News and press releases

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a roundtable discussion on the harmonization of case law and judicial practice for senior judges in BiH, on 6 December 2021 in Sarajevo. The event was aimed at improving legal certainty and equality of citizens before the law. It was organized in co-operation with the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) and the Council of Europe.

By increasing democratic civilian control, respecting the rule of law, upholding human rights and integrating a real role for women, good security sector governance helps build the population’s trust and provides stability by significantly contributing to conflict prevention.

The OSCE Mobile Training Team and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, jointly organized an interactive training course on the identification of foreign terrorist fighters at the borders for 22 first and second line border officers and the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 29 November to 1 December 2021 in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BISHKEK, 29 November 2021 – Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary elections were competitive, but they lacked meaningful voter engagement due to a stifled campaign, constitutional changes weakening parliament and extensive legislative changes to key aspects of the election. Generally adequate election legislation was undermined by limitations on civil and political rights as well as diminished separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. Voters had a wide range of political options to choose from. Election preparations were handled efficiently by the election administration, and election day was peaceful, international observers said in a statement today.

On 25 November, the OSCE Mission to Moldova organized an annual Donors’ Forum online for more than 100 representatives of a wide range of initiative groups and civil society organizations (CSOs) from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River, and development partners.

Discussions on a victim-centred approach and multi-agency co-operation in combating trafficking in human beings were held during an OSCE-organized online seminar on 22 and 23 November 2021.

A two-day workshop on strengthening effective security sector governance through partnerships between security institutions and civil society concluded on 23 November 2021 in Tirana. The workshop was jointly organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence. It brought together some 28 representatives from Albanian state security institutions, civil society, and the media.