News and press releases

On 27 and 28 November 2024, 22 officials from various government institutions in Turkmenistan, including the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Monitoring Agency, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, participated in a specialized workshop on preventing and investigating the criminal use of virtual assets and blockchain-based finance. The event took place in Ashgabat and was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA).

Croatia’s 2024 early parliamentary elections were competitive, offering voters a broad range of political choices. The legal framework generally provided a sound basis for holding democratic elections, and the election administration enjoyed full confidence in managing all stages of the process. While the media landscape is diverse, concerns remain about the concentration of media ownership and the political affiliation of many media outlets, including the public broadcaster, as well as the high volume of pending litigation against journalists.

On 26 and 27 November, the OSCE trained 14 staff from the Moldovan People’s Advocate Office (Ombuds institution) on the effective handling of human rights cases and inquiries into the security sector during a workshop held in Chisinau. The participants explored good practices in processing complaints related to the security sector, conducting investigations and producing reports.

On 28-29 November 2024, the expert roundtable titled “Gender-Sensitive, Child-Friendly, and Trauma-Informed Justice: Best Practices, Challenges, and Needs” was held in Tashkent. The event was organized jointly by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor

On 22 November 2024, 25 government officials from Central Asia gathered in Ashgabat for a Regional Conference on “Critical Infrastructure Protection in Central Asia: Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Security”. The event was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in co-operation with the Government of Turkmenistan.

On 25-26 November, 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana (the Office), in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) and the “Union of Crisis Centers of Kazakhstan” organized a regional conference titled “Domestic Violence Counteraction Systems in Central Asia: Correctional Programs for Aggressors” in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

WARSAW, 27 November 2024 – An 18-month joint project to support the integration of migrants and refugees in Poland, which has demonstrated the power of collaboration in addressing one of society’s most pressing challenges, ended today with a closing event to celebrate its achievements.

On 27 November 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the National Forum of Civil Society Organizations- Gender Movement Activists, titled "United Against Violence," in Dushanbe. This important event brought together 84 gender activists, government representatives, and international organizations to discuss strategies for advancing gender equality and combating violence against women and girls.

The report “ Co-operation in North-west Azerbaijan and Eastern Georgia ”, which tackles joint co-operation in the areas of climate change, landscape fire management and wildfire risk reduction, was officially launched on 19 November during a side event at the 29th United Nations Climate Change

On 27 November, more than 40 representatives from Central Asia, OSCE structures, UN agencies, and civil society organizations gathered for the second meeting of the Central Asia Regional Expert Council (REC) on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees. Launched in Tashkent in May 2024 at

On 27 November, over 40 representatives from Central Asia, OSCE executive structures, UN entities and civil society organizations gathered for the Second Meeting of the Central Asia Regional Expert Council (REC) on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees.

On 27 November 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a half-day roundtable to evaluate the implementation status of the "State Complex Environmental Education Program (2021–2025)." The event attracted around 31 participants, consisting of 7 women and 24 men, including representatives from relevant institutions, Parliament, and civil society.

From 19 to 21 November 2024, the OSCE Presence in Albania organized its second simulation-based training on human trafficking. Over three days, about 50 participants worked through complex trafficking cases involving vulnerable girls and women exploited for sexual purposes and children exploited for criminal activity.

On 25 November, the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking of Human Beings and the Money Laundering Reporting Office of Switzerland (MROS) launched Switzerland’s first dedicated anti-trafficking guide for financial institutions and intermediaries.

Joining the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, on 25 November the OSCE Mission to Montenegro launched the 2024 campaign “See for Yourself, You’re Not a Small Boy”. This initiative is supported by the Basketball, Handball, and Water Polo and Swimming sports associations of Montenegro together with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demographics, and the NGO Women’s Safe House.

From 15 to 21 November 2024, the OSCE actively participated in the 29th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

VALLETTA, 25 November 2024- Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg called on participating States to increase efforts and resources to combat all forms of violence experienced by women and girls, including online violence.

24 November: OSCE flagship event: “Violence against young women and girls: sexual harassment, stalking and controlling behaviour”   Time and location: 12:00- 14:30, Laboratorium, Skopje This event aims to identify and address the practical challenges in preventing and prosecuting violence against

Between 21 and 22 November and 25 and 26 November 2024, the OSCE PCUz, in close collaboration with the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is conducting training events on the topic of improving the efficiency of prosecutorial control over the investigation of human-trafficking

On 22 November 2024, thirteen officers of the Tajik Border Troops, including eleven men and two women, completed a comprehensive three-week Training of Trainers (ToT) course, marking another significant step in the OSCE's commitment to enhancing border security education in Tajikistan.

Representatives of more than 30 international election observation organizations from around the world, which have committed to upholding the highest methodological standards and ethical practices, concluded a three-day meeting today in Gdansk, Poland, hosted by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

From 18 to 21 November 2024, the OSCE Presence in Albania organized a series of joint training sessions aimed at strengthening the capacity of prosecutors, police officers and environmental inspectors in tackling environmental crimes. The training, attended by 52 participants from Shkodra, Lezha, Kukës, Berat, Korça and Elbasan, focused on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting environmental offenses.

VIENNA, 22 November 2024 – The Maltese Chairpersonship of the OSCE, in collaboration with the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) and the 3CL Foundation, organised the Conference on Media Freedom in the OSCE region on 22 November 2024. The event addressed the multiple challenges facing free and independent media in the current digital landscape and their implications for democracy and security.

Over 100 criminal justice experts and representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as well as from international organizations met in Astana from 20 to 21 November 2024 for the Ninth Expert Forum on Criminal Justice for Central Asia, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan.

Forensic document experts from the Main Forensic Centre of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine exchanged best practices and enhanced co-operation on passport security and forensic document examination during a study visit to Dublin, Ireland, from 18 to 22 November.

Twelve officials from the National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine attended a basic training on investigations involving crypto-assets from 20 to 22 November. The three-day online training session provided an opportunity for participants to improve their knowledge about crypto-asset investigations. Organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), the training introduced participants to essential concepts of blockchain technology alongside practical tools and strategies for investigating criminal activities involving crypto-assets.

From 19 to 21 November 2024, the OSCE Presence in Albania, in co-operation with the General Directorate of Prisons, organized a training-of-trainers seminar for 35 senior prison staff. The focus was on the Nelson Mandela Rules, the revised UN standards for the treatment of prisoners, which aim to protect the rights of people in detention, including protection from torture and ill-treatment.

From 12 to 15 November, the second module of the OSCE training course on “Combatting Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Ammunition and Explosives for Border and Customs Services” took place at the Advanced Training Faculty under the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

On 4 October 2024, in a significant step toward reforming the judicial system, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana (Office) and the Court Administration of Kazakhstan convened a roundtable discussion on the draft Strategy for the development of court administration for 2025-2029. This landmark event, following the 9th Congress of Judges, marked the culmination of months of progressively collaborative work aimed at enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and public trust in Kazakhstan’s judicial system, in line with host country reform priorities.

The 3rd In-Person International Training Board (ITB) Meeting concluded successfully in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) in partnership with the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat and OSCE Forum for Security and Co-operation (FSC) the meeting aimed to enhance co-operation and knowledge-sharing between Central Asia and international partners within the framework of the Integrated Co-operation on Explosive Hazards (ICExH) project.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Conflict Prevention Centre/Forum for Security Cooperation of the OSCE Secretariat, successfully concluded the second module of the training course “Combatting Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), Ammunition, and Explosives” in Osh. Held from 18–21 November 2024, the training aimed to strengthen the capacities of Kyrgyzstan's Border Service officers in SALW identification, post-seizure record-keeping, information sharing, and tracing.

On 21 November 2024, Ambassador Antti Karttunen, Head of Office of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan participated in the International scientific and practical conference titled "Global Challenges and Threats in Law Enforcement: Modern Strategies and Solutions" held at the Law

From 12 to 14 November 2024, prosecutors and investigators of the Asset Recovery Committee of Kazakhstan (ARC) participated in an event on open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques and tools to counter illicit financial activity associated to corruption and organized crime. Participants learned, among others, how publicly available data can be leveraged to trace the ownership and location of assets and how this evidence can be used in subsequent criminal proceedings. 

From 18 to 20 November 2024, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, delivered a three-day national table-top exercise in Sarajevo, which focused on preventing and countering the use of the internet for terrorist purposes.

Border officers from Albania State Police participated in a study visit to Milan, Italy from 13 to 15 November 2024. The study visit was organized by the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, in close co-operation with the Permanent Mission of Italy to the OSCE and Polizia di Frontiera – Aeroporto Malpensa, for three officers, including one woman and two men. The visit focused on document checks and border control operations at airports, including how first and second-line document officers can effectively cooperate to stop criminals attempting to travel on forged documents.

VIENNA, 19 November 2024 — Today, the OSCE Troika- Malta, North Macedonia and Finland- made the following statement:

ERGNETI, 19 November 2024 – The 122th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti today under the co-facilitation of Viorel Moşanu, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus and Tibor Kozma, Deputy Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM).

Findings and recommendations from an assessment of the need for the prevention of and response to gender-based and domestic violence were discussed at an OSCE-organized workshop that took place on 18 and 19 November 2024 in Ashgabat. The needs assessment is being conducted by Malin Palm, a gender

As part of its support for the work of the Commission for Monitoring Investigations of Attacks on Journalists, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro commissioned the development of a Document Management System (DMS) to store and track all information on cases of threats and attacks on journalists and media property in Montenegro.

On November 19, 2024, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in partnership with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre/Forum for Security Co-operation Support Unit (CPC/FSC SU), facilitated a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of National Security, the State Customs Service, and the State Frontier Service. This meeting aimed to enhance the understanding of Turkmenistan's national authorities regarding the comprehensive agenda of the FSC, as well as to introduce the available online E-Learning tools designed to support a deeper understanding of the FSC area of work.

In view of Albania's upcoming 2025 parliamentary elections, the OSCE Presence and the Central Election Commission (CEC) organized a technical workshop titled “Elections 2025: The role of media in the electoral process – Challenges and opportunities”, on 18 November 2024.

On 18 November 2024, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), in collaboration with the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held a roundtable to discuss an expert analysis of the legal framework for constitutional review in Uzbekistan. The roundtable, titled “Key Theses

From 11 to 15 November, the OSCE gathered representatives from Moldova's General Police Inspectorate in a series of meetings to strengthen national policing strategies through an intelligence-led policing (ILP) framework.

On 12–13 November 2024, ADAM (“Human” in Kyrgyz), an ecological performance, took the stage at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Supported by the OSCE, this performance aimed to promote environmental protection through the transformative power of art.

The OSCE-led Mobile Training Team (MTT), a group of 24 border security and counter-terrorism experts from across the OSCE region, met for the second Annual Review Meeting from 11 to 13 November in Tirana, Albania. This was followed by a training workshop for the Albanian Border and Migration Police and Security Training Academy on 14 and 15 November.

Representatives of environmental and energy ministries and institutions from five Central Asian countries shared best practices in green energy transition at an OSCE-organized regional seminar  that took place on 14 and 15 November 2024. The seminar, hosted by the State Energy Institute of

WARSAW, 15 November 2024 – Making the bias motivation behind all hate crimes visible and ensuring they are prosecuted correctly is essential to protect the rights of victims and at the same time ensure effective policies to prevent and address hate crime, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on launching its annual hate crime report ahead of the 2024 International Day for Tolerance

To mark the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against all Forms of Transnational Organized Crime on 15 November, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) held a webinar to discuss the role of women in organized criminal groups. The webinar brought together over x participants including policymakers, criminal justice practitioners, academia and civil society.

The OSCE Troika convened the second Annual Meeting of the Expert Network on the OSCE on 11 and 12 November. The Network was launched in November 2023 in Skopje by the OSCE 2023 Chairpersonship of North Macedonia and former Secretary General Helga Schmid. The Network gathers experts, academics and think tanks from various participating States and aims to serve as a point of consultation and dialogue on the three dimensions of the OSCE.

As new techniques for obfuscating virtual assets transactions emerge, staying up-to-date in investigative capabilities to counter these threats effectively becomes all the more important. To strengthen Moldova’s ability to combat crypto-related crime, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), organized a specialized training session on “Investigation of Blockchain Obfuscation Techniques” in Chisinau from 13 to 15 November.