News and press releases

On 6 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana presented results of a two-year project dedicated to developing interactive maps and safety passports for Kazakhstan. This initiative, implemented in partnership with the Ministry for Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan and the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction aims to enhance capacities to monitor, model, and ensure early warning for natural disasters, measures to prevent and counter the effects of such, and ensure safe and sustainable communities.

On 17 and 18 December, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) conducted an introductory workshop in Bishkek on the prevention and investigation of the criminal use of virtual assets and blockchain-based finance. The workshop was opened by Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, and gathered representatives from relevant investigative authorities, including from the Prosecutor’s General Office, the State Financial Intelligence Service, the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Committee for National Security.

From 16 to 17 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe hosted a two-day workshop focused on the findings of the “Baseline Report from the Fifth Round of Monitoring of Anti-Corruption Reforms in Tajikistan. The Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan”.

Between October and December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supported the OSCE Youth Network for Gender Equality in organizing ten awareness-raising sessions across Dushanbe and rural areas of Tajikistan. Over 25 Network members traveled to Norak, Panjakent, Khujand, Ayni, Isfara, Garm, Kulob, Bokhtar, and Levakand, engaging 283 participants—91 men and 192 women—including youth, educators from schools and universities, and community leaders.

On 17 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in co-operation with the Centre for Combatting Trafficking in Persons under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, hosted the second Dialogue Platform on Counteracting Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB) for the year. The event brought together government officials, members of the Inter-Ministerial Commission on CTHB, representatives from civil society, and international organizations.

On 2 December, the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration hosted its first-ever simulation of conciliation proceedings within the Court at the Faculty of Law of the University of Ljubljana and with the support of Professor Vasilka Sancin, Head of the Department of International Law and member of the Bureau of the Court.

From 11 to 13 December 2024, the OSCE PCUz organized a visit to Helsinki, Finland, to study good practices in fighting violence against minors. The delegation, comprising the Interdepartmental Working Group charged with improving relevant legislation on crimes against minors, was headed by Surayyo