News and press releases

THE HAGUE, 19 November 2021 — “Barriers to equality have a devastating impact on so many aspects of Traveller and Roma life, including their health, education, accommodation and employment,” said Martin Collins, Co-Director of Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, Dublin, Ireland.

Through two working sessions on 2 and 3 November and 19 November, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized a workshop dedicated to designing a public outreach campaign, to raise awareness on the dangers of misuse and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

How to undertake financial investigation to effectively cut off terrorism financing channels was the focus of a three-day training course for experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which concluded on 18 November 2021.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 408 ceasefire violations, including 150 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 299 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 256 ceasefire violations, including 205 explosions. In the previous reporting

A working group meeting on environmental protection under the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Chu-Talas Water Commission (Commission) took place on 18 November 2021 in Almaty. The meeting was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan (POiN) and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB) in close co-operation with the Commission.

“There are no winners in war” say the protagonists of ‘Maglaj – War and Peace’, a documentary by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina released publicly online today with the Swedish Embassy in Sarajevo on behalf of the 2021 Swedish Chairpersonship of the OSCE.

ERGNETI, 18 November 2021 — The 103rd Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) convened today in Ergneti, co-facilitated by the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all necessary health precautions were followed at the meeting venue.

In November, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized two training modules for the commission for monitoring the implementation of the National Strategy for Gender Equality to enhance its capacities to facilitate inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral co-operation and to monitor, evaluate and report on implementation progress.

An OSCE-supported seminar for international observers aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge of the rights and obligations of election observers took place in Nur-Sultan on 18 November 2021. The OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan organized the event in co-operation with the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan (CEC) and supported by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supported a review meeting on the implementation of Tajikistan’s National Action Plan in the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Vienna, 17 November 2021 – The OSCE and Uzbekistan agreed to strengthen their co-operation in countering corruption and increasing transparency in public administration today by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) of Uzbekistan.

The protection of human rights in penitentiary institutions and the exchange of information on prisoners' legal rights and freedoms were the focus of a two-day online seminar on 16 and 17 November 2021. The event was organized jointly by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 299 ceasefire violations, including 57 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 268 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 145 ceasefire violations, including 91 explosions. In the previous reporting

As a part of its continuing co-operation with the University of Montenegro’s Faculty of Political Sciences, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided three drones to its Department for Media Studies and Journalism. This was accompanied by a three-day training course for students that took place from 16 to 19 November 2021 in Podgorica.

A two-day seminar hosted by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on ethics, conflict of interest, and disciplinary practices for judges and prosecutors from across BiH started on 17 November 2021 in Sarajevo. The event aims to help improve the integrity, independence, and accountability of BiH judiciary...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 268 ceasefire violations, including 43 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 479 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 678 ceasefire violations, including 381 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it

STRASBOURG, 16 November 2021- The largest annual gathering of National Anti-trafficking Co-ordinators and Rapporteurs took place this week in Strasbourg. Representatives from 60 countries across the OSCE region discussed how to address current human trafficking-related challenges and implement international commitments, policies and standards set forth by the OSCE and the Council of Europe’s Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings.

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA, 16 November 2021- In a world shaped by ever-increasing divisions within nations and societies the need for tolerance could not be greater. The problems we face are clearly demonstrated in the most recent 2021 Hate Crime Report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in numerous instances of stereotyping, scapegoating, and stigmatization. It has fueled hate-motivated attacks both online and offline directed at persons in vulnerable situations, at persons belonging to minorities, including ethnic and religious groups and anti-Semitic attacks and hate-crimes against Muslims, Christians and members of other religions, Roma and Sinti, migrants and refugees, and people of Asian descent. They are not only a catastrophe for the victims and a breach of human rights, but they damage the social cohesion of our society at large. Trust and solidarity are lost, and democracy is threatened.

WARSAW, 16 November 2021 – More decisive action needs to be taken across the OSCE region to work towards eliminating violence against women, who continue to face violence in both public and private, OSCE leaders said on the opening of a two-day conference dedicated to preventing and combating violence against women and girls

WASHINGTON/PARIS/MOSCOW, 15 November 2021- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation, and Brice Roquefeuil of France) released the following statement today:

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 12 to 14 November, the SMM recorded 1,240 ceasefire violations, including 441 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 723 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 12 to 14 November, the

WARSAW, 15 November 2021 – While many countries across the OSCE are taking greater efforts to combat hate crime, more action needs to be taken to increase knowledge of the true number of hate crimes committed and more done to support victims, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on publishing its annual hate crime report ahead of the 2021 International Day for Tolerance.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 723 ceasefire violations, including 172 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 722 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded nine ceasefire violations, all undetermined explosions. In the previous

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 722 ceasefire violations, including 324 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 399 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 149 ceasefire violations, including 121 explosions. In the previous reporting

The rapid growth of technology and social media has redefined how people communicate. It has also significantly changed the way organized crime groups operate.

Following the conclusions of the 25 April 2021 parliamentary elections and the recent discussions on a new electoral reform, Vincenzo Del Monaco, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania hosted a meeting with the Ambassadors of OSCE participating States and international organizations in Albania on 10 November 2021 to exchange information and co-ordinate assistance on electoral matters.

GENEVA, 12 November 2021 – “By increasing the economic empowerment of minorities, we also contribute to sustainable development and towards creating prosperous and stable societies throughout the OSCE area and beyond,” said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Kairat Abdrakhmanov today at an OSCE-UN conference on the Effective Participation of National Minorities in Economic Life as a Strategy for Conflict Prevention, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

Improving the effectiveness of training in the police and justice sector to prevent and combat violence against women and girls, with a focus on South-Eastern Europe, was the topic of an online expert roundtable discussion on 11 and 12 November 2021.

On 9 November 2021, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro concluded her two-day official visit to Switzerland. During her visit, Ribeiro met with several government authorities, including Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga, State Secretary Livia Leu, OFCOM Director Bernard Maissen and the President of the Swiss Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Josef Dittli. She also met with representatives of media freedom organizations and media representatives to discuss media freedom and freedom of expression in Switzerland and across the OSCE region.

In order to support national authorities in enhancing their capacities and whole-of-society approach to reintegration of foreign terrorist fighters, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, organized a training course on their non-custodial rehabilitation and reintegration on 10 November 2021 in Podgorica.

On 12 November, the OSCE Mission to Moldova held its fourth art workshop for art students from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River.

Enhancing specialized crime units’ skills in information gathering as a prerequisite to investigating serious and organized crime, was the focus of a workshop the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Criminal Intelligence Division within the Montenegrin Police Directorate organized on 8 and 9 November 2021 in Podgorica.

From 10 to 12 November 2021, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized on online training course on the coverage of the pandemic and other health-related issues in the media.

Kazakhstan’s part of the working group on environmental protection under the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Chu-Talas Water Commission (Commission) held a meeting on 12 November 2021 in Almaty. The meeting was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in co-operation with the Commission and the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 399 ceasefire violations, including 26 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 343 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded four ceasefire violations (no explosions). In the previous reporting period,

PARIS, 11 November 2021 — The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation, and Brice Roquefeuil of France) released the following statement today:

SARAJEVO, 11 November 2021 – Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and Selmo Cikotić, BiH Minister of Security, signed today an agreement to implement a small arms and light weapons (SALW) control project over the next three years.

KYIV, 10 November 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 343 ceasefire violations, including 52 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 565 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 29 ceasefire violations, all explosions. In the previous reporting period, it

Impunity of human traffickers remains a crucial and persisting challenge in the OSCE area. The Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings hosted a roundtable discussion, on 8 and 9 November 2021, on effective prosecution strategies, in line with the recommendation stemming from the 20th Alliance Conference.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 565 ceasefire violations, including 71 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 314 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 114 ceasefire violations, including 21 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it

Recent developments in Afghanistan and related transnational threats in the Central Asian region were the focus of the 16th Central Asia Border Management Initiative (CABMI) Conference held on 8 and 9 November in Vienna.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 5 and 7 November, the SMM recorded 661 ceasefire violations, including 87 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 482 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 5 and 7 November, the Mission

COPENHAGEN, 8 November 2021 – Halfway through the 26th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) taking place in Glasgow, the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s economic and environmental committee, together with its envoys on Arctic issues and Sustainable Development Goals, have issued a “Parliamentary Plea for Resolute Climate Action.”

An OSCE-supported three-day training seminar on the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (Paris Principles, 1993) and human rights report writing was concluded on 5 November 2021. The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, in co-operation with National Center for Human Rights.

At 14:15 on 6 November, while positioned on the western edge of Bolotene (government-controlled, 22km north-east of Luhansk), the Mission heard four bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of less than 50m south of its position. SMM patrol members immediately re-entered their vehicles. A few

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 482 ceasefire violations, including 125 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 78 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 148 ceasefire violations, including 145 explosions. In the previous reporting

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 78 ceasefire violations, including 22 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 204 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded eight ceasefire violations, including five explosions. In the previous

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

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