Publications
Empowering Women to Drive Sustainable Energy Access in Rural Tajikistan: A Catalyst for Community Development and Wellbeing
Publishing date: 21 March 2024
Content type: Brochure
What we do: Environmental activities, Energy security
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The OSCE report “Empowering Women to Drive Sustainable Energy Access in Rural Tajikistan- A Catalyst for Community Development and Wellbeing” analyses the impact of a pilot initiative that provided women from the Yaghnob Valley of Tajikistan with access to clean energy technologies, as solar parabolic cookers and mini-solar power stations, and trained them on how to make the best use of these devices for their wellbeing and that of their communities. This activity was implemented within the framework of the OSCE project “Promoting Women's Economic Empowerment in the Energy Sector in Central Asia", funded by Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Norway, and Poland.
Addressing trafficking in human beings related to the humanitarian crisis stemming from the war against Ukraine- Code of conduct for first line responders
Publishing date: 19 March 2024
Content type: Brochure
Where we are: Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
First-line responses are the first point of contact and information for people requiring assistance in migration and humanitarian crises. While driven by good intentions, some, particularly new civil society organizations, volunteers, and other supporters, might lack knowledge and experience in the context, including as it relates to the risks of trafficking in human beings. To address this gap, the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings developed an awareness-raising brief that suggests some key steps to be undertaken by first-line responders to ensure that their staff is sensitized to the risks of human trafficking and does not unintendedly contribute to endangering the beneficiaries or colleagues.
The Effects of the Crisis in Afghanistan on Central Asia’s Energy Sector: A Risk Assessment
Publishing date: 18 March 2024
Content type: Study / report
What we do: Climate change, Environmental activities, Energy security
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The OSCE Risk Assessment, "The Effects of the Crisis in Afghanistan on Central Asia’s Energy Sector," presents a comprehensive analysis of the implications of Afghanistan’s regime change for energy stakeholders in Central Asia and regional energy co-operation. It highlights key developments in Afghanistan's energy landscape since 2021, identifies ongoing and emergent risks for energy trade with Central Asia, and analyzes the prospects of key regional infrastructure projects such as TUTAP, TAP, CASA-1000, and TAPI. Hence, the study offers recommendations to practitioners from OSCE participating States on enhancing regional energy security and the well-being of the people in Central Asia and Afghanistan in the foreseeable future. The study was carried out within the framework of the OSCE project “Strengthening Energy Sector Co-operation and Analysis in Central Asia in the Context of Afghanistan’s Energy Crisis", funded by Germany and Sweden, and was created in close collaboration with Central Asian officials and experts to reflect their needs, priorities, and responses to the situation.
Gender and corruption in the access to natural resources: Preliminary findings
Publishing date: 27 February 2024
Content type: Study / report
Where we are: OSCE Secretary General, OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Gender equality
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The publication aims at uncovering the nexus between gender and corruption in natural resource management by focusing on women’s access to water, land, forestry and extractives. The preliminary findings of this research highlight the vital role natural resources play in the economic empowerment of women as well as the pervasive impact that corruption has on the environment. It finally brings to the attention of policy makers in the OSCE area essential data and recommendations for boosting gender-responsive policies in natural resources and women’s access.
Green Paper on Social Economy in the Western Balkans
Publishing date: 26 February 2024
Content type: Study / report
What we do: Economic activities
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Green Paper on Social Economy in the Western Balkans is a key output of the OSCE/OCEEA extrabudgetary project Young Developers and Entrepreneurs Advancing Start-ups (YDEAS), which aims to provide opportunities for skills development, networking and job creation for young women and men in the Western Balkans, as well as promote an enabling environment for innovative, socially-impactful and green start-ups in the region through policy-relevant dialogue. The Green Paper analyses challenges and opportunities for social economy organizations in the Western Balkans, focusing on current trends, namely the digital and green transitions and the Common Regional Market. It concludes with a series of recommendations for key actors and policy makers on the international, regional and local levels, with the goal of fostering an enabling ecosystem for the social and green economy in the Western Balkans.
Protecting People Fleeing Ukraine: A Compendium of Anti-trafficking Training Courses for First Line Responders
Publishing date: 9 February 2024
Content type: Guide / manual / handbook
Where we are: Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Capacity-building of relevant stakeholders, particularly those working on the front lines of humanitarian crises, is a key component of participating States’ anti-trafficking response. To support counterparts to minimize risks of human trafficking and work proactively to identify and assist victims, several international and non-governmental organizations have developed and are providing a number of training opportunities. The OSR/CTHB, through this resource, aims to facilitate access of related actors to such opportunities by compiling training courses and modules- that are readily available to or can be requested by authorities and organizations operating on the ground- on several issues connected with addressing trafficking in human beings in the context of the humanitarian crisis generated by the war against Ukraine.
Advancing a Just Energy Transition in Central Asia: Women’s Key Role in the Energy Sector
Publishing date: 23 January 2024
Content type: Study / report
What we do: Climate change, Environmental activities, Gender equality
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The OSCE study on “Advancing a Just Energy Transition in Central Asia – Women’s key role in the energy sector” analyzes – through a gender lens – the socio-economic benefits of the energy transition for the five OSCE participating States in the region. It provides specific considerations for the strategic development of an appropriately skilled labour force and also contains critical yet unpublished data on the job creation potential of renewable energy in each Central Asian country. The study closes with recommendations intended to help Central Asian governments, companies, academic institutions, civil society, and other relevant stakeholders ensure that the transition to renewable energy harnesses the full potential of women’s participation and leadership and leaves no one behind. The study was developed in partnership with the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET), and with contributions from experts at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Identification of trafficking in human beings related to the humanitarian crisis stemming from the war against Ukraine- Brief for first line responders
Publishing date: 9 January 2024
Content type: Brochure
Where we are: Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
As migration and humanitarian crises always demonstrate, first-line responses are the first point of contact and information for people requiring assistance. Having a variety of occupations, ranging from civil society organizations to international relief agencies and international organizations, their priority, in particular within the reception setting, is to attend to people’s immediate needs, such as food, accommodation, and medical care. Their capacity is often overstretched, and they may not have specialized anti-trafficking knowledge and expertise. To address this gap, the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings developed an awareness-raising brief that would sensitize first-line responders to human trafficking risks, provide information on THB signs and indicators and on how to address presumed cases in a gender-sensitive, age-appropriate and trauma-informed manner.
Understanding the Role of Women in Organized Crime
Publishing date: 13 December 2023
Content type: Study / report
Where we are: Transnational Threats Department, OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Policing
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
This report offers empirical evidence and case studies from across the OSCE area on how women are recruited into organized crime groups, their roles within them, and how and why they exit these groups. It demonstrates that the role of women in organized crime is nuanced. Evidence shows that while women are often exploited and victimized by organized crime groups, they can also be important actors. Yet persistent gender stereotypes mean that women’s agency in organized crime is often not recognized by criminal justice practitioners. Failing to recognize women’s agency in organized crime impedes the understanding in participating States of the complexity of the organized crime landscape, and hampers their ability to combat transnational organized crime or support women to leave organized crime groups.
The role of public procurement in preventing trafficking for labour exploitation in supply chains and advancing human rights
Publishing date: 11 December 2023
Content type: Brochure
Where we are: Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings
Publisher: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe