Publications

This Occasional Paper is based on findings from a multi-method research project, including surveys, expert interviews, and expert group meetings carried out with participants from more than half of the OSCE’s participating States. By bringing together the voices of survivors, anti-trafficking experts, service providers, and law enforcement, this paper offers a comprehensive account of gender aspects in trafficking in human beings. It also provides a basis for discussion about possible ways to apply gender-sensitive approaches. The report, therefore, explores a range of gender aspects that are often not addressed in existing prevention, protection, and prosecution strategies.

The document provides tools to ensure preparedness for cross-border implications of crises, which is vital to facilitate a speedy and effective response to humanitarian emergencies.

This Compendium presents an overview of legislation, policies, and mechanisms for ensuring the protection and enforcement of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of armed forces personnel. It includes many examples and good practices from across the OSCE region that have proven successful. It also contains recommendations which can help participating States ensure that their policies and practices are in full compliance with international human rights standards and OSCE human dimension commitments.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro supported the Office of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro in preparing an analysis of court verdicts for misdemeanors of domestic violence and violence against women in 2019, and during the COVID-19 pandemic for March- July 2020. The document analyzed 184 verdicts from the following courts: Misdemeanor court in Bijelo Polje (divisions in Pljevlja, Berane and Rožaje), Misdemeanor court in Budva (divisions in Ulcinj, Bar, Kotor and Herceg Novi) and Misdemeanor court in Podgorica (divisions in Nikšić, Cetinje and Danilovgrad). Some of the main conclusions of the Analysis are that vast majority of the victims of domestic violence are women, that the victims are often not aware of the possibility to initiate misdemeanor proceedings themselves and that the penalty policy is mild. The Analysis provides a good basis to integrate the principles of gender equality into courts’ procedures and practices in cases of domestic violence and violence against women.

This Occasional Paper highlights the importance of addressing the demand that fosters trafficking for sexual exploitation, in particular the exploitation of the prostitution of others. In doing so, it puts a spotlight on the role of demand in encouraging exploitation and causing harm to victims; outlines the scope of the international obligations and commitments of States to discourage demand; analyses the ways in which States have responded to these obligations and commitments in their criminal justice and prevention practices; and offers recommendations on how to better incorporate demand into national efforts. The primary aim of the paper is to support and enhance the implementation of State-led responses to demand.

The OSCE Secretary General’s Annual Report gives an overview of the Organization's activities and its co-operation with partner states and other organizations.

This paper explores the intersections between human trafficking and terrorism by analysing activities of terrorist groups through the lens of trafficking in human beings. Through a critical analysis of legal and policy regimes, the paper provides a comparative study of two crimes – human trafficking and terrorism – based on a series of illustrative examples collected from throughout the OSCE region. The outcome is a set of targeted recommendations to challenge the trafficking practices of terrorist groups by leveraging existing preventative and protective mechanisms in the anti-trafficking field. The intent of these recommendations is to support participating States in preventing the crime of trafficking by terrorist groups, hold the perpetrators fully accountable and protect victims.

The Analysis explores the multidimensional approach and complexity of the introduced measures during the pandemic on gender and diversity in North Macedonia. The first chapter provides an overview of the gender analysis of measures adopted by the Government from human rights perspective, while the second chapter focuses on the participation of women and men in the labor market, violence against women, participation of women and men in decision-making in the COVID-19 response, etc. The third chapter presents and analyses the gender gaps created by COVID-19 response, while the final chapter includes proposals for measures to be taken in the post-COVID-19 period. The Analysis was developed by the OSCE Mission to Skopje in partnership with the Centre for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and the CSOs Radar, Polio Plus, Rural Coalition, and the National Network to End Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

This Assessment is a baseline document for planning future steps in the complex digitalization process of the courts in North Macedonia. The courts' digitalization, intersectoral connectivity and interoperability of the courts with other judicial institutions and state organs is in line with judicial efficiency and transparency improvement, emphasizing quick, cost effective and qualitative access to justice. The Assessment is consisted of four main chapters: International standards and comparative experiences- focusing on the advantages and challenges in usage of electronic platforms and conducting on-line or hybrid hearings; Analysis of the current situation in utilization of ICT tools in all courts in North Macedonia and existence of adequate human and technical resources; Current national legislation and necessary legislative amendments to enable utilization of new ICT tools in court operations and protect the rights of the participants in court procedures; and Recommendations for future steps in regards to court digitalization.

This publication is designed to clarify the interrelationship between freedom of religion and security in light of the OSCE’s comprehensive framework for peace and security. It further explains the nature, status and scope of freedom of religion or belief as enshrined in OSCE commitments and international and regional standards. Finally, it provides guiding principles, practical guidance and recommendations to address a number of issues of note at the intersection of freedom of religion or belief and security in the OSCE region.