Publications

Published by the OSCE Presence in Albania as part of its project “Assisting the National Authorities of the Republic of Albania to Decrease the Risk of Weapon Proliferation and Misuse of Small Arms and Light Weapons” funded by EU, Germany and France.

To evade prosecution, organized crime groups are increasingly targeting recruitment efforts towards young people under the age of criminal liability. The COVID-19 pandemic and security developments across the OSCE area exacerbated socio-economic vulnerabilities and risk factors, making young people more susceptible to being recruited into criminal networks and activities. This can put them on a path to long-term criminality, with significant consequences for themselves, victims, criminal justice systems and society as a whole. Research shows that by the age of 25, a single “multiple offender” has had – on average – 100 victims and generated EUR 1.7 million in social follow-up costs.1 Investing in effective youth crime prevention and strengthening youth resilience from an early age therefore have major economic and societal benefits, and contribute to good governance and the rule of law. This report builds on the OSCE’s longstanding focus on youth development and crime prevention, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities. The OSCE’s commitment to promoting the role and inclusion of youth in its security agenda dates back to its founding document, the Helsinki Final Act, and has been strengthened though many subsequent OSCE decisions. The OSCE’s mandate in combating organized crime underscores prevention as a key approach, as reaffirmed in the 2020 Tirana Declaration, which calls for a multi-stakeholder and gender-sensitive response.

This practical guide is designed to assist authorities at different levels in improving the management of fishing areas and enforcing the Law on the Protection and Sustainable Use of Fish Stocks. It provides a comprehensive overview of the legal framework for prosecuting illegal fishing activities, highlights best practices for effective fishing area management and outlines mechanisms to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The guide offers clear procedures for identifying and addressing irregularities, as well as judicial measures for handling violations. Additionally, it contains different case studies and recommendations for strengthening inter-agency co-operation and enhancing co-ordination in the implementation of fish stock protection measures. The publication is available in Serbian language.

This document was developed with the aim of providing guidance on the use and care of police dogs/dogs used within law enforcement agencies. The purpose of this document is to provide all dog handlers/instructors/supervisors and other stakeholders with documented and structured guidelines on the use and maintenance of dogs, for law enforcement officials, as well as a description of their responsibilities.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of all police-related projects, activities and events, which draw on the combined strength of the OSCE’s Institutions and its network of field operations, often cutting across the OSCE’s three security dimensions.

[Albanian only] Published by the OSCE Presence in Albania as part of the “Transforming the National Response to Human Trafficking in and from Albania” programme, implemented by several international and local organizations led by UNICEF Albania, and supported by the United Kingdom.

In an effort to understand the citizens’ attitude towards the work of the Police in Montenegro, an extensive survey was conducted focusing on various aspects of this topic. The subject of this research is the perception of Montenegrin citizens regarding security, the work and efficiency of the police, as well as their awareness of different aspects of the police department’s operations. This research represents a continuation of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro activities on the support program for the further improvement and efficiency of the overall capacities of the Ministry of Interior and the Police Directorate. Similar public opinion surveys on the perception of the police, integrity and professionalism of police officers were conducted in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

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.

This report provides a comprehensive overview of all police-related projects, activities and events, which draw on the combined strength of the OSCE’s Institutions and its network of field operations, often cutting across the OSCE’s three security dimensions.