News and press releases

Sarajevo, 10 November 2023- With less than 11 months until the 2024 Local Elections scheduled for next October, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Brian Aggeler, notes that authorities in BiH have so far failed to bring the BiH Election Law in line with international standards and best practices for democratic elections. The necessary amendments have been clearly and repeatedly enumerated and recommended, also after the last general elections held in October 2022, by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), including in its Election Observation Mission Final Report issued in February 2023, and by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission).

The OSCE Secretariat Transnational Threats Department and United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) delivered the 7th Passenger Data Exchange Seminar as a back-to back event with the 3rd in-person meeting of the Eastern European Informal Working Group on Passenger Data (EE IWG) on 8-10 November 2023.

From 6 to 11 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat delivered the second part of an introductory course on digital forensics for law enforcement representatives from Turkmenistan.

On November 10, 2023, within the framework of the implementation of the Anti-Drug Programme by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Service for Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MoI) of the Kyrgyz Republic, in collaboration with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, convened a roundtable discussion for students of the Faculty of Law at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University. The focal theme of the discussion was "Prevention of Drug Use Among Young People."

More than 50 professionals from five countries participated in a week-long simulation-based training exercise on combating trafficking in human beings in Brühl, Germany this week, marking the first such regional training between the OSCE and the Council of Baltic Sea States.

On 8 and 9 November, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Ministry of Interior organized an international conference in Budva that brought together representatives from the Ministry, Police Directorate, Police Academy and University of Montenegro. Five higher education institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Serbia and Slovenia were invited and presented their educational models in creating an institution that could grant a university degree for police officers.

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the United States Department of Justice, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (US OPDAT) facilitated an advanced interactive workshop for prosecutors and judges from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia on recovery of illicit assets, including cross-border organized crime cases. Prosecutors and judges from Kosovo also attended.

How do state agencies effectively manage businesses, real estate, securities, and financial instruments seized from organized crime groups? How do they ensure that their value does not depreciate by the end of lengthy court proceedings, and that they do not become a liability to the seizing authority? These are some of the questions tackled during an OSCE-facilitated workshop on the effective management of seized and confiscated criminal assets that took place in Moldova this week.

An OSCE-organized two-day seminar on the development of small and medium enterprises (SMES) in the field of agriculture took place on 8 and 9 November 2023 in Ashgabat. The event addressed the role of SMEs in the rural development and ensuring food security and highlighted best practices of the

On 6 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department held an international cyber diplomacy training course focused on building national capacities to engage in international cyber policy deliberations.

International standards and best practices of the OSCE participating States in the development and functioning of the effective capital market were presented during an OSCE-organized seminar that took place on 7 November 2023. International experts focused on the development and functioning of the

Representatives of the State Energy Institute of Turkmenistan, State Concerns “Turkmengas” and “Turkmenoil” participated in an OSCE-organized seminar on monitoring and scientific research on the reduction of methane emissions that took place on 6 and 7 November 2023. The two-day online event aimed

VIENNA, 6 November, 2023 – Dr. Kari Johnstone took up her position serving as OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Human Trafficking on 30 October, 2023.

CHIŞINĂU, 6 November 2023 – Moldova’s local elections were calm and efficiently managed with candidates mostly able to campaign freely, but the broad powers of the government commission for exceptional situations were used to restrict freedom of speech and association as well as the right to stand, while interference from abroad and widespread allegations of vote buying throughout the campaign were of concern, international observers said in a statement today.

Between 30 October and 3 November 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe’s Integrated Cooperation on Explosive Hazards Programme (ICExH) together with the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre (REHTC) of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense organized the first joint field visits to humanitarian demining sites in the Vahdat and Garm regions of Tajikistan.

As part of the Mission’s activities to support gender mainstreaming, the Mission has supported the Municipality of Berane in developing a Local Action Plan for Gender Equality, whose adoption is expected by the end of this year. This action plan serves as a basis for the municipality to consider a gender perspective in drafting its documents and activities.

On 1 and 2 November 2023, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina held a training programme in Sarajevo on preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (P/CVERLT) through media and information literacy, with a focus on human rights and gender-sensitive approaches.

In a robust response to the OSCE-wide commitment towards gender equality and a harassment-free workplace, Moldovan border and law enforcement agencies participated in a two-day training course on 1-2 November 2023, in Chisinau. The initiative brought together 30 border and law enforcement officers and provided a platform for delving into in-depth discussions and practical exercises aimed at preventing and eradicating sexual harassment within their agencies.

Twenty-three supervisory and law enforcement representatives from Moldova strengthened their skills in identifying and investigating financial crimes conducted with cryptocurrencies and other virtual assets in a training course held from 30 October to 2 November 2023 in Chisinau. The course was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Seventy-five representatives from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SESU) and State Border Guard Service had a chance to improve knowledge and practice skills needed to respond to radiation-related emergencies at a series of two three-days training sessions, organized by the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) in Kyiv on 23-28 October 2023.

ERGNETI, 1 November 2023 – The 115th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti today under the co-facilitation of the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Dimitrios Karabalis, and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Viorel Moşanu.

On October 31, 2023, the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic, in partnership with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, marked a significant milestone- the inauguration of two modernized training classrooms in Osh. These newly renovated facilities are not only a testament to the importance of proper ammunition storage and maintenance but also a tangible step toward bolstering the safety and security in Kyrgyzstan.

SKOPJE, 31 October – The 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia hosted the OSCE Chairpersonship Regional Conference on Combating Corruption, Money Laundering, and Facilitating Asset Recovery Efforts in South-Eastern Europe today. The conference was organized in cooperation and with the support of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities.

On 31 October 2023, the fifth Partnership Platform meeting took place, bringing together the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) and representatives of Tajikistan’s Government.

While international justice tools to deal with war-related crimes are high on the agenda, national institutions can and should pursue investigation and prosecution of those who commit them, as synergy of domestic and international efforts is an important precondition for justice to effectively respond to violations of human rights in the course of ongoing war. The needs of adapting national practices and legislation in criminal justice were in focus of IX Lviv Criminal Justice Forum, organized by the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) together with State Bureau of Investigations and Lviv University of Internal Affairs on 26-27 October 2023.

On 26 October, the OSCE Mission’s Donors’ Forum united over 80 civil society organizations (CSOs) from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River to assess CSO developments, challenges and success over the past 10 years. They discussed the health sector, sustainable partnerships for economic

The strategic outlook for energy markets, system vulnerabilities, and industry competition took centre stage at this year’s edition of the Vienna Energy Security Dialogue. Titled “Looking Ahead: Shaping the Post-Crises Global Energy Market(s)”, the annual event took place on 25 October in partnership with the World Energy Council Austria, the Federation of Austrian Industries, and Ernst and Young Austria.

Batken, 30 October 2023 – The city of Batken played host to a Forum on "Women's Participation: A Pillar for Peace and Stability", which holds particular significance as an integral component of Kyrgyzstan's National Action Plan for the realization of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 within the 2022-2024 timeframe. Aligned with strategic imperatives in the realm of "Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding," this Forum emerged as a platform for in-depth examination, identification of shared challenges, and prioritization of endeavors dedicated to advancing the global "Women, Peace, Security" agenda.

On October 29, 2023, a premiere of the ballet performance “ADAM” (Human) took place in the city of Naryn, Kyrgyzstan. Reflecting upon the crucial problems of ecology and climate change, this performance was initiated by the Students of Kyrgyzstan for Green Economy NGO, the initiative group ARTIS, and the Kyrgyz Opera and Ballet Theater named after A. Maldybaev, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

On 26 and 27 October 2023, the OSCE Presence in Albania in close co-operation with the Albanian School of Magistrates, organized a training on “Investigation and adjudication of criminal offences related to public procurement”. The training was designed in line with the areas of interest expressed

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 24-25 October – State Personal Data Protection Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, joined forces with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek to conduct a two-day training programme aimed at bolstering cybersecurity, personal data protection, and raising awareness about cybersecurity within the healthcare and education sectors.

A five-day youth camp on restoration and documentation of cultural heritage in the Pejë/Peć Old Bazaar, organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo for 10 students of architecture, anthropology and related fields, concluded on 27 October 2023.

On 27 October 2023, nineteen mine action specialists and practitioners (18 men, 1 woman) from the military, law enforcement, security services, and humanitarian agencies of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Serbia completed a three-week regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal course (EOD Level 2) at the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Centre of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence in Chimteppa.

On 25-27 October 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) supported the Republican Training and Methodological Centre (RTMC) of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (CoESCD) in the organization of a training in Khujand city.

From 25 to 27 October 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office), in co-operation with the Institute for Advanced Training under the General Prosecutor’s Office, organized a three-day training on domestic violence prosecution in Sarob, near Dushanbe.

From 25 to 27 October 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) organized a three-day training of trainers on combating trafficking in human beings.

Issyk-Kul, 23-26 October- The Migration Council under the Speaker of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, organized a four-day Youth Forum on Combating Human Trafficking in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. The event gathered 30 young leaders from across the country selected through a competitive essay contest on the topic "How I Understand Human Trafficking?".

From 24 to 26 October 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) in co-operation with the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Tajikistan organized a three-day training course for governmental human rights focal points in Bokhtar, Khatlon region.

On 26 October 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) supported the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the organization of the first high-level Republican Conference on combating trafficking in human beings.

VIENNA, 25 October – The Canadian Chairpersonship of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) held a Security Dialogue dedicated to UN Security Council Resolution 1325+ and the Women, Peace and Security agenda today. The discussion focused on the improved outcomes in peace, security and operational effectiveness that are achieved through women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the armed forces.

Excessive use of detention on remand is a global issue that poses rule of law and human rights concerns, and Kosovo faces similar challenges.

The OSCE facilitated a multi-agency workshop on cross-border recovery and repatriation of criminal assets in Chisinau, Moldova this week. The workshop – held from 24 to 26 October 2023 – gathered representatives from the Moldovan Criminal Asset Recovery Agency, the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases, the General Police Inspectorate, the Ministry of Justice, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the Chisinau City Prosecutor’s Office.

Between 22 and 24 October 2023, the OSCE Mission organized a study trip to the city of Graz, Austria for five mayors from Kosovo, selected for their efforts in promoting gender responsive governance in their municipalities. Gazmend Muhaxheri of Pejë/Peć, Bali Muharremaj of Suharekë/Suva Reka, Ramiz

SKOPJE, 24 October 2023 – Strengthening cyber-resilience and raising cybersecurity awareness were the focus of the cyber/ICT security conference hosted by the 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia in Skopje from 23 to 24 October.

On 24 October, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan organized a webinar on the Dark Web criminal landscape for the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan(PCUz), in partnership with the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, organised a five-day training titled "Digital Forensics: Challenges and Opportunities" for the period from 23 to 27 October, 2023. The training course was aimed at enhancing the capacity of law enforcement agencies to detect and investigate cybercrimes by further promoting international co-operation, co-ordination and information sharing among respective structures. 

THE HAGUE, 24 October 2023 – The institution of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) marked its 30th anniversary today with a high-level conference at the Peace Palace in The Hague. At the event, High Commissioner Kairat Abdrakhmanov also presented new recommendations on the effective participation of national minorities in social and economic life.

On 24 October 2023, Tajikistan’s Border Troops were provided with ambulance vehicles and technical equipment as part of an OSCE project funded by the European Union (EU).

On 20 October 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) supported the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense in the organization of the Asian Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2023.

On 23 October, in Tashkent, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) – together with the National Human Rights Centre, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and its Regional Office for Central Asia, the United Nations Development Programme in Uzbekistan and the Office in Uzbekistan of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation – organized an International Forum titled: "Youth Rights: Possibilities and Mechanisms of Protection". The Forum commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights.