ASTANA, 22 July 2016 – An OSCE-supported two-day training seminar for some 30 defence lawyers from the northern part of Kazakhstan began today in Astana, with the aim of enhancing their understanding, common interpretation and implementation of the new criminal procedure legislation.

The event is organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the National Bar Association and the Almaty Bar Association for lawyers from the Akmola region, Pavlodar, Kostanay, Karaganda and Petropavlovsk.

Presentations will focus on new approaches and methods of legal protection, the legal institute of investigative judges in criminal proceedings, international guarantees for lawyers’ legal security, collection of evidence, and the questioning of witnesses. The interaction of lawyers with citizens, officials conducting criminal proceedings, the media and social networks will also be discussed.

“It is of utmost importance to ensure adequate conditions for the training of judges, prosecutors and lawyers as the equal actors of the lawsuit,” said Ambassador György Szabó, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “The Bar, as an independent institution, is responsible for ensuring the professional development of defence lawyers. As demonstrated by the current training, the OSCE stands ready to support efforts in this direction”

Kadirzhan Baimukhanova, Deputy Head of the Republican Bar Association, said: "In the current conditions of rapidly developing legislation, such training seminars on the legislative novelties are crucial in ensuring the high professionalism of defence lawyers."

Other topics covered by the training course are new information technologies, e-government, relevant ethical and professional requirements as well as national and international standards and best practices.

The seminar is the first in a series of four planned for this autumn. Future events will take place in Almaty, Aktobe and Ust-Kamenogorsk. The series is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to strengthen the rule of law and support judicial reform in the host country.

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The OSCE Programme Office in Astana concluded a series of two-day training seminars for some 100 members of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) against Torture on 2 August 2016 in Aktobe, Western Kazakhstan.

From May to August 2016, participants were trained in Pavlodar, Almaty, Astana and Aktobe on practical aspects of the NPM’s implementation.

The training seminars aimed at increasing the transparency and effectiveness of the Mechanism in monitoring, reporting and conducting preventive visits at detention facilities. National experts discussed with the NPM members the working procedures and methodology, challenges in fulfilling human rights obligations and ethical aspects in line with national and international anti-torture standards. Special emphasis was placed on the necessary co-operation between NPM and the law-enforcement sector.

The set of seminars was organized in partnership with the Ombudsman’s Office of Kazakhstan and the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and is part of the Office’s long-standing commitment to reinforce the NPM and promote the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.

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WARSAW, 3 June 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed concern today over yesterday’s sentencing by a court in Dushanbe of two leaders of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT) to life imprisonment, and 11 other high-ranking party officials to jail terms ranging from two to 28 years.

“The harsh sentences handed down yesterday, following the earlier ban of the IRPT and the arrest and harassment of its members and their families and lawyers, raise concerns in relation to the commitments Tajikistan has made as an OSCE participating State to uphold key values of democracy, including political pluralism and political participation,” the ODIHR Director said. “ODIHR has raised this issue with the authorities in the past, and asked for more information on the rationale behind these actions.”

The IRPT party officials were convicted and sentenced by the court on charges that they had conspired in and taken part in the organization of an army coup in the country in September 2015. At that time, the Supreme Court banned the party as an “extremist and terrorist organization”.

The trials leading up to yesterday’s sentences were held behind closed doors, with the proceedings off-limits to the media as well.

“Fair-trial rights are a central element of the rule of law, and measures limiting public scrutiny of and access to criminal proceedings can only undermine confidence that these rights are being upheld,” Director Link said. “ODIHR continues to stand ready to support the Tajik authorities in fulfilling the country’s OSCE commitments in the areas of political pluralism and the rule of law.”

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ASTANA, 22 July 2016 – An OSCE-supported two-day training seminar for some 30 defence lawyers from the northern part of Kazakhstan began today in Astana, with the aim of enhancing their understanding, common interpretation and implementation of the new criminal procedure legislation.

The event is organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the National Bar Association and the Almaty Bar Association for lawyers from the Akmola region, Pavlodar, Kostanay, Karaganda and Petropavlovsk.

Presentations will focus on new approaches and methods of legal protection, the legal institute of investigative judges in criminal proceedings, international guarantees for lawyers’ legal security, collection of evidence, and the questioning of witnesses. The interaction of lawyers with citizens, officials conducting criminal proceedings, the media and social networks will also be discussed.

“It is of utmost importance to ensure adequate conditions for the training of judges, prosecutors and lawyers as the equal actors of the lawsuit,” said Ambassador György Szabó, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “The Bar, as an independent institution, is responsible for ensuring the professional development of defence lawyers. As demonstrated by the current training, the OSCE stands ready to support efforts in this direction”

Kadirzhan Baimukhanova, Deputy Head of the Republican Bar Association, said: "In the current conditions of rapidly developing legislation, such training seminars on the legislative novelties are crucial in ensuring the high professionalism of defence lawyers."

Other topics covered by the training course are new information technologies, e-government, relevant ethical and professional requirements as well as national and international standards and best practices.

The seminar is the first in a series of four planned for this autumn. Future events will take place in Almaty, Aktobe and Ust-Kamenogorsk. The series is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to strengthen the rule of law and support judicial reform in the host country.

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TIRANA, 22 July 2016 – The OSCE Presence in Albania welcomes the Assembly’s adoption today of the set of constitutional amendments aimed at reforming the justice sector. We commend the Assembly for this fundamental achievement, which was supported tangibly by many international experts and diplomats.

It is an important milestone, paving the way for the implementation of a meaningful justice reform. The amendments adopted today must now be cascaded down through the primary and secondary legislation, the procedures and policies of the entire judicial system. Reform is not genuine until it is felt by Albanian citizens in their daily lives, across the country.

The manner in which the reform package is implemented is essential for the sustainability and the success of the reform process. Sustainability and success also depend on a change in attitudes: establishing a culture of responsibility and accountability, countering impunity and consolidating respect for the rule of law at all levels of society. 

The OSCE Presence has been a committed contributor and partner of the reform process so far and stands ready to continue its active support at all levels.

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BISHKEK, 28 July 2016 – A two-day training conducted by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek for 14 defence lawyers and 12 officers from the Prosecutor’s office on the right to liberty and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention, ended today in the Kyrgyz capital.

The workshop focused on the international framework for measures of restraint, as well as the internationally recognized constitutional right to institute proceedings in cases of violations.

The detention of minors, persons with disabilities, women with children, or defendants in need of continued medical treatment and hospitalization were among the topics discussed, and participants learned more about their specific concerns to ensure that the restraint measures taken comply with human rights standards.

“The right to liberty is a basic fundamental right, protected by international human rights law and enshrined in the Kyrgyz Constitution,” said Anete Erdmane, acting Senior Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre. “To ensure that restrictions on liberty are applied in compliance with the law and that other human rights are not violated as a result of the deprivation of liberty, it is important that prosecutors and lawyers are aware of the relevant standards and obligations. In line with its mandate, the OSCE Centre works to improve the administration of justice and strengthen the rule of law in Kyrgyzstan.”

The course was delivered by Ulugbek Azimov, a well-known national expert in the field, while  Sergey Poduzov, an international human rights law expert from Russia, also led a training session.

The training course is part of the OSCE Centre’s project on promoting a comprehensive approach to the rule of law, administration of justice, prevention of torture, and capacity building. 

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The OSCE Programme Office in Astana concluded a series of two-day training seminars for some 100 members of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) against Torture on 2 August 2016 in Aktobe, Western Kazakhstan.

From May to August 2016, participants were trained in Pavlodar, Almaty, Astana and Aktobe on practical aspects of the NPM’s implementation.

The training seminars aimed at increasing the transparency and effectiveness of the Mechanism in monitoring, reporting and conducting preventive visits at detention facilities. National experts discussed with the NPM members the working procedures and methodology, challenges in fulfilling human rights obligations and ethical aspects in line with national and international anti-torture standards. Special emphasis was placed on the necessary co-operation between NPM and the law-enforcement sector.

The set of seminars was organized in partnership with the Ombudsman’s Office of Kazakhstan and the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and is part of the Office’s long-standing commitment to reinforce the NPM and promote the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.

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BERLIN, 3 June 2016 – Some 20 OSCE parliamentarians were in Berlin this week for an OSCE Code of Conduct conference focused on strengthening parliamentary control of the security sector. The event, which took place 2-3 June, highlighted the important role that parliaments play in both the oversight of armed forces and in increasing the level of political support for the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects, particularly in the context of emerging security challenges.

Speaking at the opening session Thursday, OSCE PA Vice-President Alain Neri noted that at the core of the Code of Conduct is a recognition of the importance of democratic civilian control of the armed and security forces, which means that elected parliaments must have ultimate authority over the activities of the security sector. “It is up to parliamentarians,” he said, “to ensure that fundamental human rights are respected by all security and intelligence services, both public and private.”

He regretted however that “the norms and principles outlined by the Code of Conduct are being breached with a discouraging frequency” and that “there is hardly any participating State across the OSCE region with a comprehensive and fully effective oversight over the private and public security sectors.”

Neri said that members of parliament have a special role to play not only by providing needed oversight, but by increasing the Code of Conduct’s legitimacy and relevance through active political support. For the Code to fulfill its purpose, he pointed out, both experts and parliamentarians are needed to commit to fostering its implementation.

OSCE PA Treasurer and Head of the German Delegation Doris Barnett also spoke Thursday, focusing her remarks on the changing character of conflicts, including the growing number of internal and external actors that are involved in armed conflicts and the role of non-state actors. The term “hybrid warfare” has come to define discussions around security, she pointed out, with civil, economic, informational and technological means being used for aims of war instead of peace.

“To identify who is fighting against whom, with whose support, with which aims and interests – to keep a clear overview, not to mention predicting these relationships, is anything but easy, and therefore an intense inter-disciplinary, trans-sectoral, and international co-operative approach among parliamentarians is required,” said Barnett.

The OSCE PA’s Special Representative in Vienna, Amb. Andreas Nothelle, moderated a session today entitled “Parliamentary Control of Armed and Security Forces and the Role of the Code of Conduct: Perspectives on Furthering Implementation,” and delivered concluding remarks at the closing session.

“If implemented faithfully the Code of Conduct is all-encompassing and sufficiently flexible to address all new challenges of our times,” Nothelle said. “The OSCE PA, in its 2014 resolution on parliamentary oversight over the private and public security sectors, has set guidelines for meeting these challenges.”

Organized jointly by Germany’s 2016 OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, in partnership with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, the event brought together over 100 participants, including parliamentarians from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, senior government officials, representatives of OSCE institutions, OSCE field presences and civil society.

OSCE parliamentarians from 13 countries participated, including several Bureau Members and Special Representatives.

For Vice-President Neri’s full remarks, please click here. Treasurer Barnett’s remarks are available (in German) here.

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BISHKEK, 28 June 2016 – The OSCE’s role and activities in Security Sector Governance and Reform in Central Asia, and the challenges and opportunities in the field, are the focus of a three-day regional seminar hosted by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, which began today in the Kyrgyz capital.

Taking part are some 50 representatives of OSCE field operations in Central Asia and regional partners, government officials from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as civil society and academia. As well as providing a platform for regional networking among national and international partners, the discussion will explore challenges within police reform, border management and security, counter-terrorism, anti-corruption, justice sector reform among others.

“By reviewing the government’s budget and reports on its execution, adopting laws, establishing a working group to monitor enforcement of the laws and parliamentary decisions, we can make the reforms possible,” said Ainuru Altybaeva,  Kyrgyz member of parliament and member of the parliamentary Committee for International Relations, Defence and Security.

Security Sector Governance and Reform is increasingly recognized by OSCE participating States as an essential element in conflict prevention, early warning, crisis management and peace-building.

Daniele Rumolo, Acting Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “Effective security sector reform processes have to be carried out in full consultation with all affected sides, including civil society and independent experts, as well as with the support of international organizations. The new OSCE guidelines on Security Sector Governance and Reform are designed to lead us and all other stakeholders and partners, in upholding these principles.”

Professor Erica Marat of the National Defense University in Washington D.C. said that while there are challenges for reform processes in the region, there are also tremendous opportunities which can be supported by a well-educated population, empowered women, ethnic and religious diversity, and a vibrant civil society.

The regional seminar is part of an extra-budgetary project that aims to support, build capacity and raise awareness on Security Sector Governance and Reform within the OSCE. The project is supported by Germany’s 2016 OSCE Chairmanship, as well as Switzerland, Slovakia, Serbia and Austria. A similar regional event is planned for later this year in South-East Europe. 

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VIENNA, 28 June 2016 – High-level representatives of OSCE participating States, Partners for Co-operation and partnering organizations are exploring how to revive co-operative security against the backdrop of current challenges to European security, during the three-day 2016 Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC), which started today in Vienna.

The Conference brings together about 400 participants and was opened by the Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the OSCE Chairmanship Gernot Erler who stressed that the discussion should provide an “honest, scrupulously constructive dialogue.” He welcomed the agreement by all OSCE participating States to use the platform of the ASRC to discuss the crises and conflicts in the OSCE area in a frank manner.

“Peace in Europe is broken and the fundamental values and principles of the European security order have been and are being called into question. This situation is unacceptable,” he said. “At the same time we must adhere to a tone characterized by mutual confidence.”

Looking at the conflict in and around Ukraine in particular, Erler emphasized that the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) must not be threatened nor its work obstructed. “The SMM must not be made blind,” said Erler as he criticized the recent attacks on SMM unarmed aerial vehicles and cameras.

Erler welcomed the keynote speaker José Ramos-Horta, 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former president of Timor-Leste:  “Mr. Ramos-Horta fought for the freedom of his country and his people with perseverance and by peaceful means.  Today, he can be a source of inspiration for us in the OSCE,” Erler said.  

In his speech, Ramos-Horta said that Europe is at a crossroads, but the region had faced greater challenges in the past. “You can do it again, and do better still,” he said, referring to the rebuilding of Europe after the Second Word War. With a view to many unresolved conflicts Ramos-Horta urged: “The preferred option should always be prevention of conflicts, dialogue and mediation to settle disputes. When these are actively, creatively and patiently exercised in a timely fashion more often than not they produce better results than the use of force.”

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said that despite divergent interpretations of the origins of the current crisis in European security “there is also a growing realization that we cannot simply give up on seeking a convergence of interests where this appears possible.”

Highlighting the agreement reached earlier this year by participating States on a second set of OSCE confidence-building measures on cybersecurity, Zannier said that the OSCE as the most inclusive platform for dialogue in the northern hemisphere should play a significant role in revitalising the discussion on strengthening arms control. “Establishing a neutral mechanism for military fact-finding, inspections under an OSCE flag or even a centralized and institutionalized OSCE verification/inspection mechanism are some of the suggestions that we may want to consider,” he said.

Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva conveyed a message to the ASRC participants by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, re-affirming the benefits of enhancing “the invaluable co-operation between the OSCE and the United Nations.”

Møller welcomed the call by Germany’s 2016 OSCE Chairmanship for ‘renewing dialogue, rebuilding trust and restoring security.’ “As we work to pursue these goals, we need to devise joint strategies according to our respective strengths,” he said.

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National Points of Contact from 16 OSCE participating States on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their components were familiarized with countries’ commitments stemming from this Resolution, at a training session co-organized by the OSCE from 28 June to 1 July 2016 in Kaliningrad, in the Russian Federation. A National Point of Contact from Chile – an observer State – also took part.

The session was hosted by the Government of the Russian Federation, and conducted in partnership with the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).

Welcoming the participants on behalf of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, an official of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that “the efficiency of the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 can be guaranteed only through its full implementation by all countries”, and by encouraging close and constructive co-operation between all parties.

Robin Mossinkoff, the Head of the Forum for Security Cooperation Support Unit, said: “The OSCE has been supporting the network of OSCE National Points of Contact on implementing Resolution 1540 with annual meetings since 2014, and appreciates the Russian Federation’s initiative to hold this year’s annual meeting in format of a training session.”

Participants were provided with an overview of the international non-proliferation regimes and instruments. They discussed the national legislative and regulatory framework, enforcement of legislation with regard to export and border controls, transshipment, illicit trafficking and brokering control as well as the role of the Points of Contact in supporting the development and implementation of these measures.

Anton Martyniuk, the UNRCPD Coordinator of the project, noted that establishing Points of Contact and fostering their operation is a solid contribution to implementing Resolution 1540 at the national, regional and international levels.

Participants also visited a border crossing point to learn more about the work of a commodity identification centre.

The training course was organized as part of the joint UNODA-OSCE project on facilitating the regional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540. UNRCPD and the OSCE organized the course in co-operation with the 1540 Committee and its Group of Experts.

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KYIV, 15 July 2016 – The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine today opened a new sphere of project assistance to Ukraine – improving democratic control of defence and security sectors – with a presentation of international experience and best practices at a conference in Kyiv.

The event, co-organized with the Parliament and the Ministry of Defence, brought together more than 120 parliamentarians, military and civilian representatives of various ministries, experts, and civil society activists to learn about the basic principles in this area, as well as practical examples from other countries.

During the conference, the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security and the OSCE Security Sector Governance and Reform Guidelines were presented. Ukrainian translations of these documents can be found at www.osce.org/fsc/41355  and www.osce.org/uk/secretariat/253156, respectively.

The participants discussed in detail the national models of parliamentary and civic control over the defence sectors of Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, and Norway.

“The ability of Parliament, and of society at large, to exercise control over its security services is a true litmus test for democracy and rule of law,” said Jeffrey Erlich, Senior Project Officer at the OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s Office. “Such oversight contributes to a much more effective security sector by rooting out corruption, and by strengthening the bond between society and the armed forces.”

Igor Dolgov, Deputy Minister of Defence, said: “For me there is no question of whether it is possible to simultaneously deal with current crisis and implement reforms in defense sectors, including strengthening mechanisms of democratic control over armed forces. It is needed and it is already happening.”

Until the end of the year, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator will provide expertise in developing a concept paper and implementation plan for democratic oversight; assist in promoting dialogue between the military, parliamentarians, experts and civic activists; and contribute to raising awareness among the public by publishing relevant online resources.  Further assistance efforts will continue after 2016.

In partnering with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), the project will also draw on their expertise.

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Two two-day training courses on combating domestic violence through strengthening the co-operation and capacities of different state and non-state players were organized jointly by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the Armenian Police and the Social Justice non-governmental organization on 17-18 May and 19-20 May 2016 in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia.

The participants consisted of 80 representatives from the Yerevan and Gegharkunik province police juvenile and community services, social services, municipal child protection units, guardianship and trusteeship councils and non-governmental organizations. They were divided into two groups and trained separately.

“Combating domestic violence has always been high on the OSCE agenda, as it is primarily a violation of a human right and often a precursor of more serious crimes. The police and local governments both play key roles in combating domestic violence, however, only through a concerted multi-agency approach can it be done most effectively,” said Bernhard Frankl, Politico-Military Programme Officer at the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

Participants were introduced to definitions of domestic violence, its characteristics and types, the prevailing myths, phases and cycles. Active debates and group exercises were held to discuss potential victims along with the psychological and behavioral aspects and techniques of interviewing victims. The effects of domestic violence on different aspects of society, multi-sectoral responses and legal regulations were also highlighted.

The training course is part of an ongoing project by the OSCE Office to strengthen police capacities in preventing domestic violence.

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The OSCE Office in Yerevan supported a summer school focusing on public international law from 30 June to 9 July 2016 which also included a two-day training course on international human rights law at the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University in Yerevan (RAU).

The summer school and the human rights law training course highlighted developments within the field of international law and provided an opportunity for future lawyers to grasp the main lines of the discipline and analyze the status of human rights in an international context.

“OSCE commitments affirm the fundamental character of human rights education and we hope that the summer school will provide a great opportunity to learn and cultivate values and skills for the better protection of human rights across the country,” said Radka Rubilina, Human Rights Officer at the OSCE Office.

Some 35 students of law, international relations and political science learned about international legal frameworks and sources, the theory and practice of international human rights law, the mechanisms for promotion and protection of human rights at the international and regional levels, including the functions of international organizations.

“My hope is that the summer school and the human rights training course will be a continuous initiative,” said Chairperson of the Law and Policy Chair at RAU Larisa Alaverdyan. “Besides the immediate interest in the proposed topics, the exchange of knowledge and ideas among students is of great importance.”

The summer school and the training course were organized with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan jointly with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Council of Europe, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Mission Armenia charity NGO, and RAU. 

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PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 14 March 2016 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo held today the first of a series of four roundtables to be held this month on the ways to secure financing for the public service broadcaster, Radio Television Kosovo (RTK).

Through these roundtables, the Mission will consult a wide range of experts - journalists, Members of Parliament, academia, representatives of NGOs and media institutions - on the impact of the lack of financing on the public service broadcaster and its editorial policy, as well as on its further development.

The RTK has been without sustainable financing since 2009 when a court suspended the funding of RTK  through household electricity bills, citing human rights and discrimination concerns.

“We are in 2016 and alternative and viable funding options for the financing of RTK are still being considered, pending a final decision. On-going issues pertaining to the financing mechanisms and to the Law on RTK have to urgently be solved,” said Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“Without sustainable financing, the public broadcaster cannot develop into a full-fledged service provider for its audience. In addition, the already-existing delays with the digitalization process are exacerbated by this lack of funding,” he added.  

The roundtables will be followed-up with a regional conference in April, with experts from the Western Balkans and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to come up with recommendations, for relevant institutions to consider while amending and implementing the Law on RTK.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with the protection and promotion of human rights, democratization, and public safety sector development. It helps safeguard freedom of the media and freedom of expression and supports media development.

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VIENNA, 16 July 2016 – OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović today said she was deeply saddened upon learning of the death of photojournalist Mustafa Cambaz in Turkey, and worried about the state of media freedom in the country.

“I was deeply saddened to learn about Cambaz’ death,” Mijatović said. “The authorities must do their utmost to ensure journalists’ safety and free flow of information during times of crisis.”

Cambaz, a photojournalist with the media outlet Yeni Safak, was shot last night during the unrest in Turkey. Reportedly, a number of members of the media were detained last night for a short period of time. Some journalists were also injured, including Reporters Without Borders correspondent Selçuk Şamiloğlu who was beaten when reporting from the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.

“Journalists continue to put themselves in great danger in order to provide information to the public,” Mijatović said. “They must be able to report freely and safely.”

Further, Mijatović noted reports that the editorial offices of several newspapers, including the Hürriyet newspaper, Hürriyet Daily News, and broadcaster CNNTürk, were raided and taken over for a few hours by a group of soldiers in Istanbul.

The Representative also welcomed the attention attributed to journalists’ safety by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in his public remarks today, expressing regret for any harm that media workers might have suffered during the events.

Mijatović said she will continue to follow and closely monitor all issues related to media freedom and safety of journalists in the country.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: www.twitter.com/osce_rfom and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom. 

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VIENNA, 29 July 2016 – Continuing intimidation and violence against journalists and independent voices is unacceptable and could further weaken media freedom and freedom of expression in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Dunja Mijatović, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, said today.

“I am following with great concern the extremely worrying situation in the country which could lead to self-censorship,” Mijatović said. “People engaged in investigative reporting and expressing different opinions, even provocative ones, should play a legitimate part in a healthy debate and their voices should not be restricted.”

Mijatović noted that the latest events open a very worrying chapter on the safety of journalists.

They include:

• Verbal attacks on writer and journalist Nenad Veličković;

• Verbal attacks on Borka Rudić, General Secretary of the Association of BiH Journalists; • Verbal threats on journalist Mirjana Radanović;

• Threats and insults against journalists of FTV Mreža magazine;

• Threats against Dragiša Sikimić, editor-in-chief and the owner of the web portal MojaHercegovina.info;

• Verbal and physical assaults on BN TV, ATV and HIT TV crews;

• A physical attack on a BN TV camera operator; • An assault on Nermin Bisa, editor-in-chief of 24sata.info;

• Verbal threats against freelance journalist Vuk Bačanović; and

• Offensive and discriminatory verbal attacks on Selma Učanbarlić, a journalist from the Centre for Investigative Reporting.

“This trend needs to be immediately reversed. Public condemnation at the highest level is needed in order to send a clear message that such threats, including hate speech, against journalists, academics and writers are not tolerated in a democratic society,” Mijatović said. “Investigations into these incidents, which include death threats transmitted by social media, need to be commenced immediately.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom. For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit http: www.osce.org/fom/257086

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Junior Isabella Reyes is bringing a new club to Pepperdine's campus in support of her father's impact with the Free Wheelchair Mission. The club is expected to launch in the spring semester.

The post New Club Launching this Spring: The Free Wheelchair Mission appeared first on Pepperdine Graphic.

VIENNA, 14 June 2016 – Preventing and responding to the terrorist radicalization of youth north and south of the Mediterranean was in focus of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group meeting held today in Vienna.

“We need to step up efforts to prevent radicalization amongst youth”, said the Chairperson of the Contact Group, Permanent Representative of Austria to the OSCE Christian Strohal. “Ensuring the participation of youth, socially, economically and politically, is very important in this regard.”

Fadwa Al Ahmadi, a youth activist from Tunisia, stressed the need to create spaces for youth to express themselves: “Youth empowerment is crucial in preventing violent extremism in North Africa. We must help them to be heard.”

Véronique Roger-Lacan, the Permanent Representative of France to the OSCE, said: “We support wholeheartedly the efficient work carried out by the UnitedCVE team, in their relationship with the youth of the OSCE’s 57 participating States. We call on civil society to maintain its engagement against the radicalization of youth. We continue to co-operate in the fight against recruiters and terrorists.”

French filmmaker Fabienne Servan Schreiber, who works on creating counter-narratives to radicalization in film, stressed the importance of working with parents affected by violent extremism and sharing their stories: “Parents are on the frontlines and must be at the centre of the fight against violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism.”

“We must help parents to help their children,” said Valérie de Boisrolin, President of the French Association Syrie-Prevention-Famille, whose daughter left to Syria in 2013. “There is such ignorance about religion among young people who leave to fight in Syria. We also need to make youth aware of the reality of terrorism on the ground, violence and abuse. We must unite and do all we can to work with young people who come back from the hands of ‘Daesh’.” 

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier launched in 2015 the organization-wide campaign ‘OSCE United in Countering Violent Extremism’ (#UnitedCVE) to underscore that the OSCE stands together as one in countering violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism.

Related Stories

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ISSYK-KUL, Kyrgyzstan, 18 June 2016 – An-OSCE supported conference attended by some 100 participants from 20 countries on international co-operation in countering terrorist and extremist organizations through the use of modern communication technologies concluded today in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan.

The three-day event was organized by Kyrgyz government and the Anti-Terrorist Centre of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and a local NGO, the Civil Initiative on Internet Policy Public Fund.    

Welcoming the participants, Kyrgyzstan’s President Almazbek Atambayev stated that there was a clear awareness in the country that extremism and terrorism cannot be resolved by force only. “It is extremely important for us that our country is an example of the search for new methods of work with the population and positive co-operation with religious leaders, in order to achieve the objective of sustainable secular development.”

Manuel Marion Mainer, Senior Programme Officer at the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, said: “We have to go beyond traditional approaches involving only the law enforcement and judiciary in the fight against crime. To prevent and counter terrorism effectively, we need collaboration among all state institutions and public authorities, as well as partnerships with civil society organizations and the businesses. Engaging youth and youth organizations is of paramount importance.

The meeting was part of the OSCE Centre’s project on combatting terrorism and preventing violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism.

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ISSYK-KUL, Kyrgyzstan, 8 July 2016 – A five-day training course supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek on a risk-oriented approach in supervising activities related to anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism concluded today in Bosteri village, in the Issyk-Kul region.

The aim of the workshop, which was organized by the State Financial Intelligence Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SFIS) in partnership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was to update the relevant State agencies and financial institutions on the practical aspects of a risks-oriented approach in their work. Some 46 officials from law enforcement agencies, supervisory agencies and financial institutions took part.

“A risks-oriented approach is the process which allows the countries to identify, assess and understand risks to effectively combat money laundering and financing of terrorism,” said Nana Baramidze, Senior Economic and Environmental Officer at the OSCE Centre. “The OSCE Centre in Bishkek fully supports the efforts of the Kyrgyz Government in its attempt to establish effective systems to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism.”

Chyngyz Kenenbayev, Head of the Organizational and Legal department of the SFIS, said: “We are holding this educational seminar to train representatives of national authorities and the private sector so that we can successfully pass the second round of the evaluation by the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG). In order to fulfil international obligations under the EAG, the Kyrgyz Republic is to conduct a mutual assessment of its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism system. From 28 November to 9 December 2016, a visiting mission of EAG evaluators will conduct this assessment within the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) initiative."

The training course, which was conducted by two IMF experts and three SFIS officials, was part of the OSCE assistance to the Kyrgyz Government in preparing for the second round of the FATF evaluation.

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KYIV, 16 April 2015 – The Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Alexander Hug will hold press conference today in Mariupol.

Hug will talk about the Mission’s recent activities, security and the humanitarian situation in and around Shyrokyne.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference today, 16 April, at 18:00 (Kyiv time) at the conference room of the Reikartz Hotel in Mariupol. Any possible changes in timing and location will be communicated via social media (@OSCE_SMM, www.facebook.com/oscesmmu).

Live online streaming of the news briefing will be available at http://ustre.am/1jT6S.

For any further details please contact the SMM’s Senior Press Assistant Iryna Gudyma by phone on +380674021716 or via e-mail: Iryna.Gudyma@osce.org

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ANKARA, 6 May 2015 – On the occasion of the formal opening of the limited election observation mission deployed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to observe the 7 June parliamentary elections in Turkey, the mission will hold a press conference in Ankara on Thursday.

Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR limited election observation mission, will introduce the role of the mission and its upcoming activities. The mission's deployment follows an invitation from the authorities of Turkey.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference at 15:00, Thursday, 7 May, in the Kavaklidere 1 conference room of the Ankara Hilton Hotel: Kavaklidere 1, Kavaklıdere Mh., Tahran Caddesi No. 12, Ankara.

For further information, please contact Pietro Tesfamariam, Media Analyst with the limited election observation mission, at +90 312 4650513 (Ankara office) or +90 539 9246000 (Ankara mobile) or at pietro.tesfamariam@odihr-turkey.org.

or

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile) or at thomas.rymer@odihr.pl.

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BELGRADE, 16 March 2016 – On the occasion of the formal opening of the limited election observation mission deployed by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to observe the 24 April early parliamentary elections in Serbia, the mission will hold a press conference in Belgrade on Friday, 18 March 2016.

Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, the head of the OSCE/ODIHR limited election observation mission, will introduce the role of the mission and its upcoming activities.

The limited election observation mission and the OSCE Mission to Serbia operate independently, under separate mandates.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference at 14:00, Friday, 18 March, at the Media Centre, Terazije 3, 11000, Belgrade.

For further information, please contact Marek Mracka, LEOM Media Analyst, at + 381 63 289 071

(mobile)or Marek.mracka@odihr.rs (e-mail).

Or

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson at: +48 609 522 266 (mobile) or thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

(e-mail).

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SKOPJE, 30 March 2016 – On the occasion of the formal opening of the election observation mission deployed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to observe the early parliamentary elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, scheduled for 5 June, the mission will hold a press conference in Skopje on Thursday.

Ambassador Jan Petersen, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, will introduce the role of the mission and its upcoming activities. The mission's deployment follows an invitation from the authorities.

The OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission and the OSCE Mission to Skopje operate separately and independently under their own mandates.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference at 14:00, Thursday, 31 March, in the Congress Hall 2 of the Aleksandar Palace Hotel, Bul. 8-mi Septemvri br.15, 1000 Skopje.

For further information, please contact Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst with the election observation mission, at +389 2 3222 558 (Skopje office) or +389 72 422 746 (Skopje mobile), or at egor.tilpunov@odihr.mk.

or

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or at thomas.rymer@odihr.pl.

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• Early Parliamentary Elections

MOSCOW, 5 August 2016 – On the occasion of the formal opening of the election observation mission (EOM) deployed by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to observe the 18 September State Duma elections in the Russian Federation, the mission will hold a press conference in Moscow on Monday, 8 August 2016.

Jan Petersen, the head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission, will introduce the role of the EOM and its upcoming activities.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference at 15:00, Monday, 8 August, at Interfax, 1-ya Tverskaya-Yamskaya ul., 2 Moscow, 127006.

For further information, please contact Inta Lase OSCE/ODIHR EOM Media Analyst, at +79166214710 (mobile) or Inta.Lase@odihr.ru

or

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR Spokesperson, at +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile) or at thomas.rymer@odihr.pl.

Related Stories

• Parliamentary Elections

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A tribute to Tony Todd.

Centara Hotels & Resorts launches Love Isaan offers valid for a limited time at three hotels in the northeastern region.

With Thailand serving as a significant commercial hub for centuries, Chinese merchants played a key role in bridging cultural linkages through marine trade prior to the establishment of diplomatic ties between Thailand and China in 1975. To celebrate the 48th anniversary of this milestone, Life explores Bangkok's early communities to learn more about our ancestry.

Located in the Cotai zone of Macau, Wynn Palace, the younger sister property to Macau's first Las Vegas-style resort Wynn Macau, puts on a really big show from the moment guests arrive to the moment they leave to ensure a truly memorable stay.

Homebuyers are encouraged to choose completed housing or units under construction in existing projects, as housing prices are expected to rise next year because of increasing costs affecting new projects, according to the Real Estate Information Center (REIC).

Five state and private agencies have joined hands to develop the electric vehicle (EV) industry through more R&D projects as well as better support for local startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the automotive market.

Biden’s Green Energy Subsidies Are Making China Great Again The left-wing site Politico was surprisingly honest with this headline: Biden is desperately trying to lure solar panel production from China to the United States with lavish subsidies. But the companies that are taking the cash and hanging a shingle are… Chinese: When Biden and congressional Democrats passed the […]

Last week, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published its report on the quantitative and qualitative elements of the NCQG. It conveys a strong message that global climate finance needs a boost in both quantity and quality to address developing economies’ needs for a just transition towards sustainability and resilience. 

“Ultimately, the goal of the NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal) on climate finance must be to transform the climate finance landscape and herald a new era of mutual trust, cooperation and climate action,” the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report urges. 

Climate Depot's Marc Morano: "Congratulations to President Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance. Finally, US leadership has returned to fight the international climate agenda. The U.S. will finally have a president back in the Oval Office who will be pro-science, pro-environment, and fight the demented net zero climate agenda, the Green New Deal, and the UN climate treaty process.

President Trump will also be able to face off against the ridiculous, unsustainable, and unscientific claims that emanate from our most esteemed institutions. America will once again be a beacon of scientific realism regarding climate change and energy policy. Bravo!"  

Trump victory a ‘gut punch’ to US climate action By Benjamin Storrow, Corbin Hiar The president-elect vowed to promote fossil fuels, weaken pollution regulations and reverse Biden climate efforts. President-elect Donald Trump won a second term Wednesday morning after promising to unleash fossil fuel development, slash pollution regulations and dismantle President Joe Biden’s climate agenda. Climate […]

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/06/trumps-election-victory-sparks-dismay-among-climate-community.html By Sam Meredith – CNBC Donald Trump’s election victory on Wednesday sparked a palpable sense of dismay among the climate community. The 78-year-old, who has called the climate crisis “one of the great scams”, has pledged to ramp-up fossil fuel production, pare back outgoing President Joe Biden’s emissions-limiting regulations and pull the country out […]

https://www.axios.com/2024/11/06/trump-victory-sweeping-climate-consequences By Andrew Freedman Former President Donald Trump‘s reelection threatens to worsen global climate change by altering the trajectory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, eroding federal climate research and forecasting, and abdicating America’s leadership role in global climate negotiations. Why it matters: His return to the White House comes at a time when climate scientists have warned […]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2508719/shifting-climate-priorities After years of urgent calls for climate action, global leaders from key economies are now opting out of the United Nations COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan – a troubling signal for international climate efforts. The absence of the US in the summit starting today is particularly concerning. President Joe Biden will not attend, citing […]

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-trade-worries-cloud-cop29-climate-summit-baku-2024-11-11/ By Valerie Volcovici and Nailia Bagirova Two-week COP29 climate summit opens in Azerbaijan Delegates fret over U.S. commitment after Trump elected China pushes for trade, tariff discussions Biden, Chinese and European presidents set to stay away BAKU, Nov 11 (Reuters) – The annual U.N. climate summit began on Monday with some prominent leaders planning to skip the […]

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-administration-officials-attend-un-climate-conference-azerbaijan-2024-11-10/ By Mohammad Yunus Yawar, Charlotte Greenfield and Gloria Dickie KABUL, Nov 10 (Reuters) – Afghan Taliban officials will attend a major United Nations climate conference that starts next week, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, the first time they have attended since the former insurgents took power in 2021. The COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku […]

To prevent the gravest human, ecological and economic toll, it is crucial to cut emissions before it’s too late. Without investing in adaptation measures that fortify nations against the impacts of climate-driven events such as hurricanes and droughts, widespread damage becomes inevitable. The greater the damage, the more it will cost countries to rebuild. Prevention is preferable to cure, but our planet is already ailing. Immediate action is crucial to halt further decline.

Not only is such funding necessary, it is possible. This has been done before: when struck with another crisis, Covid-19, advanced economies marshalled $8tn over the course of just 48 months to support their citizens and businesses. The challenge of the day was met. We must treat climate change with the same urgency.

https://www.politico.eu/article/keep-using-fossil-fuels-hungarys-orban-tells-cop29-climate-summit/ Excerpt: BAKU, Azerbaijan — Let’s continue using oil and gas, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told world leaders at the United Nations climate summit today. “We must continue advancing the green transition while also maintaining our use of natural gas, oil and nuclear energy,” Orbán said. His remarks stand in stark contrast to the […]

Science Shock: U.K. Met Office is “Inventing” Temperature Data from 100 Non-Existent Stations by Chris Morrison Shocking evidence has emerged that points to the U.K. Met Office inventing temperature data from over 100 non-existent weather stations. The explosive allegations have been made by citizen journalist Ray Sanders and sent to the new Labour Science Minister Peter Kyle MP. […]

https://nypost.com/2024/11/11/opinion/un-climate-conference-just-an-excuse-to-shake-west-down-for-cash/ By Bjorn Lomborg The UN climate summit in Azerbaijan kicked off Monday in the shadow of Donald Trump’s election and with many key leaders not even showing up. With low expectations set before it even began, the summit will nonetheless see grandiose speeches on the need for a vast flow of money from rich countries to poorer ones. […]

World Bank Missing $41 Billion in Climate Funds by Martin Armstrong A new report by Oxfam, “Climate Finance Unchecked,” has determined that the World Bank has $41 billion in unaccounted funds that were destined to fight climate change. This figure represents 40% of all disbursed climate funds by the World Bank. Oxfam’s audit revealed that between 2017 […]