Staff of the National Centre of the Kyrgyz Republic for the Prevention of Torture, with support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek will conduct monitoring visits to the detention facilities in Isyk-Kul, Naryn and Talas provinces between 10 and 17 August. These visits aim at monitoring detention conditions and human rights situation in the closed facilities.

The monitoring findings will be included in the 2016 Annual Report of the National Centre for the Prevention of Torture.

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The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (OSCE PCU) is pleased to announce an open call for applications of the young activists from Donetsk and Luhansk regions to join the Youth Contact Group initiative, aimed at promoting inter-regional dialogue and bridge-building between youth. This dialogue initiative was launched by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to 2015. Its main task is to equip the youth representatives from different regions of Ukraine with the necessary tools and skills as well as to support implementation of their ideas regarding promotion of dialogue on the today’s issues of concern among Ukrainian youth. The new groups will join efforts with the already selected similar teams in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv.

Profile of a successful applicant

At this opportunity the call targets representatives from young people in Donetsk and Luhansk regions who can demonstrate that they are strongly committed to building sustainable dialogue between youth of their regions and other parts of Ukraine.

Besides that, successful applicants must:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 28 at the time of implementation of the activities;
• Demonstrate frequent use of social media;
• Have a strong interest in the fields of inter-culturalism, peace building, and regional co-operation;
• Be able to commit to participating in all activities of the initiative

In addition, it is not obligatory but preferable that candidates can:

• Be familiar with national and international youth policy;
• Demonstrate previous experience in project implementation;
• Demonstrate good English language skills.

An equal number of participants will be selected from each of the considered regions. All successful applicants will be notified of the results of the selection process. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply.

Costs

No fees apply to any phase of the initiative implementation. All costs related to logistics (boarding, lodging, transport, etc.) will be covered by the OSCE PCU.  

Participants are expected to use their own laptops and smart phones.

How to apply

If you are interested, we strongly encourage you to apply using the links below.

Applications for Donetsk region are now open and you can apply here.

Applications for Luhansk region are now open and you can apply here.

Deadline for applications is 29 July 2016

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The OSCE Mission to Skopje in close cooperation with the French Embassy is organizing on-site training courses on face recognition for border police officers countrywide. These half-day trainings, to be conducted by a French trainer, will help the border police officers detect impostors and prevent illegal use of documents in order to detect returning freedom-fighters and tackle the phenomenon of cross-border criminality more effectively, especially trans-national organized crime activity, human trafficking and human smuggling.
The first training will be conducted at Deve Bair crossing point, and will also take place at Kjafasan, St. Naum, Medzhitlija, Bogorodica, Dojran, Delchevo and other border crossing points.

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Improving the situation of Roma in Ukraine by enhancing co-operation between Roma civil society organizations and national and regional authorities was the focus of a roundtable meeting organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine in Kyiv on 24 November 2015.

Some 40 participants from Ukrainian national and regional authorities, Roma civil society and the international community, discussed the challenges faced by Roma in the areas of education, employment, housing and policing.

“Further efforts are needed to implement a strong anti-discrimination approach in all policies targeting the integration and protection of Roma and, in particular, of Roma women,” said Mirjam Karoly, ODIHR Senior Adviser on Roma and Sinti Issues. “Measurable progress at the local level can only be achieved if policies are needs-based and have concrete objectives that are matched with measurable indicators and realistic budgets.”

Andriy Vitrenko, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine for European Integration, stated that the Ministry was tasked in 2013to facilitate the implementation of the Strategy on the Protection and Integration of the Roma National Minority into Ukrainian Society up to 2020. “In order to achieve the goals set out in the Strategy, close collaboration among a number of ministries at the national level and good co-ordination with regional and local level authorities are needed.”

During the meeting, the participants emphasized that many Roma lack personal documents, hindering them from exercising their fundamental, social and political rights.

Volodomyr Kondur, Chairperson of the Roma Coalition, said: “We welcome the adoption of national and regional policy documents addressing the problems Roma face, but we want to see effective and sustainable results and ask for ensuring involvement of the Roma civil society in all stages of policy implementation and evaluation.”

The roundtable meeting was organized as a follow-up to ODIHR’s Situation Assessment Report on Roma in Ukraine and the Impact of the Current Crises and in line with the 2003 OSCE Action Plan on Roma and Sinti.

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BELGRADE, 8 April 2016 - On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade reaffirm our strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination.

Today, the Romani community, Europe's largest ethnic minority, still experiences multiple discrimination and marginalisation in countries throughout Europe, including Serbia.  Roma remain one of the most vulnerable groups; they continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by both relevant international mechanisms and independent bodies of the Republic of Serbia.

Thousands of Roma represent the most vulnerable and marginalised among the population of internally displaced, still facing obstacles in accessing rights and durable solutions.

International and European human rights standards clearly provide for equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on all grounds, including ethnicity. The realisation of Roma inclusion will reinforce everyday democracy and the rule of law. It is the only way to reach a society based on the principle of equality of opportunity where everyone has the right to participate and to be heard.

On this day, we therefore call on all relevant stakeholders to pursue with determination 
Roma inclusion policies in Serbia, pursuant to the recent adoption of a new Strategy of Social Inclusion of Roma for the Period from 2015-2025 and the Action Plan for Realization of Rights of National Minorities by the Government of Serbia.

The Delegation of the European Union, the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the United Nations Country Team in Serbia remain committed to improving the lives of Roma in Serbia and  ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected, and to supporting our Serbian partners in this endeavour.

International Roma Day is celebrated annually on April 8, in commemoration of the 1971 founding of the International Romani Union, the first major international Romani civic initiative.

Statistical information on Roma in Serbia

• 90% of children in Roma settlements are growing up in poverty. The infant and under-5 mortality rate is two times higher than that of the general population, 15% of Roma children are born with low birth weights, one fifth is malnourished and only 13% are fully immunized.
• Romani children continue to face discrimination in the education system. Only 6% of children from Roma settlements attend early learning programs, only 64% finish primary school on time, and  only 22% attend secondary school (of whom only 15% are girls).
• Romani women and girls face multi-sectoral discrimination, as well as heightened barriers of access to services, including services for victims of violence.    Early, arranged marriage remains an issue in some segments of Serbia’s Romani communities, with very destructive consequences for – in particular – the child bride.

For more information & media inquiries please contact:

Aleksandra Stamenkovic, United Nations Country Team Communications Expert, email: aleksandra.stamenkovic@one.un.org, Phone +381 11 415 5314

Nadezda Dramicanin, Delegation of the EU to Serbia Communications Officer, e-mail: Nadezda.DRAMICANIN@eeas.europa.eu, Phone: +381 11 3083 200

Ivana Milatovic, OSCE National Political and Press Affairs Officer, e-mail: ppiu-serbia@osce.org, Phone +381 11 3606 151

Mona Alghaith, Council of Europe Office, Assistant to the Head of Office, e-mail: mona.alghaith@coe.int, Phone. +381 11 71 555 00

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A memorandum of understanding signed on 19 May 2016 by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development, and the Union of Government Employees NGO aims to enhance the transparency and accountability of the community civil service of Armenia’s municipalities, local self-government bodies, and to improve relevant legislation, bringing it in line with international standards to reduce corruption in public administration.

Initiatives will include professional and regular training on principles and international standards of integrity in civil service, corruption risks, detection and prevention of corruption, reforms to training and recruitment of community servants in the regions, identifying legislation containing corruption risks, and recommendations for systemic reform.

“We hope this joint endeavour will contribute to the government’s efforts in implementing the anti-corruption strategy and in promoting efficient and accountable governance in Armenia,” said the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Ambassador Argo Avakov.

David Lokyan, Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Development underlined the importance of co-operation in promoting better civil and community service, integrity and accountability among the local authorities, legislation reform in ensuring high-quality public administration in line with international standards throughout the regions in Armenia.

The initiative builds on Office-supported activities to train civil servants; improve the civil and community service system, including recruitment, monitoring and attestation; and to mainstream integrity in the public administration. A series of training courses for civil servants were held by the Union of Armenia's Government Employees NGO with the support of the OSCE Office and in partnership with the Civil Service Council of Armenia.

Vache Kalashyan, Chairperson of the Union of Government Employees, said: "We enjoy continuous co-operation with the civil and community services sector and are happy to enhance knowledge of corruption risks, conflict of interest, integrity and strengthen civil servants’ impact in delivering accountable and high-quality services on behalf of the State.”

Between 2009 and 2015 more than 300 civil servants representing 35 different state services were trained with the OSCE Office’s support on integrity, anti-corruption and ethics. 

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ISSYK-KUL, Kyrgyzstan, 26 May 2016 – A two-day regional expert seminar which started today gathers some 60 anti-corruption practitioners, experts and policy-makers from 12 countries in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia to discuss effective preventive measures to combat corruption in the extractive industries and education sectors and to exchange best practices.

Participants discussed how to improve government accountability and transparency in managing natural resources and assessed how to mitigate negative effects of the so-called “resource curse”. They also focused on corruption in the education sector, and how to enhance the quantity, quality, efficiency of, and access to education systems.

“The OSCE Centre in Bishkek is strongly committed to supporting the Kyrgyz Government in countering corruption and developing projects and initiatives aimed at strengthening good governance, economic growth and public integrity for the benefit of the Kyrgyz people,” said Yulia Minaeva, Senior Economic and Environmental Officer at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. 

Ermelinda Meksi, Deputy Head of the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said: “Corruption, weak governance, and lack of transparency and rule of law undermine economic growth and impede trust in public persons and government institutions. Bribery and embezzlement of state resources deter domestic and foreign investments and deprive citizens of important public services. If unchecked, corruption can provoke social strife, fuel insecurity and even lead to conflicts.”

The practice-oriented and interactive seminar combined expert presentations, roundtable discussions and group work. It benefited from the participation of representatives of the UN Development Programme, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and the Open Society Initiative.

Olga Savran, manager of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), said: “This seminar helps public officials responsible for preventing corruption at national and sectoral levels learn about effective practical measures that do work, that improve the lives of citizens, and prevent the waste of public money.”

The seminar is co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the OECD ACN. It is hosted by the Kyrgyz Government and held as part of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek’s Economic and Environmental Dimension activities.

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The first meeting of the ‘Follow Us’ Initiative for 2016, facilitated by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, took place in Skopje from 12 to 14 February 2016. The meeting brought together 18 prominent women working in politics, media, academia and civil society from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade, to take stock of achievements and plan future activities.

The participants reviewed the initiative’s successes such as the Dialogue Academy for young women from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština, and the promotion of the dialogue through the ‘Follow Us’ documentary. They recognized the importance of furthering the inclusion of more women in this process in order to expand the dialogue across different sectors and agreed on an action plan of concrete activities for 2016. Additionally they developed longer-term frameworks for action in key areas affecting women’s lives and equality.

In a joint statement, the members of ‘Follow Us’ Initiative said: “We agreed to implement joint activities in the following areas: economic empowerment of women, gender in education, prevention of gender-based violence, political participation and representation of women at all levels, engendering media and the portrayal of women in media and public life, and promotion of dialogue among youth.

We also reconfirm the importance of dialogue and co-operation and highlight the contribution of women to it by taking concrete steps to bring the two societies closer together.”

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BELGRADE, 8 April 2016 - On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade reaffirm our strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination.

Today, the Romani community, Europe's largest ethnic minority, still experiences multiple discrimination and marginalisation in countries throughout Europe, including Serbia.  Roma remain one of the most vulnerable groups; they continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by both relevant international mechanisms and independent bodies of the Republic of Serbia.

Thousands of Roma represent the most vulnerable and marginalised among the population of internally displaced, still facing obstacles in accessing rights and durable solutions.

International and European human rights standards clearly provide for equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on all grounds, including ethnicity. The realisation of Roma inclusion will reinforce everyday democracy and the rule of law. It is the only way to reach a society based on the principle of equality of opportunity where everyone has the right to participate and to be heard.

On this day, we therefore call on all relevant stakeholders to pursue with determination 
Roma inclusion policies in Serbia, pursuant to the recent adoption of a new Strategy of Social Inclusion of Roma for the Period from 2015-2025 and the Action Plan for Realization of Rights of National Minorities by the Government of Serbia.

The Delegation of the European Union, the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the United Nations Country Team in Serbia remain committed to improving the lives of Roma in Serbia and  ensuring that their fundamental rights are respected, and to supporting our Serbian partners in this endeavour.

International Roma Day is celebrated annually on April 8, in commemoration of the 1971 founding of the International Romani Union, the first major international Romani civic initiative.

Statistical information on Roma in Serbia

• 90% of children in Roma settlements are growing up in poverty. The infant and under-5 mortality rate is two times higher than that of the general population, 15% of Roma children are born with low birth weights, one fifth is malnourished and only 13% are fully immunized.
• Romani children continue to face discrimination in the education system. Only 6% of children from Roma settlements attend early learning programs, only 64% finish primary school on time, and  only 22% attend secondary school (of whom only 15% are girls).
• Romani women and girls face multi-sectoral discrimination, as well as heightened barriers of access to services, including services for victims of violence.    Early, arranged marriage remains an issue in some segments of Serbia’s Romani communities, with very destructive consequences for – in particular – the child bride.

For more information & media inquiries please contact:

Aleksandra Stamenkovic, United Nations Country Team Communications Expert, email: aleksandra.stamenkovic@one.un.org, Phone +381 11 415 5314

Nadezda Dramicanin, Delegation of the EU to Serbia Communications Officer, e-mail: Nadezda.DRAMICANIN@eeas.europa.eu, Phone: +381 11 3083 200

Ivana Milatovic, OSCE National Political and Press Affairs Officer, e-mail: ppiu-serbia@osce.org, Phone +381 11 3606 151

Mona Alghaith, Council of Europe Office, Assistant to the Head of Office, e-mail: mona.alghaith@coe.int, Phone. +381 11 71 555 00

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Twenty young women, alumni of the OSCE Dialogue Academy, met in Belgrade from 6 to 8 April 2016, to continue co-operation and agree on joint projects for 2016.

The meeting was organized under the auspices of the OSCE-supported “Follow Us” Initiative – a confidence-building initiative which gathers prominent women from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština working in politics, media, academia and civil society.

This was the first visit to Belgrade for the alumni from Prishtinë/Priština. They were welcomed at the Serbian Parliament by the representatives of the “Follow Us” Initiative. During their meetings, participants from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade acknowledged the importance of women civic activism to fostering reconciliation and dialogue, and explored ideas for joint actions involving young women from both societies.

“I really enjoyed my first time in Belgrade, and I am proud to be part of this initiative. It shows that dialogue and education for peace can definitely help free our hearts from prejudice and intolerance and the rejection of others,” said Marigona Lajqi, Dialogue Academy alumnae from Prishtinë/Priština.

“I am happy that we could welcome our friends from Prishtinë/Priština here in Belgrade. Co-operation and mutual understanding leads to great things; we defined a number of joint activities to be implemented this year. The initiative allows us to grow both as individuals and as part of a group,” said Jovana Živković, alumnae from Belgrade.

Participants of the meeting agreed to implement a mentoring and apprenticeship programme with prominent women in Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština, as well as hold outreach events in both societies, aimed at strengthening dialogue on specific issues, such as ending gender-based violence.

The next exchange visit will take place in August 2016 in Prizren, and joint 2016 activities and results will be presented at an end of year conference.

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The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, for the second consecutive year, will organize the Dialogue Academy for Young Women as part of the Follow Us initiative. The initiative gathers prominent women from politics, academia, media and civil society from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština and supports the process of dialogue, reconciliation and confidence-building between the two societies.

The purpose of the Academy is to empower young women by educating them on issues relating to women’s role in promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and co-operation. The 2016 edition of the programme builds upon last year’s experience and success whereby 22 young women from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade had the opportunity to participate in a series of instructive lectures and team-building exercises and be part of a wide network of activists and experts in the fields of women empowerment, women in politics, dialogue and reconciliation.

This year, 24 female students of social science and young professionals in the areas of media, politics, and civil society will be attending the Academy programme from 30 September to 9 October 2016, organized at the Peace Castle Schlaining, Austria. 

Graduates from the Academy will become Dialogue alumni and are expected to create their own alumni network which will enable them to design and implement joint projects, following the example of the 2015 OSCE Dialogue Academy alumni.

For more information on the application please click here.

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The final public consultations on the content of the new National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of the UN SCR 1325 – Women, Peace and Security (2016-2020) was held on 10 June 2016 in Belgrade at the premises of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

The OSCE Mission to Serbia, jointly with the Serbian Government's Office for Co-operation with Civil Society, and the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, supported the Working Group in the drafting process of the NAP by organizing public consultations across Serbia.

The consultations were held in the towns of Nis, Vranje, Novi Pazar, Krusevac, Novi Sad and Belgrade. During the meetings, participants welcomed that the new NAP raises the profile of local activities and that it places an emphasis on improved co-ordinated action, both at the local and national levels.

The main objective of the new NAP is to improve the safety and security of women through the implementation of UN SCR 1325 in the areas of prevention, participation, relief and recovery, and to increase involvement of women at the local level.

Participants included some 250 high-ranking officials of the Serbian Government and representatives of civil society organizations, and the media.

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VIENNA, 13 July 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said that media laws under consideration by the Parliament in Moldova run counter to international standards on media freedom.

On 7 July the Parliament adopted, in the first reading, three amendments to the Audio-visual Code of the Republic of Moldova. All three amendments aim to limit broadcasts in foreign languages or those originating from abroad.

“It is counterproductive to try to limit speech through excessively restrictive legislation,” Mijatović wrote in a letter yesterday to the Chairperson of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Andrian Candu. “In my view it seems excessive and may be ineffective.”

The reasoning given for introducing the restrictive provisions banning broadcasts or rebroadcasts of certain content is that it originates from states that are neither members of the European Union, nor are parties to the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. 

“I trust that the draft laws will be carefully reviewed by the members of Parliament before being adopted in the second reading, ensuring that the regulation does not pose undue limits on free expression and free flow of information,” Mijatović said.

The Representative also pointed to the recommendations of her Office’s non-paper “Propaganda and Freedom of the Media” published in 2015 (available at www.osce.org/fom/203926).

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. 

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Some 35 law-enforcement officers and social workers took part in the first in a series of five training seminars on anti-trafficking practices and procedures on 22 July 2016 in Kostanay with other workshops to be conducted in Almaty, Astana, Karaganda and Shymkent later this year.

The seminar focused on the criteria and standards for assisting victims of human trafficking, relevant national and international legislation, ways in which social exclusion and disenfranchisement make people vulnerable to trafficking, as well as re-socialization and compensation for survivors.

The series is co-organized by the Programme Office, in co-operation with the Health Care and Social Development and Interior Ministries as well as the US Embassy to Kazakhstan.  Representatives of the Akimat (regional administration) and Prosecutor’s Office also attended.   

The initiative is part of the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to raise awareness and build the capacity of law-enforcement institutions and civil society in the field of anti-trafficking, in line with the host country’s commitments under international treaties.

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VIENNA, 16 June 2016 – Accountability is crucial to preventing future crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, said President of the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi as she addressed the 823d meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) on Wednesday in Vienna.

Fernandez emphasized that the current security challenges are staggering in their numbers and complexity.

“The world is facing destabilizing conflicts around the globe which include not only deliberate acts of violence against the physical security and well-being of civilians, but also deliberate attacks against their cultures and identities,” she said. “This demands a multi-faceted response from the international community to stop violence in the short-term, but also sustainable conflict resolution in the long-term.”

Fernandez stressed the importance of justice in preventing future crimes and the necessity of building the capacity of national jurisdictions. The ICC can exercise jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide but it is complementary and not intended to replace national systems, she noted.

“Capacity building of national jurisdictions is essential. The OSCE has played a role - especially in the former Yugoslavia - and can also make contributions through supporting the rule of law and democratic institutions,” Fernandez said.

Ambassador Adam Bugajski of Poland, the OSCE participating State currently chairing the FSC, said: “In paragraph 30 of the Code of Conduct we committed ourselves, inter alia, to ensure that armed forces personnel are aware they are individually accountable under national and international law for their actions."

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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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The finalization of a Regulatory Reform Roadmap for Armenia was the focus of a workshop co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the Ministry of Justice of Armenia and the OSCE Office in Yerevan on 27 and 28 May 2016 in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia.

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants from the executive branch, the legislature, civil society and international organizations to exchange views on how to improve the overall process of lawmaking in the country. Topics discussed included policy-making and legislative planning, public consultations and regulatory impact assessment, as well as monitoring and evaluation of legislation.

The purpose of the workshop was to discuss recommendations for reform from previous thematic lawmaking workshops, conducted in Armenia in 2015, and from OSCE/ODIHR’s 2014 report on the “Comprehensive Assessment of the Legislative Procedure in Armenia”. These recommendations were consolidated in a draft Regulatory Reform Roadmap with concrete action points in early 2016, and this draft provided a basis for workshop discussions.

"The recommendations in the draft Regulatory Reform Roadmap focus on identifying workable solutions and were developed by key Armenian stakeholders during a series of discussions," said Alice Thomas, Chief of ODIHR’s Legislative Support Unit. "The draft Roadmap thus constitutes a home-grown plan for action to address weaknesses identified in the Armenian lawmaking system during discussions at our 2015 workshops."

Arsen Mkrtchyan, First Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia, said: "We have already begun initiating reforms as indicated in the draft Roadmap. This workshop will help us finalize this document, which will be very useful in helping us plan and implement additional reform processes to make our legislative process less burdensome and more planned, transparent, and participatory."

The consolidating workshop begins the final stage of the process of drafting a Regulatory Reform Roadmap for Armenia, as envisaged by the Memorandum of Understanding signed between OSCE/ODIHR and the Ministry of Justice in 2014. Once ready, the Roadmap will form the basis for future reforms of the legislative process in the country.

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Twenty young women, alumni of the OSCE Dialogue Academy, met in Belgrade from 6 to 8 April 2016, to continue co-operation and agree on joint projects for 2016.

The meeting was organized under the auspices of the OSCE-supported “Follow Us” Initiative – a confidence-building initiative which gathers prominent women from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština working in politics, media, academia and civil society.

This was the first visit to Belgrade for the alumni from Prishtinë/Priština. They were welcomed at the Serbian Parliament by the representatives of the “Follow Us” Initiative. During their meetings, participants from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade acknowledged the importance of women civic activism to fostering reconciliation and dialogue, and explored ideas for joint actions involving young women from both societies.

“I really enjoyed my first time in Belgrade, and I am proud to be part of this initiative. It shows that dialogue and education for peace can definitely help free our hearts from prejudice and intolerance and the rejection of others,” said Marigona Lajqi, Dialogue Academy alumnae from Prishtinë/Priština.

“I am happy that we could welcome our friends from Prishtinë/Priština here in Belgrade. Co-operation and mutual understanding leads to great things; we defined a number of joint activities to be implemented this year. The initiative allows us to grow both as individuals and as part of a group,” said Jovana Živković, alumnae from Belgrade.

Participants of the meeting agreed to implement a mentoring and apprenticeship programme with prominent women in Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština, as well as hold outreach events in both societies, aimed at strengthening dialogue on specific issues, such as ending gender-based violence.

The next exchange visit will take place in August 2016 in Prizren, and joint 2016 activities and results will be presented at an end of year conference.

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PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 3 May 2016 – Respectable standards of freedom of press have been achieved in Kosovo over the years, creating a vibrant and diverse media scene - but these efforts need to continue in order to address remaining challenges, said Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Jean-Claude Schlumberger today on World Press Freedom Day.

“Freedom of the media in Kosovo is periodically violated, when journalists face intimidation, threats and sometimes even physical attacks. There were 27 cases of violence against journalists in 2015 and at least five cases during the first quarter of 2016,” he said.

Ambassador Schlumberger called on the law enforcement structures and the institutions of justice to enhance the level of priority given to countering intimidation against journalists and reach tangible results in processing cases of violence against journalists without delay.  

“Unfettered and professional media are the cornerstone of democracy,” he said. “On this day, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo acknowledges the importance of the media for building a democratic society. We also take the opportunity to commend the hard work and dedication of many journalists in Kosovo who reflect the spirit and values of media freedoms and professionalism. At the same time, we call on all institutions to do their utmost to further the respect for press freedoms and the right of the public to be informed.”

Schlumberger urged media regulators to ensure a conducive media environment and follow up closely on any breaches of ethical codes of conduct by audio-visual, print, and online media.

“To mark World Press Freedom Day, the Mission will support three televised debates promoting freedom of expression and freedom of media, in Albanian and Serbian languages,” said Schlumberger.

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

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The OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, for the second consecutive year, will organize the Dialogue Academy for Young Women as part of the Follow Us initiative. The initiative gathers prominent women from politics, academia, media and civil society from Belgrade and Prishtinë/Priština and supports the process of dialogue, reconciliation and confidence-building between the two societies.

The purpose of the Academy is to empower young women by educating them on issues relating to women’s role in promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and co-operation. The 2016 edition of the programme builds upon last year’s experience and success whereby 22 young women from Prishtinë/Priština and Belgrade had the opportunity to participate in a series of instructive lectures and team-building exercises and be part of a wide network of activists and experts in the fields of women empowerment, women in politics, dialogue and reconciliation.

This year, 24 female students of social science and young professionals in the areas of media, politics, and civil society will be attending the Academy programme from 30 September to 9 October 2016, organized at the Peace Castle Schlaining, Austria. 

Graduates from the Academy will become Dialogue alumni and are expected to create their own alumni network which will enable them to design and implement joint projects, following the example of the 2015 OSCE Dialogue Academy alumni.

For more information on the application please click here.

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VIENNA, 13 July 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said that media laws under consideration by the Parliament in Moldova run counter to international standards on media freedom.

On 7 July the Parliament adopted, in the first reading, three amendments to the Audio-visual Code of the Republic of Moldova. All three amendments aim to limit broadcasts in foreign languages or those originating from abroad.

“It is counterproductive to try to limit speech through excessively restrictive legislation,” Mijatović wrote in a letter yesterday to the Chairperson of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Andrian Candu. “In my view it seems excessive and may be ineffective.”

The reasoning given for introducing the restrictive provisions banning broadcasts or rebroadcasts of certain content is that it originates from states that are neither members of the European Union, nor are parties to the European Convention on Transfrontier Television. 

“I trust that the draft laws will be carefully reviewed by the members of Parliament before being adopted in the second reading, ensuring that the regulation does not pose undue limits on free expression and free flow of information,” Mijatović said.

The Representative also pointed to the recommendations of her Office’s non-paper “Propaganda and Freedom of the Media” published in 2015 (available at www.osce.org/fom/203926).

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. 

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GENEVA / VIENNA, 28 July 2016 – Two top holders of media freedom mandates of the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) today condemned the ongoing crackdown on journalists and the media launched by Turkish Government in the wake of the attempted coup.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, expressed alarm at recent measures adopted by the Turkish authorities. Dozens of journalists have been reportedly arrested and a large number of media outlets closed in the past twenty-four hours.

“The simultaneous arrests of independent journalists and shutdowns of print and broadcast media strike a major blow against public debate and government accountability,” the experts warned. “We strongly urge the Turkish authorities to reconsider these decisions and confirm their obligations to media freedom.”

Reports indicate that the Government ordered the closure of three news agencies, 16 TV channels, 23 radio channels, 45 papers and 15 magazines. Since the attempted coup, authorities have issued arrest warrants against 89 journalists and have already arrested several of them, blocked access to more than 20 news websites, revoked the licenses of 29 publishing houses, and cancelled a number of press accreditations.

Numerous academic institutions, schools, civil society organizations were also ordered to close down by decrees issued after the adoption of the “Statutory Decree Regarding Measures to be Taken Within Scope of State of Emergency and Regulation of Certain Institutes and Institutions” on 23 July.

“It is quite clear that this wave of restrictions against media groups does not meet the basic international standards concerning restrictive measures even in times of emergency,” Mijatović said. “The disregard for any assurance of due process is flagrant and only contributes to the extreme levels of insecurity affecting all those working to inform people of the ongoing crisis in the country.”

“The attempted coup cannot justify such a broad attack against almost all voices, not just critical ones but analytic and journalistic,” Kaye said. “The widespread and abrupt nature of the measures, lacking even the basic elements of due process, is shocking and unprecedented in recent times in Turkey.”

“The Government’s purging of personnel and institutions of what it perceives as being dissenting and critical voices, solely on the basis of allegations of membership in the Gülen movement, clearly violates standards of international human rights law,” he noted.

Both experts expressed their continued willingness to discuss their concerns with Turkish authorities. UN Special Rapporteur Kaye will be visiting Turkey on an official visit in November, at the invitation of the Government. OSCE Representative Mijatović reiterated her Office’s assistance in improving media freedom, including a visit to 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: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.  

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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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BERLIN / VIENNA, 15 July 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today condemned the deadly terror attack in Nice, France. 

“A day dedicated to joy and the pride of the French Nation ended in tragedy,” said Minister Steinmeier. “Many people were cruelly and senselessly taken from peaceful celebrations to death, many are struggling for their lives.  Our thoughts and our compassion lie with the victims, their families, the French people. We share the grief of France, in these dark hours we stand shoulder to shoulder.”

Ambassador Zannier said: “I am saddened and shocked by the terror attack in Nice. We at the OSCE stand in solidarity with the families of the victims, and with the people of France. OSCE participating States and Partners will not be intimidated by murder and violence. We will work together to tackle this scourge.”

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Bona fide representatives of the media - print media, photo, radio, television and film, news agencies and online media - can now apply for yearly accreditation to OSCE events in Vienna.

For the yearly Media Accreditation, applicants need to provide the following:

• Completed accreditation form
• A letter of assignment on official letterhead of a media organization
• A valid press card (national or international)
• Scanned image of passport/national ID card

Journalists, who agree to the terms of accreditation and guidelines on media access to the OSCE, should fill out the Accreditation form and submit it with the attachments by E-mail to: press@osce.org.

Media credentials are issued by the OSCE free of charge. 
 

Delivery of badges will begin on 15 April 2015 and take place Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:00 at the Hofburg.

Yearly accreditation at the OSCE is not mandatory.  Journalists holding a valid press ID, but not holding an OSCE Media accreditation badge will be able to attend access media events in the Hofburg Congress Centre by registering in advance, as specified in the media advisories ahead of such events.

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Posted by Apple Product Security via Fulldisclosure on Oct 28

Posted by Apple Product Security via Fulldisclosure on Oct 28

Posted by Pierre Kim on Nov 03

Since we all love tp, especially Quilton tp.
New-look launch offer at Jandakot store. $0.416 per roll.

Uno Flip is on sale for the lowest price I have personally seen. Usually around $9 or $10

Would be a great stocking filler

Good price on a gooseneck. Great for pourovers.

• Matte black gooseneck kettle
• Design allows for precision pours
• 0.6L Capacity
• 360° Rotating base
• LED Light on/off switch
• Dry boil protection
• Strix control
• Cord storage

First deal post since I've been looking at this unit myself…

Not quite the cheapest it's ever been ($1968) but not too bad either.
Better value with the free Roborock Flexi Lite wetvac handheld offer until the end of today 13/11/2024.
Claims must be registerted by 6pm today!!
Don't forget to combine with discount JB-Hifi Gift cards for more savings if you can!

Key Features

FlexiArm Design™ for thorough coverage,
HyperForce® suction power 10,000Pa
DuoRoller Riser™ Brush
Multifunctional Dock 3.0
“Hello Rocky” Intelligent Voice Assistant
Reactive AI Obstacle Recognition for smooth and pristine clean-ups.

Flexi Arm™ Design Technology
Features a specialized side brush and edge mopping system that ensures comprehensive cleaning coverage, effectively eliminating blind spots and leaving no dirt behind.

DuoRoller Riser™ Brush
Features dual-rubber spiral brush design that effortlessly avoids tangles. It includes concealed scrapers in the cover to easily remove hair from the brushes, preventing hair from tangling during routine cleaning.

Hot Water Mop Washing
Effortlessly lift oil stains from mops with hot water, ideal for kitchen and dining areas, while also saving time and water. The hot water effectively removes over 99.7%* of bacteria on the spinning mops. TUV tested.

10,000Pa HyperForce® Suction
Captures hair, dust, and debris efficiently from various surfaces such as hardwood, tiles, and carpets, ensuring extraordinary cleanliness.

New Dock - Self Cleaning system
Features a self-driven cleaning module that uses rotating scrapers to effectively clean the dock base bottom, eliminating the need for manual maintenance. All self-cleaning module accessories and the dock base are detachable for easy washing when needed

Built-In Intelligent Voice Assistant
Simpy say "Hello Rocky" to start cleanups, adjust settings based on the cleanup scenario, or call the robot where it's needed, all hands-free. Enjoy the convenience of voice control even offline, without needing WiFi or your phone to conrol the robot.

PreciSense® LiDAR Navigation
LiDAR-based navigation creates detailed and accurate maps in real-time to find an optimal route to clean your home.

Faster Charging & Off-Peak Charging Supported

Currently ranked #3 on Robot/Mop combo devices on Vacuum Wars
https://vacuumwars.com/best-robot-vacuum-mop-combo-2024/

Lets hope the new Trump Administration follows through with it's proposed 60% tax on Chinese goods to the USA because it will heavily press China to slash the costs of products headed to Aus- such as what's happened in the recent Chinese EV market.
Realistically I think these units would be fairly priced at around $1450 since that's a fair conversion for what the Yanks are paying in equivalent USD on their recent sales.

Snuggle Hunny branded Christmas Milestone Cards usually $4.95 reduced to $0.99 as part of Black Friday sale.

Main link is for the double bend model. Slant neck is also available at the same price: https://www.golfbox.com.au/clubs/taylormade-spider-24-putter…

Left and right hand available in 34 and 35 inch lengths. Red and Ghost White colours available in various configurations.

Good price for a high quality putter.

Also available, the TaylorMade Spider Tour range for $439.99 (save $110): https://www.golfbox.com.au/search?q=taylormade%20spider%20to…

Also available, Bettinardi 2022 Inovai 8.0 Putter - Spud in right hand 35 inch only for $349.99 (save $330): https://www.golfbox.com.au/clubs/bettinardi-2022-inovai-8-0-…

Decent interest in this product when it was last posted here
And it seemed to have not been highlighted in the weekly coles round up.

Tastes gross imo - jury is still out on if this is all just mind games. My various avenues of self sabotage probably doesnt help.

My misso seems to like them though. She rates the digest cleanse ones
I've been taking the energy fuel one

Back with another negotiated deal and this time it's on the 8Bitdo Ultimate 2C Black Myth: Wukong Limited Edition in both the wired and wireless variants. It beats the previous deal, still beats $69.95 at EB Games and ships from 8BitDo's official store.

The Ultimate 2C improves upon the original by introducing Bluetooth connectivity alongside 2.4G wireless, hall effect joysticks/triggers, customisable R4/L4 buttons and tactile switches. Comparison here.

• Apply the coupons 8BITDOVIPAU and AU1132

AU$ based on current Mastercard rate, GST inclusive and stacks with cashback.

For those paying in USD this is how you get the correct exchange rate in PayPal:

Setting overseas websites to AUD or letting PayPal do the currency conversion results in an inflated rate. To get the correct rate you need a card without international fees and do the following:

• Set the website currency to USD
• Checkout with PayPal
• Select your card with no international fees
• Click "See currency options"
• Select USD to bill the card in USD instead of AUD
• Proceed with checkout

Now you'll get the correct MasterCard or VISA exchange rate depending on the card.

Original Coupon Deal

Started looking at 360° cameras and I've got my eye on the Insta360 X3 and came across this deal which is cheaper than the current Insta360 branded deal but doesn't have the accessories.

Check your emails - likely targeted.

*Valid for members that activate bonus prior to shop and make a qualifying transaction of $20 or more by 19/11/2024 11:59pm AEDT. Online only.

A preview of the 2024 Black Harvest Film Festival.

Thailand stands at a pivotal crossroads. While it has progressed from a low-income to an upper-middle-income economy, its path to high-income status faces formidable obstacles.

Everyone is invited to celebrate Loy Krathong at 10 cultural heritage waterfronts along the curve of the Chao Phraya River during the Bangkok River Festival 2024, which will kick off on Thursday and run until Saturday, from 4pm to 10pm. On Loy Krathong day this Friday, however, the festival will run until midnight.

More than 800 people have been thrown out of work by the abrupt closure of audio-video equipment manufacturer Funai (Thailand) Co in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The Ministry of Public Health is encouraging people, especially children and those in physical contact with them, to get vaccinated against whooping cough, after it started spreading in a Bangkok school.

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.

WASHINGTON: Facebook has curbed access to a controversial feature allowing searches of the vast content within the social network -- a tool which raised privacy concerns but was also used for research and investigative journalism.

Two oil tankers were attacked on Thursday and left adrift in the Gulf of Oman, driving up oil prices and stoking fears of a new confrontation between Iran and the United States, which blamed Tehran for the incident. - REUTERS

Hundreds of thousands of protesters, many dressed in black, marched on the streets of Hong Kong on Sunday to demand their leader resigns. — Reuters

Three property associations forecast a slim impact from the recent policy rate cut, as interest rates for mortgages were reduced by only 0.125%.

"If you don't shag him, I will." Universal Pictures and Peacock have revealed the official trailer for Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, the next romcom sequel from this long-running franchise starring Renée Zellweger. Bridget Jones first blasted onto bookshelves in Helen Fielding's literary phenomenon Bridget Jones's Diary, which became a global bestseller & blockbuster film in 2001. As a single career woman living in London, Bridget Jones not only introduced the world to her romantic adventures, but added "Singletons," "Smug-Marrieds" and "f---wittage" into the global lexicon. Then came the sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) followed by Bridget Jones's Baby (2016). In this next one, Mad About the Boy, Jones gets on Tinder and meets a dashing young man who woos her. The full ensemble cast has plenty of old & new faces: Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Isla Fisher, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, James Callis, Shirley Henderson, Sally Phillips, along with Leo Woodall as the new boy. Looks as charming & funny & cheesy as the last two sequels. Will it be any better? Official trailer (+ poster) for Michael Morris' sequel Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, via YouTube: Bridget […]