious relations and dialogue,” Lopatka added.
“The economic and social distress triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is no reason to shift our attention away from the terrorism threat. On the contrary, this prolonged health crisis provides a particularly fertile ground for terrorist groups to boost their popularity and recruit new sympathizers among vulnerable groups, stigmatize minorities, foment divisions in our societies, spread violent ideologies and prepare new attacks. Thus, countering terrorism and radicalization must always remain a top priority,” concluded Chair Lopatka.
“The OSCE PA, through its Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism and its strong network of partnerships with the OSCE, the United Nations and like-minded inter-parliamentary fora, continues to mobilize parliamentarians on counter-terrorism and to promote co-ordinated responses at international level,” emphasized OSCE PA Secretary General Montella. “At the same time, we call on authorities of all OSCE participating States to strongly denounce all forms of extremist rhetoric, racism and hate speech, as well as to more effectively address the underlying social, economic and political factors conducive to radicalization and violent extremism. National parliaments play a vital role in bridging diverging views and building cohesive societies which reject all forms of terrorism and violent extremism,” concluded Montella.


osce--2020-11-04--OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 263/2020 issued on 4 November 2020

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osce--2020-11-04--Highly competitive elections in US tarnished by legal uncertainty and unprecedented attempts to unde

Highly competitive elections in US tarnished by legal uncertainty and unprecedented attempts to undermine public trust, international observers say

WASHINGTON D.C. , 4 November 2020 – Yesterday ’ s vote was hard-fought and competitive with a high degree of engagement by election workers and citizens in the face of great legal uncertainty and a highly polarised political environment fuelled by aggressive campaign rhetoric , international observers to the US general elections said in a statement today .
The observation mission , carried out jointly by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ( ODIHR ) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly ( OSCE PA ) , concluded that the 3 November general elections were competitive and well managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 pandemic .
At the same time , the campaign was characterised by deeply entrenched political polarisation that often obscured the broader policy debate and included baseless allegations of systematic fraud .
“ Nobody – no politician , no elected official – should limit the people ’ s right to vote .
Coming after such a highly dynamic campaign , making sure that every vote is counted is a fundamental obligation for all branches of government , ” said Michael Georg Link , Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , notably by the incumbent President , including on election night , harm public trust in democratic institutions.
” The COVID-19 pandemic was an enormous challenge to the organisation of the elections , but it also had a significant impact on the election campaign .
Measures taken to ensure that voters were able to cast their ballot during the pandemic triggered drawn-out lawsuits driven by partisan interests , negatively affecting the work of the election administration and confusing voters .
Election day itself was peaceful and took place without unrest or intimidation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voter identification requirements disproportionately affect certain groups , creating an undue hurdle for them in casting their votes .
At the same time , an estimated 5.2 million citizens are disenfranchised due to a criminal conviction , although about half of them have already served their sentences .
These voting restrictions contravene the principle of universal suffrage .
“ The right to vote and to have that vote counted is among the most fundamental principles of democracy , ” said Kari Henriksen , Head of the OSCE PA delegation .
“ While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanding the franchise , concerns remain regarding universal adult suffrage .
Women ’ s participation in politics has also increased , but there should be greater attention paid to this .
In the context of COVID-19 and the rise in mail-in voting , I am concerned about attempts to restrict the counting of legally cast ballots.
” There were also concerns over campaign finance .
While this is regulated at the federal level with ceilings on individual donations to campaigns and full disclosure , the regulations on the unrestricted independent spenders effectively reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in politics .
The total expenditure is estimated to reach $ 14 billion for these elections .
The media landscape in the US is highly polarised , but at the same time pluralistic and diverse .
Freedom of expression was respected ahead of the elections , with a wide range of information available that helped voters make an informed choice .
Election officials worked under difficult circumstances due both to the pandemic and the highly politicised environment that accompanied the election process .
While emergency funds were distributed to help states overcome challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the elections , these were insufficient to overcome the additional challenge of the massive increase in online voter registration and postal voting .
It was nonetheless noted that the public was generally confident in the work of the election administration at all levels .
“ The enormous effort made by election workers , supported by many engaged citizens , ensured that voters could cast their votes despite legal and technical challenges and deliberate attempts by the incumbent president to weaken confidence in the election process , ” said Urszula Gacek , Head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But this election is not over , and we remain here in DC and in key states around the country until it is .
It is vital that every properly cast ballot is properly counted.
” The international election observation mission for the general elections in the United States totalled 102 observers from 39 countries , made up of 50 ODIHR-deployed experts and observers , and 52 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA. For more details , please contact :

WASHINGTON D.C., 4 November 2020 – Yesterday’s vote was hard-fought and competitive with a high degree of engagement by election workers and citizens in the face of great legal uncertainty and a highly polarised political environment fuelled by aggressive campaign rhetoric, international observers to the US general elections said in a statement today.
The observation mission, carried out jointly by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), concluded that the 3 November general elections were competitive and well managed despite the many challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, the campaign was characterised by deeply entrenched political polarisation that often obscured the broader policy debate and included baseless allegations of systematic fraud.
“Nobody – no politician, no elected official – should limit the people’s right to vote. Coming after such a highly dynamic campaign, making sure that every vote is counted is a fundamental obligation for all branches of government,” said Michael Georg Link, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission. “Baseless allegations of systematic deficiencies, notably by the incumbent President, including on election night, harm public trust in democratic institutions.”
The COVID-19 pandemic was an enormous challenge to the organisation of the elections, but it also had a significant impact on the election campaign. Measures taken to ensure that voters were able to cast their ballot during the pandemic triggered drawn-out lawsuits driven by partisan interests, negatively affecting the work of the election administration and confusing voters. Election day itself was peaceful and took place without unrest or intimidation. Health safety measures were generally followed.
Voter identification requirements disproportionately affect certain groups, creating an undue hurdle for them in casting their votes. At the same time, an estimated 5.2 million citizens are disenfranchised due to a criminal conviction, although about half of them have already served their sentences. These voting restrictions contravene the principle of universal suffrage.
“The right to vote and to have that vote counted is among the most fundamental principles of democracy,” said Kari Henriksen, Head of the OSCE PA delegation. “While the United States has taken great strides toward expanding the franchise, concerns remain regarding universal adult suffrage. Women’s participation in politics has also increased, but there should be greater attention paid to this. In the context of COVID-19 and the rise in mail-in voting, I am concerned about attempts to restrict the counting of legally cast ballots.”
There were also concerns over campaign finance. While this is regulated at the federal level with ceilings on individual donations to campaigns and full disclosure, the regulations on the unrestricted independent spenders effectively reduce transparency and amplify the impact of money in politics. The total expenditure is estimated to reach $14 billion for these elections.
The media landscape in the US is highly polarised, but at the same time pluralistic and diverse. Freedom of expression was respected ahead of the elections, with a wide range of information available that helped voters make an informed choice.
Election officials worked under difficult circumstances due both to the pandemic and the highly politicised environment that accompanied the election process. While emergency funds were distributed to help states overcome challenges caused by the pandemic for the organisation of the elections, these were insufficient to overcome the additional challenge of the massive increase in online voter registration and postal voting. It was nonetheless noted that the public was generally confident in the work of the election administration at all levels.
“The enormous effort made by election workers, supported by many engaged citizens, ensured that voters could cast their votes despite legal and technical challenges and deliberate attempts by the incumbent president to weaken confidence in the election process,” said Urszula Gacek, Head of ODIHR’s election observation mission. “But this election is not over, and we remain here in DC and in key states around the country until it is. It is vital that every properly cast ballot is properly counted.”
The international election observation mission for the general elections in the United States totalled 102 observers from 39 countries, made up of 50 ODIHR-deployed experts and observers, and 52 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA.
For more details, please contact:
Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +1 310 303 2902 / +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl
Nat Parry, OSCE PA: +45 60 10 81 77 or nat@oscepa.dk


osce--2020-11-04--OSCE Mission and British Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina condemn attacks and pressures on journali

OSCE Mission and British Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina condemn attacks and pressures on journalists

SARAJEVO , 4 November 2020 - Ambassadors Kathleen Kavalec , Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina ( @ @ @ @ @ Field , British Ambassador to BiH , strongly condemn all attacks and undue pressure on @ @ @ @ @ , including the most recent attack on a BNTV female journalist , threats against columnists @ @ @ @ @ and web portals such as klix.ba and inforadar.ba .
Any and all threats and attacks @ @ @ @ @ investigated , including in particular when perpetrated by public officials , who are expected to @ @ @ @ @ respectful and accountable behaviour .
The British Embassy in BiH and the OSCE Mission to @ @ @ @ @ monitor and call attention to violations of journalists ’ rights , in particular those committed @ @ @ @ @ they carry out their vital roles to inform the public in a free and democratic @ @

SARAJEVO, 4 November 2020 - Ambassadors Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Matt Field, British Ambassador to BiH, strongly condemn all attacks and undue pressure on the media in the country, including the most recent attack on a BNTV female journalist, threats against columnists Dragan Bursać and Srđan Puhalo and web portals such as klix.ba and inforadar.ba.
Any and all threats and attacks against journalists should be thoroughly investigated, including in particular when perpetrated by public officials, who are expected to serve as role models for respectful and accountable behaviour.
The British Embassy in BiH and the OSCE Mission to BiH will continue to closely monitor and call attention to violations of journalists’ rights, in particular those committed against female journalists, as they carry out their vital roles to inform the public in a free and democratic environment.


osce--2020-11-04--OSCE Presence in Albania trains members of National Forum of Youth with Visual Impairments on organi

OSCE Presence in Albania trains members of National Forum of Youth with Visual Impairments on organizational and strategic planning skills

Twenty young people from the National Forum of Youth with Visual Impairments participated in an event organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania aimed at enhancing their organizational and strategic planning skills .
The event was held from 31 October to 4 November 2020 in Tirana .
The Forum is a national association of young people with visual impairments established to help them work together to defend their rights , overcome social exclusion , and represent their interests in the fields of public participation , education and access to the labour market .
The training addressed the need for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectives against achievements .
Through group work and participatory learning , the Forum members were encouraged to define their organization ’ s mission and vision , differentiate between long-term and short-term objectives , and share a common understanding of advantages and challenges of their youth organization .
“ Full participation of youth with visual impairments in all aspects of public and political life is possible only if they are fully aware of their personal skills , and their joint capacities to get organized and act as one .
Good organization and proper planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take control of their lives , ” said the head of the Forum , Jonit Ferhati .
The OSCE Presence has been supporting the National Forum of Youth with Visual Impairments since 2017 to raise awareness on the rights of people with disabilities and to empower its members to participate in elections .
“ This year ’ s focus was to enable the Forum to develop an outline of its strategic and operational plan .
This will help the Forum improve its local- and central-level activism .
A new strategy with shared goals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new enrolments , and member retention will enable the Forum to become the voice of the youth with visual impairments throughout Albania in the near future , ” said Sihana Nebiu , Head of the Democratization Department at the OSCE Presence .
The support that the Presence gives to young people with visual impairments is part of its larger efforts to nurture active citizenship and empower civil society and youth in Albania .

Twenty young people from the National Forum of Youth with Visual Impairments participated in an event organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania aimed at enhancing their organizational and strategic planning skills. The event was held from 31 October to 4 November 2020 in Tirana.
The Forum is a national association of young people with visual impairments established to help them work together to defend their rights, overcome social exclusion, and represent their interests in the fields of public participation, education and access to the labour market.
The training addressed the need for a well-established structural configuration and methods for assessing objectives against achievements. Through group work and participatory learning, the Forum members were encouraged to define their organization’s mission and vision, differentiate between long-term and short-term objectives, and share a common understanding of advantages and challenges of their youth organization.
“Full participation of youth with visual impairments in all aspects of public and political life is possible only if they are fully aware of their personal skills, and their joint capacities to get organized and act as one. Good organization and proper planning are crucial for enabling people with disabilities take control of their lives,” said the head of the Forum, Jonit Ferhati.
The OSCE Presence has been supporting the National Forum of Youth with Visual Impairments since 2017 to raise awareness on the rights of people with disabilities and to empower its members to participate in elections.
“This year’s focus was to enable the Forum to develop an outline of its strategic and operational plan. This will help the Forum improve its local- and central-level activism. A new strategy with shared goals and objectives, covering public outreach, new enrolments, and member retention will enable the Forum to become the voice of the youth with visual impairments throughout Albania in the near future,” said Sihana Nebiu, Head of the Democratization Department at the OSCE Presence.
The support that the Presence gives to young people with visual impairments is part of its larger efforts to nurture active citizenship and empower civil society and youth in Albania.


osce--2020-11-03--Sustainable development and security are part of the same equation, note participants of OSCE 2020 M

Sustainable development and security are part of the same equation, note participants of OSCE 2020 Mediterranean conference

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA , 3 November 2020 – In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and numerous other challenges , high-level political representatives of the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation addressed today the complex link between sustainable development and security at the 2020 OSCE Mediterranean Conference fully held online .
Chaired by Sweden , 2020 Chair of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation Group , over 200 participants , eight foreign Ministers , eight deputy foreign Ministers , representatives of the 57 OSCE participating States , the six OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation ( Algeria , Egypt , Israel , Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international organizations reviewed the security situation in the Mediterranean region by focusing on development-related aspects .
“ Our post-COVID-19 recovery strategies should be used as an opportunity to take on important reforms towards fulfilling the sustainable development goals , as well as the goals of the Paris agreement , ” said Sweden ’ s Minister for Foreign Affairs , Ann Linde .
“ We need to ensure that the recovery is based on the green transition .
Lack of action towards climate neutrality will bring about consequences and costs that by far exceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need a democratic approach towards recovery , ” said Linde .
This would include good governance , strengthening civil society and the respect for human rights , including freedom of expression and information – online and offline – and everyone ’ s freedom of religion or belief .
It also includes reducing inequalities and gender inequalities .
We must not leave the most vulnerable behind as we tackle this crisis , ” said Linde .
Agron Tare , Albania ’ s Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs said that the Mediterranean dimension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security .
“ The global challenges we face are shared with both shores of the Mediterranean - from terrorism to climate change , to hybrid threats , to irregular immigration - and can only be tackled when we co-operate effectively .
In these uncertain times , it is more important than ever to have friends , to build partnerships , to co-ordinate our responses .
We need a broad cross-regional approach to face these challenges together .
Side by side.
” “ Recovery will require change , ” said Tuula Yrjölä , OSCE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conflict Prevention Centre .
“ The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only further underscored the interdependence between OSCE participating States and the wider Mediterranean region .
As we strive to overcome the pandemic and its negative impact on peace and security , contributions from our Mediterranean Partners , their ideas and perspectives will be even more crucial in the months to come , ” she said .
“ We must focus on what needs to improve for our development models to become more sustainable.
” The OSCE Mediterranean Partnership discussions have often revolved around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lasting security .
The 2020 discussion focused on the current dire human costs on both shores of Mediterranean , as well as the vast economic and social consequences .
The Conference focused on women ’ s economic empowerment and their contribution to development as well as on the need to strengthen international environmental co-operation .

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA, 3 November 2020 – In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and numerous other challenges, high-level political representatives of the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation addressed today the complex link between sustainable development and security at the 2020 OSCE Mediterranean Conference fully held online.
Chaired by Sweden, 2020 Chair of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation Group, over 200 participants, eight foreign Ministers, eight deputy foreign Ministers, representatives of the 57 OSCE participating States, the six OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia), and international organizations reviewed the security situation in the Mediterranean region by focusing on development-related aspects.
“Our post-COVID-19 recovery strategies should be used as an opportunity to take on important reforms towards fulfilling the sustainable development goals, as well as the goals of the Paris agreement,” said Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ann Linde. “We need to ensure that the recovery is based on the green transition. Lack of action towards climate neutrality will bring about consequences and costs that by far exceed the transition costs.”
“We also need a democratic approach towards recovery,” said Linde. This would include good governance, strengthening civil society and the respect for human rights, including freedom of expression and information – online and offline – and everyone’s freedom of religion or belief. It also includes reducing inequalities and gender inequalities. We must not leave the most vulnerable behind as we tackle this crisis,” said Linde.
Agron Tare, Albania’s Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs said that the Mediterranean dimension is fundamental to the architecture of European security. “The global challenges we face are shared with both shores of the Mediterranean - from terrorism to climate change, to hybrid threats, to irregular immigration - and can only be tackled when we co-operate effectively. In these uncertain times, it is more important than ever to have friends, to build partnerships, to co-ordinate our responses. We need a broad cross-regional approach to face these challenges together. Side by side.”
“Recovery will require change,” said Tuula Yrjölä, OSCE Officer-in-Charge/Secretary General and Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre. “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only further underscored the interdependence between OSCE participating States and the wider Mediterranean region. As we strive to overcome the pandemic and its negative impact on peace and security, contributions from our Mediterranean Partners, their ideas and perspectives will be even more crucial in the months to come,” she said. “We must focus on what needs to improve for our development models to become more sustainable.”
The OSCE Mediterranean Partnership discussions have often revolved around the correlation between more equitable development and lasting security. The 2020 discussion focused on the current dire human costs on both shores of Mediterranean, as well as the vast economic and social consequences. The Conference focused on women’s economic empowerment and their contribution to development as well as on the need to strengthen international environmental co-operation.


osce--2020-11-16--Escalating police violence in Belarus unacceptable, says OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President, urgi

Escalating police violence in Belarus unacceptable, says OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President, urging investigations

COPENHAGEN , 16 November 2020 – With widespread protests ongoing in Belarus for more than 100 days , OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli reacted today to increasing reports of excessive and disproportionate force by law enforcement .
Police have reportedly used flash grenades , rubber bullets and tear gas , the President noted , and more than 1,200 people were detained on Sunday after demonstrations commemorating the death of protester Raman Bandarenka , a 31-year old activist who died in a hospital last week after reportedly being beaten by security forces .
“ I have been deeply troubled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , with reports of several deaths among protesters .
Unfortunately , despite well-documented cases of human rights violations against peaceful protesters , not a single criminal case has been opened .
Authorities must investigate abuses and take action to ensure that human rights violators are held accountable , ” President Tsereteli said .
The President noted that despite the overwhelmingly peaceful nature of the demonstrations , prosecutions of protesters continue , with more than 900 ongoing criminal cases , and that lawyers , human rights defenders and journalists face pressure and intimidation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thousands of protesters have been arbitrarily detained and have faced not only disproportionate fines but also violence at the hands of police , ” Tsereteli said .
“ I call on the authorities in Minsk to respect international commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms.
” He expressed particular concern over the deployment of police forces over the weekend to destroy a memorial set up to honor the death of Raman Bandarenka , and offered condolences to Banderenka ’ s family .
Protests have been ongoing in Belarus following the disputed 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tsereteli and Secretary General Roberto Montella held a web meeting with Belarusian Head of Delegation Andrei Savinykh , Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya , and OSCE PA Bureau members , which focused on promoting dialogue .
The PA has been in regular contact with both sides and has consistently called for civilized negotiations .

COPENHAGEN, 16 November 2020 – With widespread protests ongoing in Belarus for more than 100 days, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli reacted today to increasing reports of excessive and disproportionate force by law enforcement. Police have reportedly used flash grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas, the President noted, and more than 1,200 people were detained on Sunday after demonstrations commemorating the death of protester Raman Bandarenka, a 31-year old activist who died in a hospital last week after reportedly being beaten by security forces.
“I have been deeply troubled by the intensified violence in Belarus in recent days, with reports of several deaths among protesters. Unfortunately, despite well-documented cases of human rights violations against peaceful protesters, not a single criminal case has been opened. Authorities must investigate abuses and take action to ensure that human rights violators are held accountable,” President Tsereteli said.
The President noted that despite the overwhelmingly peaceful nature of the demonstrations, prosecutions of protesters continue, with more than 900 ongoing criminal cases, and that lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists face pressure and intimidation.
“Since the election in August, thousands of protesters have been arbitrarily detained and have faced not only disproportionate fines but also violence at the hands of police,” Tsereteli said. “I call on the authorities in Minsk to respect international commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
He expressed particular concern over the deployment of police forces over the weekend to destroy a memorial set up to honor the death of Raman Bandarenka, and offered condolences to Banderenka’s family.
Protests have been ongoing in Belarus following the disputed 9 August presidential election. On 23 September, Tsereteli and Secretary General Roberto Montella held a web meeting with Belarusian Head of Delegation Andrei Savinykh, Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and OSCE PA Bureau members, which focused on promoting dialogue. The PA has been in regular contact with both sides and has consistently called for civilized negotiations.


osce--2020-11-16--OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 273/2020 issued on 16 November 2020


osce--2020-11-16--OSCE, local partners organize Moldova’s first anti-human trafficking hackathon

During a hackathon co-organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova from 6 to 8 November 2020 , thirty-six young women and men from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River spent 72 hours designing innovative tech-based solutions to prevent and combat human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children in Moldova .
The hackathon was the result of a partnership between the OSCE Mission and a local NGO “ Generația NIKA ” and sought to raise awareness among youth about the issue of trafficking .
“ The young people engaged in this event play a very important role in generating long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you produce may have real implications in how Moldova as a society tackles trafficking in human beings and child sexual exploitation , ” said Antti Karttunen , Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission , during the opening ceremony .
During the hackathon , renowned experts in IT , business and start-ups as well as anti-trafficking experts from Moldova provided mentorship to the participants .
Working in teams of five , young people developed practical applications to help upgrade Moldova ’ s approach in the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking and exploitation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survivors .
The winning solutions were a web extension CoParent , which analyses the content accessed by children online , an online platform 4safe verifying the security of job offers for individuals seeking employment abroad and an onLife game , which notifies teenagers about the dangers of sexting and bullying .
According to a 2020 report by the Public Association International Centre “ La Strada ” , the phenomenon of human trafficking in Moldova is adapting to new social and technological realities .
Manipulation techniques are shifting online .
It requires robust information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and labour exploitation among vulnerable groups , says the report .
According to the Prosecutor General ’ s Office , in 2019 , 341 people were victims of human trafficking in the country .
The Anti-Trafficking Hackathon was organized online in the context of the European Day to fight Trafficking in Human Beings .
The prevention and combating trafficking in human beings and domestic violence , as well as protection of children against online sexual abuse are topics of the sub-Working Group on Human Rights and the Social Protection Working Group , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @

During a hackathon co-organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova from 6 to 8 November 2020, thirty-six young women and men from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River spent 72 hours designing innovative tech-based solutions to prevent and combat human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children in Moldova.
The hackathon was the result of a partnership between the OSCE Mission and a local NGO “Generația NIKA” and sought to raise awareness among youth about the issue of trafficking.
“The young people engaged in this event play a very important role in generating long-term change. Your efforts and the solutions you produce may have real implications in how Moldova as a society tackles trafficking in human beings and child sexual exploitation,” said Antti Karttunen, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission, during the opening ceremony.
During the hackathon, renowned experts in IT, business and start-ups as well as anti-trafficking experts from Moldova provided mentorship to the participants. Working in teams of five, young people developed practical applications to help upgrade Moldova’s approach in the prevention and prosecution of human trafficking and exploitation, as well as protection of victims and survivors.
The winning solutions were a web extension CoParent, which analyses the content accessed by children online, an online platform 4safe verifying the security of job offers for individuals seeking employment abroad and an onLife game, which notifies teenagers about the dangers of sexting and bullying.
According to a 2020 report by the Public Association International Centre “La Strada”, the phenomenon of human trafficking in Moldova is adapting to new social and technological realities. Manipulation techniques are shifting online. It requires robust information campaigns to address the risks of trafficking and labour exploitation among vulnerable groups, says the report. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, in 2019, 341 people were victims of human trafficking in the country.
The Anti-Trafficking Hackathon was organized online in the context of the European Day to fight Trafficking in Human Beings. The prevention and combating trafficking in human beings and domestic violence, as well as protection of children against online sexual abuse are topics of the sub-Working Group on Human Rights and the Social Protection Working Group, as part of the Transdniestrian settlement process.


osce--2020-11-16--Well-managed presidential run-off in Moldova clouded by negative rhetoric and ineffective campaign f

Well-managed presidential run-off in Moldova clouded by negative rhetoric and ineffective campaign finance rules, international observers say

CHISINAU , 16 November 2020 – Yesterday ’ s presidential run-off in Moldova was well managed in the challenging circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , but negative and divisive rhetoric devalued the campaign amid ineffective rules on campaign financing , international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ( ODIHR ) said in a statement today .
“ We saw the intolerant rhetoric increasingly becoming a campaign topic in itself .
It had a polarizing effect and damaged public respect for the country ’ s political leaders , ” said Corien Jonker , head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the competitive campaign ahead of the first round of the election continued , the tone became distinctly more negative as the candidates exchanged outspoken personal attacks .
The intolerant and divisive rhetoric fed into campaign materials widely broadcast and circulated across social networks .
Allegations of undue influence on public officials and voters and concerns over possible vote-buying continued across both rounds , while corruption , the role of the diaspora , and the country ’ s future geopolitical orientation were the dominant topics ahead of the run-off .
“ Although the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its ongoing consequences for the country ’ s economy and political situation , an orderly transfer of power should help the country address its challenges and move on , ” Jonker added .
The country ’ s legal framework is lacking explicit rules for election run-offs in a number of areas , despite a previous ODIHR recommendation to address these and other legislative gaps .
There were also concerns over campaign finance rules .
While candidates reported their campaign expenses for the second round within set deadlines , claims of financial irregularities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirming the lack of effective campaign finance oversight .
Election day was orderly , despite frequent queues and occasional overcrowding .
In the media , there were a large number of political programmes and interviews dedicated to the election , but the lack of impartiality and balance reduced the quality of information available to voters .
The observation mission found that the incumbent received a greater proportion of coverage , while the tone of much of the reporting reflected the ongoing media polarization .
ODIHR ’ s Limited Election Observation Mission to Moldova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a team of 10 experts based in Chisinau and 22 long-term observers around the country .
The mission is focusing on key issues identified by ODIHR ahead of the election in order to assess the extent to which the presidential election was held in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections , as well as with national legislation .

CHISINAU, 16 November 2020 – Yesterday’s presidential run-off in Moldova was well managed in the challenging circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but negative and divisive rhetoric devalued the campaign amid ineffective rules on campaign financing, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today.
“We saw the intolerant rhetoric increasingly becoming a campaign topic in itself. It had a polarizing effect and damaged public respect for the country’s political leaders,” said Corien Jonker, head of the ODIHR limited election observation mission.
While the competitive campaign ahead of the first round of the election continued, the tone became distinctly more negative as the candidates exchanged outspoken personal attacks. The intolerant and divisive rhetoric fed into campaign materials widely broadcast and circulated across social networks. Allegations of undue influence on public officials and voters and concerns over possible vote-buying continued across both rounds, while corruption, the role of the diaspora, and the country’s future geopolitical orientation were the dominant topics ahead of the run-off.
“Although the election process was overshadowed by the pandemic and its ongoing consequences for the country’s economy and political situation, an orderly transfer of power should help the country address its challenges and move on,” Jonker added.
The country’s legal framework is lacking explicit rules for election run-offs in a number of areas, despite a previous ODIHR recommendation to address these and other legislative gaps. There were also concerns over campaign finance rules. While candidates reported their campaign expenses for the second round within set deadlines, claims of financial irregularities were left without an adequate response, confirming the lack of effective campaign finance oversight. Election day was orderly, despite frequent queues and occasional overcrowding.
In the media, there were a large number of political programmes and interviews dedicated to the election, but the lack of impartiality and balance reduced the quality of information available to voters. The observation mission found that the incumbent received a greater proportion of coverage, while the tone of much of the reporting reflected the ongoing media polarization.
ODIHR’s Limited Election Observation Mission to Moldova took up its work on 23 September with a team of 10 experts based in Chisinau and 22 long-term observers around the country. The mission is focusing on key issues identified by ODIHR ahead of the election in order to assess the extent to which the presidential election was held in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.


osce--2020-11-16--Lack of hate crime recording means victims and their needs too often remain invisible, OSCE’s human

Lack of hate crime recording means victims and their needs too often remain invisible, OSCE’s human rights office says

WARSAW , 16 November 2020 – With the publication of its annual Hate Crime Report on today ’ s International Day for Tolerance , the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ( ODIHR ) underscores the need for police to record hate crimes in order to ensure that victims are recognized and receive the support they so urgently need .
Behind every hate crime is a painful and often traumatic story of physical and psychological injury , fear and threat .
Victims of hate crime are targeted for who they are and for characteristics intrinsic to their identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Recording such crimes and offering support to those affected is therefore key to ensuring the security of individual victims , their communities and society as a whole .
The data published today show that in many countries there are mechanisms in place to record and collect comprehensive data on hate crimes .
However , a large number do not provide police and prosecutors with the tools and knowledge they need to recognize , record and effectively investigate such crimes .
This frequently deprives hate crime victims of the opportunity to access much-needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime dataset is the largest of its kind worldwide , and gathers together information both from official and civil society sources .
A total of 39 OSCE states reported official hate crime data to ODIHR for 2019 , including 25 states that provided figures classified by bias motivation .
The dataset includes a record number of 3,207 statistical and 3,757 descriptive hate crime incidents reported by civil society , which translates into a minimum of 4,621 hate crime victims .
No two hate crime victims are alike , which is why the support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their individual needs .
These can include police protection , psychosocial support , practical assistance and information about criminal proceedings .
Providing such support also empowers victims to play a meaningful role in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes .
Above all , they must receive respectful and sensitive treatment to prevent further psychological harm and to assist their long-term recovery .
ODIHR offers countries across the OSCE region a range of tools to help them support hate crime victims , improve hate crime monitoring and recording practices , and strengthen co-operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ODIHR resources on countering hate crime is available on the website here .
Over the next three days , the findings of the 2019 dataset will be presented at an annual meeting of official representatives from across the OSCE region responsible for reporting hate crime data to ODIHR .
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic , the meeting will be held online for the first time .

WARSAW, 16 November 2020 – With the publication of its annual Hate Crime Report on today’s International Day for Tolerance, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) underscores the need for police to record hate crimes in order to ensure that victims are recognized and receive the support they so urgently need.
Behind every hate crime is a painful and often traumatic story of physical and psychological injury, fear and threat. Victims of hate crime are targeted for who they are and for characteristics intrinsic to their identity, and which they share with others. Recording such crimes and offering support to those affected is therefore key to ensuring the security of individual victims, their communities and society as a whole.
The data published today show that in many countries there are mechanisms in place to record and collect comprehensive data on hate crimes. However, a large number do not provide police and prosecutors with the tools and knowledge they need to recognize, record and effectively investigate such crimes. This frequently deprives hate crime victims of the opportunity to access much-needed specialist support.
ODIHR’s hate crime dataset is the largest of its kind worldwide, and gathers together information both from official and civil society sources. A total of 39 OSCE states reported official hate crime data to ODIHR for 2019, including 25 states that provided figures classified by bias motivation. The dataset includes a record number of 3,207 statistical and 3,757 descriptive hate crime incidents reported by civil society, which translates into a minimum of 4,621 hate crime victims.
No two hate crime victims are alike, which is why the support offered to victims must be tailored to their individual needs. These can include police protection, psychosocial support, practical assistance and information about criminal proceedings. Providing such support also empowers victims to play a meaningful role in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. Above all, they must receive respectful and sensitive treatment to prevent further psychological harm and to assist their long-term recovery.
ODIHR offers countries across the OSCE region a range of 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.
Over the next three days, the findings of the 2019 dataset will be presented at an annual meeting of official representatives from across the OSCE region responsible for reporting hate crime data to ODIHR. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be held online for the first time.


osce--2020-11-14--OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 272/2020 issued on 14 November 2020


osce--2020-11-14--ODIHR opens special election assessment mission in Romania

BUCHAREST , 14 November 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ( ODIHR ) has formally opened a special election assessment mission ( SEAM ) for the 6 December parliamentary elections in Romania .
The deployment follows an official invitation from the Romanian authorities .
The mission is led by Marianne Mikko ( Estonia ) , and consists of a core team of eight international experts based in Bucharest .
The ODIHR SEAM will focus on observing priority areas of the election process identified by a needs assessment mission carried out on 14 to 18 September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections , as well as with national legislation .
Observers will follow fundamental aspects of the election such as voter registration , candidate registration , campaign activities , the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies , implementation of the legal framework and the resolution of election disputes .
In addition , the ODIHR SEAM will monitor the media coverage of the election campaign .
In the course of its observation , the mission members will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties , civil society , the media , and the international community .
The mission will co-operate closely with the Romanian health authorities and follow any health protocols they have established .
The ODIHR SEAM will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting , counting and tabulation proceedings on election day , in line with ODIHR ’ s methodology for election assessment missions .
Mission members will , however , visit a limited number of polling stations on election day .
The day after the elections , ODIHR will publish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and present its findings at a press conference .
An invitation to participate will follow separately .
A final report summing up the entire election process and including recommendations will be published approximately two months after the end of the election process .
For further information , please visit www.osce.org/odihr/elections/romania or contact Pietro Tesfamariam , Media Analyst , at + 40757172139 , or at pietro.tesfamariam @ odihr.ro Katya Andrusz , ODIHR Spokesperson , at +48609522266 ( Warsaw mobile ) , or at katya.andrusz @ odihr.pl .

BUCHAREST, 14 November 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 6 December parliamentary elections in Romania. The deployment follows an official invitation from the Romanian authorities.
The mission is led by Marianne Mikko (Estonia), and consists of a core team of eight international experts based in Bucharest.
The ODIHR SEAM will focus on observing priority areas of the election process identified by a needs assessment mission carried out on 14 to 18 September 2020. The mission will assess the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will follow fundamental aspects of the election such as voter registration, candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legal framework and the resolution of election disputes. In addition, the ODIHR SEAM will monitor the media coverage of the election campaign.
In the course of its observation, the mission members will meet representatives form state authorities and political parties, civil society, the media, and the international community. The mission will co-operate closely with the Romanian health authorities and follow any health protocols they have established.
The ODIHR SEAM will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation proceedings on election day, in line with ODIHR’s methodology for election assessment missions. Mission members will, however, visit a limited number of polling stations on election day.
The day after the elections, ODIHR will publish its preliminary conclusions about the electoral process and present its findings at a press conference. An invitation to participate will follow separately.
A final report summing up the entire election process and including recommendations will be published approximately two months after the end of the election process.
For further information, please visit www.osce.org/odihr/elections/romania or contact Pietro Tesfamariam, Media Analyst, at + 40757172139, or at pietro.tesfamariam@odihr.ro
or
Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48609522266 (Warsaw mobile), or at katya.andrusz@odihr.pl.


osce--2020-11-13--OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 271/2020 issued on 13 November 2020


osce--2020-11-13--Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH and Ambassadors in Bosnia and Herzegovina condemn recent attacks on

Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH and Ambassadors in Bosnia and Herzegovina condemn recent attacks on journalist in the country

SARAJEVO , 13 November 2020 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ambassadors of @ @ @ @ @ , the United Kingdom and the United States once again strongly condemn continuous attacks and @ @ @ @ @ in Bosnia and Herzegovina , including the most recent cases in Banja Luka and Visoko @ @ @ @ @ media is an essential component of a functioning society , leading to greater stability and @ @ @ @ @ crucial function in maintaining the integrity of democracy , the rule of law and good @ @ @ @ @ important role in the election process as they are a bridge between political parties and @ @ @ @ @ workers have to be free to do their job without the fear of reprisal .
@ @ @ @ @ politicians and public officials are expected to exercise respectful and accountable behaviour .
We continue @ @ @ @ @ media workers in the important work they do and call on all levels of authority @ @ @ @ @ conducive environment for media freedom and freedom of expression .

SARAJEVO, 13 November 2020 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ambassadors of Germany, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States once again strongly condemn continuous attacks and undue pressure on the media in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the most recent cases in Banja Luka and Visoko.
A free and independent media is an essential component of a functioning society, leading to greater stability and prosperity. Journalists have a crucial function in maintaining the integrity of democracy, the rule of law and good governance. They play an important role in the election process as they are a bridge between political parties and voters. Journalists and media workers have to be free to do their job without the fear of reprisal. At the same time, politicians and public officials are expected to exercise respectful and accountable behaviour.
We continue to stand by journalists and media workers in the important work they do and call on all levels of authority in BiH to enable a conducive environment for media freedom and freedom of expression.


osce--2020-11-13--OSCE and UN Office on Drugs and Crime deliver online train-the-trainer course to enhance Albania’s c

OSCE and UN Office on Drugs and Crime deliver online train-the-trainer course to enhance Albania’s capacities to financially disrupt terrorist networks

The OSCE ’ s Transnational Threats Department ’ s Action against Terrorism Unit , in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) organized an online train-the-trainer course from 11 to 13 November 2020 , with the aim of further strengthening Albania ’ s capacities in countering the financing of terrorism .
Senior experts and practitioners from the Finance Ministry ’ s General Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Albanian State Police took part in the course .
Together with the OSCE lead trainers , participants developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on countering terrorist financing , which will be delivered in the country in the future .
As part of a sustainable training programme delivered by the OSCE and the UNODC , the senior experts participating in the train-the-trainer courses , jointly with the OSCE and UNODC lead trainers , will go on to train other experts from relevant authorities in Albania in the coming years .
The multi-year training programme on countering terrorist financing aims to increase the capacity of Albania to detect and combat terrorist financing and strengthen compliance with international standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these international standards are UN Security Council Resolutions , the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering ( FATF ) ’ s standards , UN norms and OSCE commitments that promote human rights-based approaches in countering terrorist financing .
 The train-the-trainer course emphasized the key role of inter-agency and international co-operation and of multi-stakeholder approaches in countering terrorist financing .

The OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department’s Action against Terrorism Unit, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized an online train-the-trainer course from 11 to 13 November 2020, with the aim of further strengthening Albania’s capacities in countering the financing of terrorism.
Senior experts and practitioners from the Finance Ministry’s General Directorate for the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Albanian State Police took part in the course. Together with the OSCE lead trainers, participants developed scenario-based exercises for the OSCE-UNODC training courses on countering terrorist financing, which will be delivered in the country in the future.
As part of a sustainable training programme delivered by the OSCE and the UNODC, the senior experts participating in the train-the-trainer courses, jointly with the OSCE and UNODC lead trainers, will go on to train other experts from relevant authorities in Albania in the coming years.
The multi-year training programme on countering terrorist financing aims to increase the capacity of Albania to detect and combat terrorist financing and strengthen compliance with international standards in this area. In particular, these international standards are UN Security Council Resolutions, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF)’s standards, UN norms and OSCE commitments that promote human rights-based approaches in countering terrorist financing.
The train-the-trainer course emphasized the key role of inter-agency and international co-operation and of multi-stakeholder approaches in countering terrorist financing.


osce--2020-11-13--OSCE Mission supports annual Donors Forum for civil society organizations from both banks of Dnieste

OSCE Mission supports annual Donors Forum for civil society organizations from both banks of Dniester/Nistru River

More than 100 representatives of civil society organizations and initiative groups from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River , and development partners gathered for the annual Donors Forum organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova on 12 November .
This year the Forum took place online and had a specific focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Forum , organized by the Mission since 2013 , is a unique platform that connects donors and civil society organizations .
Participants get to learn about each other ’ s experiences , needs and priorities to better address challenges faced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dniester/Nistru River .
“ The Donors Forum is a unique event in terms of format and importance , especially for organizations from Transdniestria .
It is an opportunity to directly contact donors and speak about our achievements .
At the same time , it was good to speak about the challenges we face in our daily work , ” said Olga Purakhina , Executive Director of the VIALEX Informational Legal Centre located on the left bank .
During the first session , civil society organizations participants shared stories of solidarity and lessons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new opportunities that arose during the pandemic .
During the second session , donors presented measures they are taking to support civil society in Moldova , including on the left bank , during the pandemic .
The Forum also allowed civil society organizations to learn more about existing requirements for grant applications and the priorities of the donors and development partners for 2021 .
“ Civil society organizations play a vital role in the promotion of human rights , democracy and the rule of law .
This Forum is our contribution to enhancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both banks to realize their full potential , ” said Antti Karttun , Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in his opening remarks .
This year ’ s event was held jointly with the CONTACT National Assistance and Information Centre as part of a project seeking to contribute to the overall development of civil society organizations in Transdniestria and to consolidate confidence among civil society organizations on both banks of the River .

More than 100 representatives of civil society organizations and initiative groups from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River, and development partners gathered for the annual Donors Forum organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova on 12 November. This year the Forum took place online and had a specific focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Forum, organized by the Mission since 2013, is a unique platform that connects donors and civil society organizations. Participants get to learn about each other’s experiences, needs and priorities to better address challenges faced by the people on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River.
“The Donors Forum is a unique event in terms of format and importance, especially for organizations from Transdniestria. It is an opportunity to directly contact donors and speak about our achievements. At the same time, it was good to speak about the challenges we face in our daily work,” said Olga Purakhina, Executive Director of the VIALEX Informational Legal Centre located on the left bank.
During the first session, civil society organizations participants shared stories of solidarity and lessons learned as well as looked at the new opportunities that arose during the pandemic. During the second session, donors presented measures they are taking to support civil society in Moldova, including on the left bank, during the pandemic. The Forum also allowed civil society organizations to learn more about existing requirements for grant applications and the priorities of the donors and development partners for 2021.
“Civil society organizations play a vital role in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. This Forum is our contribution to enhancing the ability of civil society organizations from both banks to realize their full potential,” said Antti Karttun, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova in his opening remarks.
This year’s event was held jointly with the CONTACT National Assistance and Information Centre as part of a project seeking to contribute to the overall development of civil society organizations in Transdniestria and to consolidate confidence among civil society organizations on both banks of the River.


osce--2020-11-13--OSCE “Debating Perspectives 2030 Roadshow” arrives in Central Asia

The OSCE 's “ Debating Perspectives 2030 Roadshow ” held its first event in Central Asia on 13 November 2020 bringing together 38 young women and men from Central Asia to discuss their vision for a safer future .
The OSCE Academy , with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek , hosted the event .
“ I am always delighted to see how the OSCE Academy , a flagship project of the OSCE , contributes to shaping a generation of young professionals who combine a love of Central Asia with an openness for new ideas that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region , ” said Tuula Yrjölä , Officer in Charge/Secretary General and Director of OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre , opening the event .
Pierre von Arx , Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek , added : “ Recognizing the growing role of youth in helping address comprehensive security challenges , the Programme Office works towards facilitating the participation of youth in decision-making and continues to work towards strengthening professional networks among the youth of Central Asia , Afghanistan and Mongolia.
” The Roadshow focused on the findings of the “ Engaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paper , which was produced by the OSCE Perspectives 2030 Core Group of Experts ( CGE ) in 2019 .
This Core Group was comprised of 22 young women and men , who reflect the geographical diversity of the OSCE area , and came from a wide range of professional backgrounds including academia , civil society , policy-making , and the media .
“ My education at the OSCE Academy provided a backbone for going into the world of international organizations , and participating in the Perspectives 2030 Initiative , ” said Abdulvahhobi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Engaging in dialogue with other young people inspired me to act for a better future.
” This is the second “ Debating Perspectives 2030 Roadshow ” to be held , following the launch event in Albania on 30 October .
The Office of the OSCE Secretary General and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung promoted it .
More events are to be organized in the coming months across the OSCE region .
Conclusions from the discussions will be published in a policy paper with recommendations .

The OSCE's “Debating Perspectives 2030 Roadshow” held its first event in Central Asia on 13 November 2020 bringing together 38 young women and men from Central Asia to discuss their vision for a safer future. The OSCE Academy, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, hosted the event.
“I am always delighted to see how the OSCE Academy, a flagship project of the OSCE, contributes to shaping a generation of young professionals who combine a love of Central Asia with an openness for new ideas that can benefit security and development across the OSCE region,” said Tuula Yrjölä, Officer in Charge/Secretary General and Director of OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, opening the event.
Pierre von Arx, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, added: “Recognizing the growing role of youth in helping address comprehensive security challenges, the Programme Office works towards facilitating the participation of youth in decision-making and continues to work towards strengthening professional networks among the youth of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Mongolia.”
The Roadshow focused on the findings of the “Engaging Youth for a Safer Future” discussion paper, which was produced by the OSCE Perspectives 2030 Core Group of Experts (CGE) in 2019. This Core Group was comprised of 22 young women and men, who reflect the geographical diversity of the OSCE area, and came from a wide range of professional backgrounds including academia, civil society, policy-making, and the media.
“My education at the OSCE Academy provided a backbone for going into the world of international organizations, and participating in the Perspectives 2030 Initiative,” said Abdulvahhobi Muminjoniyon, Academy alumnus and CGE member. “Engaging in dialogue with other young people inspired me to act for a better future.”
This is the second “Debating Perspectives 2030 Roadshow” to be held, following the launch event in Albania on 30 October. The Office of the OSCE Secretary General and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung promoted it. More events are to be organized in the coming months across the OSCE region. Conclusions from the discussions will be published in a policy paper with recommendations.


osce--2020-11-13--Impunity for human rights abuses in Belarus must end, OSCE human rights office says

WARSAW , 13 November 2020 – As pervasive violations of OSCE commitments and international human rights obligations in Belarus continue , the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ( ODIHR ) calls on the country ’ s authorities to end impunity of those responsible for human rights violations , up to and including deaths , and hold them to account .
ODIHR is alarmed by the continued use of excessive force by law enforcement , the ongoing mass detention of overwhelmingly peaceful protesters , an increase in the number of criminal charges against the protesters , and by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of torture and ill-treatment in detention , including sexual violence .
This is accompanied by increasing pressure on defence lawyers and threats to fair trial rights .
Since the presidential election three months ago , thousands of people have been arbitrarily detained for making use of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly , sentenced to administrative arrest and sanctioned with disproportionate fines .
ODIHR notes with particular concern the rise in the number of criminal charges against peaceful protesters .
At the same time , government statements are calling for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This , as well as recent reports of pressure and intimidation of defence lawyers representing protesters , seriously undermines the independence of the judiciary and due process .
Plans to limit public accessibility to trials and withhold the identity of prosecution witnesses from defendants risk further infringements of fair trial rights .
ODIHR also deeply regrets the fact that despite numerous complaints of torture and other ill-treatment submitted to the relevant authorities , not a single criminal case has been opened against those responsible .
On the contrary , the number of complainants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigations will be opened .
Security agents who do not display service numbers , frequently wear balaclavas , and use civilian cars without licence plates , increase the likelihood that the perpetrators of violence against peaceful demonstrators and other human rights abuses will continue to act with impunity .
ODIHR takes this opportunity to urge the Belarusian authorities to meet their international obligations and OSCE commitments to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms , including the right to a fair trial and the independence of the judiciary , to uphold the absolute prohibition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruel , inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to hold all perpetrators of human rights violations to account .
ODIHR once again offers to provide expertise and tools to help strengthen human rights and democratic institutions in Belarus , for the future of all citizens .

WARSAW, 13 November 2020 – As pervasive violations of OSCE commitments and international human rights obligations in Belarus continue, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) calls on the country’s authorities to end impunity of those responsible for human rights violations, up to and including deaths, and hold them to account.
ODIHR is alarmed by the continued use of excessive force by law enforcement, the ongoing mass detention of overwhelmingly peaceful protesters, an increase in the number of criminal charges against the protesters, and by the well-documented reports of widespread and systematic use of torture and ill-treatment in detention, including sexual violence. This is accompanied by increasing pressure on defence lawyers and threats to fair trial rights.
Since the presidential election three months ago, thousands of people have been arbitrarily detained for making use of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly, sentenced to administrative arrest and sanctioned with disproportionate fines. ODIHR notes with particular concern the rise in the number of criminal charges against peaceful protesters.
At the same time, government statements are calling for more prosecutions and tougher punishments for protesters. This, as well as recent reports of pressure and intimidation of defence lawyers representing protesters, seriously undermines the independence of the judiciary and due process. Plans to limit public accessibility to trials and withhold the identity of prosecution witnesses from defendants risk further infringements of fair trial rights.
ODIHR also deeply regrets the fact that despite numerous complaints of torture and other ill-treatment submitted to the relevant authorities, not a single criminal case has been opened against those responsible. On the contrary, the number of complainants have recently been notified that no such investigations will be opened. Security agents who do not display service numbers, frequently wear balaclavas, and use civilian cars without licence plates, increase the likelihood that the perpetrators of violence against peaceful demonstrators and other human rights abuses will continue to act with impunity.
ODIHR takes this opportunity to urge the Belarusian authorities to meet their international obligations and OSCE commitments to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial and the independence of the judiciary, to uphold the absolute prohibition of all forms of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to hold all perpetrators of human rights violations to account. ODIHR once again offers to provide expertise and tools to help strengthen human rights and democratic institutions in Belarus, for the future of all citizens.


osce--2020-11-16--OSCE leading by example in prevention of human trafficking within supply chains

The risks surrounding procuring goods and services produced by trafficked persons were the focus of the OSCE virtually held workshop on 13 November 2020 .
The OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings ( CTHB ) , senior management and procurement staff from the OSCE Secretariat and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ( ODIHR ) examined the importance of both programmatic and procurement staff being aware of the risks and the need for policies to ensure effective mitigation .
Current efforts by ODIHR and OSCE procurement towards eliminating human trafficking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon the promising practice of having the OSCE ’ s procurement community and CTHB experts work together to leverage procurement to fight trafficking , harmonizing efforts across the organization .
Showcasing the “ policy to practice ” approach promoted by the Office of the CTHB Co-ordinator , the workshop identified persistent and emerging issues in the field of human trafficking .
With the dialogue focused on developing sound policy responses and facilitated practical implementation of that policy on the ground .
The workshop also provided updates on forthcoming deliverables , including online training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals .

The risks surrounding procuring goods and services produced by trafficked persons were the focus of the OSCE virtually held workshop on 13 November 2020.
The OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB), senior management and procurement staff from the OSCE Secretariat and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) examined the importance of both programmatic and procurement staff being aware of the risks and the need for policies to ensure effective mitigation. Current efforts by ODIHR and OSCE procurement towards eliminating human trafficking were also discussed.
The workshop built upon the promising practice of having the OSCE’s procurement community and CTHB experts work together to leverage procurement to fight trafficking, harmonizing efforts across the organization.
Showcasing the “policy to practice” approach promoted by the Office of the CTHB Co-ordinator, the workshop identified persistent and emerging issues in the field of human trafficking. With the dialogue focused on developing sound policy responses and facilitated practical implementation of that policy on the ground.
The workshop also provided updates on forthcoming deliverables, including online training modules on human trafficking for OSCE procurement professionals.


osce--2020-11-13--Role of Internet during pandemic crisis focus of the 11th OSCE Forum on Internet Development in Cent

Role of Internet during pandemic crisis focus of the 11th OSCE Forum on Internet Development in Central Asia

The 11th Annual Central Asian OSCE Forum on Internet Development , organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan , in co-operation with the International Centre for Journalism MediaNet , was held online from 10 to 13 November 2020 .
The Forum focused on “ Transforming the role of the Internet during a pandemic ” .
Some 200 participants discussed the role of the state , media , and society in providing reliable information , countering disinformation and fake news , and protecting freedom of expression and information accessibility to all .
The event also covered other topics such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public life and the importance of capacity-building of journalists and the general public on fact-checking , media and information literacy .
The event gathered government officials , civil society representatives , media-related non-governmental organizations , professional associations , the diplomatic corps , experts , lawyers and journalists from Kazakhstan , Belarus , Ukraine , USA , Bulgaria , Georgia , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan and Uzbekistan .
During master-classes and sessions , participants focused on specific topics , such as challenges to access to justice and access to information during the pandemic , tools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of personal data and digital security .
The Forum was part of the Office ’ s work in promoting freedom of expression and freedom of media in Kazakhstan and the Central Asia region .

The 11th Annual Central Asian OSCE Forum on Internet Development, organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, in co-operation with the International Centre for Journalism MediaNet, was held online from 10 to 13 November 2020.
The Forum focused on “Transforming the role of the Internet during a pandemic”. Some 200 participants discussed the role of the state, media, and society in providing reliable information, countering disinformation and fake news, and protecting freedom of expression and information accessibility to all. The event also covered other topics such as the rising influence of the Internet on public life and the importance of capacity-building of journalists and the general public on fact-checking, media and information literacy.
The event gathered government officials, civil society representatives, media-related non-governmental organizations, professional associations, the diplomatic corps, experts, lawyers and journalists from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine, USA, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. During master-classes and sessions, participants focused on specific topics, such as challenges to access to justice and access to information during the pandemic, tools to tackle disinformation and deepfakes, protection of personal data and digital security.
The Forum was part of the Office’s work in promoting freedom of expression and freedom of media in Kazakhstan and the Central Asia region.


osce--2020-11-13--Human rights standards during criminal proceedings and investigations in focus of OSCE course in Tur

Human rights standards during criminal proceedings and investigations in focus of OSCE course in Turkmenistan

An OSCE-organized online course for law students on international human rights standards during criminal proceedings and investigations took place from 9 to 13 November 2020 in Ashgabat .
The five-day event brought together around fifty students of the Institute under the Ministry of Internal Affairs , the Institute of International Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly .
The course introduced participants to the concept of human rights , its history , types and functions as well as respect for human rights in the context of criminal justice .
International experts from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to integrity of the person in the pre-trial investigation stage , and the right of suspects and accused persons to a fair defence and legal counselling .
“ The OSCE has accumulated significant experience in the provision of expert support to its participating States in implementing OSCE commitments in the areas of human rights and freedoms , ” said Natalya Drozd , Head the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat .
“ The OSCE Сentre has developed constructive co-operation with the Office of the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan and other relevant institutions in different areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an example of the Centre ’ s long-term support being provided to the host country in strengthening its human rights education for law students.
” Participants reviewed relevant case studies and also covered the standards for custody , guarantees against ill treatment and use of force as well as guarantees of individual rights in case of suspension and termination of the preliminary investigation .
There were special sessions on gender-based and domestic violence , which focused on the implementation of relevant international standards at the national level and best practices from OSCE @ @ @

An OSCE-organized online course for law students on international human rights standards during criminal proceedings and investigations took place from 9 to 13 November 2020 in Ashgabat.
The five-day event brought together around fifty students of the Institute under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Institute of International Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly.
The course introduced participants to the concept of human rights, its history, types and functions as well as respect for human rights in the context of criminal justice. International experts from Romania and Moldova focused on ensuring the right to integrity of the person in the pre-trial investigation stage, and the right of suspects and accused persons to a fair defence and legal counselling.
“The OSCE has accumulated significant experience in the provision of expert support to its participating States in implementing OSCE commitments in the areas of human rights and freedoms,” said Natalya Drozd, Head the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “The OSCE Сentre has developed constructive co-operation with the Office of the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan and other relevant institutions in different areas across the human dimension. This course is an example of the Centre’s long-term support being provided to the host country in strengthening its human rights education for law students.”
Participants reviewed relevant case studies and also covered the standards for custody, guarantees against ill treatment and use of force as well as guarantees of individual rights in case of suspension and termination of the preliminary investigation. There were special sessions on gender-based and domestic violence, which focused on the implementation of relevant international standards at the national level and best practices from OSCE participating States.