DOCSLIB.ORG

Annual Report 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Annual Report 2020 Annual Report 2020 An SMM patrol on the road near Bohdanivka, inside the Disengagement Area near Petrivske, Donetsk region (OSCE/Germain Groll) The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is THE WORLD’S LARGEST REGIONAL SECURITY ORGANIZATION working to ensure peace and stability for more than a billion people between Vancouver and Vladivostok. FOLLOW US ON facebook.com/osce.org twitter.com/OSCE youtube.com/user/osce linkedin.com/company/osce instagram.com/osceorg Published by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Communications and Media Relations Section Office of the Secretary General OSCE Secretariat Wallnerstrasse 6 1010 Vienna Austria www.osce.org ©OSCE 2021 The OSCE Annual Report on OSCE activities and achievements is prepared and submitted by the OSCE Secretary General. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views of all OSCE participating States. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may be freely used and copied for educational and other non-commercial purposes, provided that any such reproduction is accompanied by an acknowledgement of the OSCE as the source. ISBN 978-3-903128-77-4 Editor: Sandra Sacchetti Infographics: Fanny Arnold Layout: Imprimerie Centrale S.A Front cover photo credit: Germain Groll Printed in Luxembourg by Imprimerie Centrale Table of contents MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL 5 FIELD OPERATIONS 59 Presence in Albania 61 Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina 63 Mission in Kosovo 65 CHAIRMANSHIP 6 Mission to Montenegro 67 Overcoming Adversity 7 Mission to Serbia 69 Mission to Skopje 71 Mission to Moldova 73 Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine 75 PERMANENT COUNCIL 21 Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine 79 Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk 81 Centre in Ashgabat 83 FORUM FOR SECURITY Programme Office in Bishkek 85 CO-OPERATION 25 Programme Office in Dushanbe 87 Programme Office in Nur-Sultan 89 Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan 91 OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY 28 LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS 93 Asian and Mediterranean Partners for SECRETARIAT 31 Co-operation 94 Office of the Secretary General and Central Services 33 Co-operation with international and Conflict prevention 35 regional organizations 96 Transnational threats 39 Economic and environmental activities 43 Combating trafficking in human beings 47 Gender equality 49 ANNEXES 100 List of abbreviations 100 OSCE staff at a glance 101 Staff 102 INSTITUTIONS 51 2020 OSCE Unified Budget 104 Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights 52 Contributions by participating States 105 High Commissioner on National Minorities 55 Extrabudgetary pledges and voluntary contributions 106 Representative on Freedom of the Media 57 Extrabudgetary expenditure 107 3 OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Vienna, 3 March 2021. (OSCE/Renaud Cuny) Message from the Secretary General The year 2020 was enormously challenging for the OSCE We have every reason to be ambitious, and to work and the wider international community. together toward concrete outcomes that will strengthen security for us all. Just a year ago, few would have predicted the serious impact that COVID-19 would have on global health and the livelihood of millions of people. It has intensified inequalities, fed distrust, and made our already difficult security environment more unstable and unpredictable. OSCE activities and our efforts to prevent and manage conflict have also been affected by the pandemic, but as numerous examples in this report show, our Organization Helga Maria Schmid has been able to continue fulfilling its mandates while OSCE Secretary General ensuring duty of care to our staff. Even in lockdown Vienna, 2021 phases, OSCE decision-making bodies continued meeting and our field operations and Institutions continued to support our participating States, including in crisis settings where the OSCE plays a critical role. The OSCE’s adaptability and flexibility in the face of COVID-19 are the shared achievement of OSCE staff across our Organization. I thank them for their exceptional commitment. I also wish to thank the 2020 Albanian OSCE Chairmanship for ably steering our Organization through an extraordinarily challenging year, and to recognize the professional leadership of my predecessor, Secretary General Thomas Greminger, and Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä as Officer in Charge during a very difficult period. Since taking up my post, I have been deeply impressed by how much good work the OSCE does every day. I will do my utmost to promote OSCE principles and commitments, all dimensions of our comprehensive approach to security, and problem-solving through dialogue and co-operation. I will work hard to build support for the OSCE’s important role in strengthening security and stability in our region, develop more coherent cross-dimensional responses to overcome increasingly complex security challenges and raise the OSCE’s profile. I will promote closer co-operation with our Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, and with the United Nations and other key international and regional organizations. I will strive to ensure that the OSCE makes further progress towards greater diversity and equal representation between men and women across all levels of the Organization. I will also ensure that the OSCE maintains its vibrant engagement with civil society and with young people. I am immensely proud to work for the OSCE. There is no other security organization in our region with so much potential to bridge differences, to rebuild trust, and to help reduce tensions. 5 CHAIRMANSHIP The OSCE Chairmanship is selected by the OSCE Ministerial Council for a one-year term. The post of Chairperson-in-Office is held by the foreign minister of the selected participating State. Tirana, capital of Albania and host city of the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council. (Teresa Otto/Shutterstock) Overcoming Adversity Chairperson-in-Office:Edi Rama www.osce.org/chairmanship The Albanian Chairmanship year was momentous for the OSCE in many respects. The year 2020 marked the 45th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the 30th anniversary of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, but it was also characterized by a series of new and unprecedented challenges. Albania opened the year by noting that, as a small But 2020 will be best remembered for other unpredicted state that has undergone a major transition, it had developments, including the surge of the COVID-19 drawn outsized strength and stability from being part pandemic, which posed new tests for our governments, of this values-based security community. Through the communities and the work of the Organization, Chairmanship, it sought to give back to the Organization. including the mid-year leadership vacuum in the OSCE The programme set by the Albanian OSCE 2020 executive structures, the situation in Belarus following Chairmanship was based on three key objectives: the presidential election and the outburst of heavy fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh context. These events Making a difference on the ground; placed new pressures on the daily work of the OSCE Implementing our commitments together; throughout 2020, which the Chairmanship endeavoured Building stability through dialogue. to overcome. The Chairmanship prioritized key issues that the OSCE In the face of this adversity, the Albanian Chairmanship community continues to face: be it military confrontation, the effectively delivered a suite of new deliverables, maintained malign use of information and communication technology, the OSCE’s operational activities amid the disruption respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, violent caused by COVID-19 and appointed new management for extremism and radicalization, gender equality or the blurred the Organization. line between state and non-state activity. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and OSCE SMM’s Chief Monitor Yaşar Halit Çevik in Stanytsia Luhanska, 21 January 2020. (OSCE/Evgeniy Maloletka) CHAIRMANSHIP 7 MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON THE GROUND The Chairmanship also prioritized conflict-affected The OSCE has proven its ability to make a difference populations in Georgia. Through its Special Representative on the ground, be it through engaging in all levels of the for the South Caucasus, it facilitated the resumption of the conflict cycle, observing elections or supporting reforms. Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in The Albanian Chairmanship aimed to promote the work of Ergneti and convened two meetings, while it was possible the OSCE where it is closest to the people. to hold only one in-person round of talks in the format of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) in December The Chairmanship upheld its priority of supporting conflict with the aim to address the security, humanitarian and resolution efforts with respect to Ukraine. The timely human rights challenges on the ground in full compliance extension of the mandate and adoption of the Special with the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement. It used Monitoring Mission (SMM) budget in March, the first its good offices to facilitate communication across the major negotiation accomplished by the Chairmanship, divide concerning the challenge posed by the COVID-19 led to a landmark 8 per cent budget increase. By forging pandemic, as well as the efficient use of water through consensus around a solid budget for the OSCE’s flagship a shared canal, benefitting communities on both sides. operation, especially amid the pandemic, Albania held Promoting
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Foreign Affairs 3
    NEWS DIGEST ON GEORGIA September 26-29 Compiled by: Aleksandre Davitashvili Date: September 30, 2019 Occupied Regions Abkhazia Region 1. 26 years passed since fall of Sokhumi The Georgian government and parliament members, leaders of various political parties gathered at Memorial of Heroes in Tbilisi to commemorate those, who died in the struggle for Georgia’s territorial integrity. Wreaths are laid at the memorial. Military confrontation in Abkhazia began on August 14, 1992. Military activities lasted for 13 months and 13 days and ended with the fall of Sokhumi on September 27, 1993. Russian, North Caucasian and Cossack units stormed the building of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia early on September 27 and captured Zhiuli Shartava, head of the Council of Ministers of Abkhazia, the Mayor of Sokhumi and 27 employees of the Council of Ministers. The captured people who did not leave Sukhumi were shot dead (1TV, September 27, 2019). 2. Giorgi Gakharia: September 27 is most difficult and painful day for every citizen of Georgia “For all citizens of today’s Georgia, regardless of their age, this day, September 27, marks the day when Sokhumi fell 26 years ago. Of course, both we and Abkhazians have learned a lot and have grown since. We share many bonds, and what binds us is the understanding and acknowledgment that the war was the most devastating tragedy. And that is the foundation allowing us to say that peace is critically important to both Georgians and Abkhazians. Consequently, it is important for every citizen to understand that war is not a solution, and that tireless efforts 24/7 building the country and democratic institutions, and a strong and unified Georgia is what we must serve together.”, – Giorgi Gakharia said (1TV, September 27, 2019).
    [Show full text]
  • General Assembly Distr
    UNITED NATIONS A General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/7/INF.1 18 July 2008 ENGLISH/FRENCH/SPANISH ONLY HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Seventh session LIST OF PARTICIPANTS GE.08-14699 (E) 250708 A/HRC/7/INF.1 page 2 ANGOLA Représentant: M. Manuel Miguel DA COSTA ARAGÃO Membres: M. João DA CUNHA CAETANO M. Virgilio MARQUES DE FARIA M. Arcanjo Maria DO NASCIMENTO M. Apolinário CORREIA M. Manuel Domingos AUGUSTO Mme Fátima VIEGAS M. António Manuel TOMBIA M. MARQUES DE OLIVEIRA M. Domingos CHILALA M. José SILVA Mme Efigénia Perpetua DOS PRAZERES JORGE M. Armindo AGOSTINHO M. Paulo VAZ DA CONCEICAO M. Carlos DIAMAMTINO DA CONCEIÇÃO Mme Sónia CULECA Mme Naidy AZEVEDO M. Candido Euclides PINTO DE BRITO AZERBAIJAN Representative: Mr. Elchin AMIRBAYOV Members: Mr. Azad CAFAROV Mr. Mammad TALIBOV Mr. Habib MIKAYILLI Ms. Shafa GARDASHOVA Ms. Turkan KHALILOVA BANGLADESH Representative: Ms. Debapriya BHATTACHARYA Members: Mr. Mustafizur RAHMAN Mr. Muhammed Enayet MOWLA Ms. Nahida SOBHAN Mr. Andalib ELIAS BOLIVIA Representante: Sr. Sacha LLORENTI Miembros: Sra. Angélica NAVARRO Sra. Maysa URENA Sra. Ximena MONTANO A/HRC/7/INF.1 page 3 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Representative: Mr. Sven ALKALAJ Members: Ms. Jadranka KALMETA Ms. Mirsa MUHAREMAGIĆ Mr. Mirza PINJO Ms. Dragana ANDELIĆ Ms. Emina MERDAN Ms. Anesa KUNDUROVIĆ BRAZIL Representatives: Mr. Paulo VANNUCHI Mr. Sergio ABREU E LIMA FLORÊNCIO Members: Ms. Ana Lucy GENTIL CABRAL PETERSEN Mr. Carlos Eduardo DA CUNHA OLIVIERA Ms. Silviane TUSI BREWER Mr. Murilo VIEIRA KOMNISKI Ms. Melina ESPESCHIT MAIA Ms. Mariana CARPANEZZI Mr. Nathanael DE SOUZA E SILVA Mr. Thiago MELAMED DE MENEZES Ms. Camila SERRANO GIONCHETTI CAMEROON Représentant: M.
    [Show full text]
  • Georgia: Background and U.S
    Georgia: Background and U.S. Policy Updated September 5, 2018 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45307 SUMMARY R45307 Georgia: Background and U.S. Policy September 5, 2018 Georgia is one of the United States’ closest non-NATO partners among the post-Soviet states. With a history of strong economic aid and security cooperation, the United States Cory Welt has deepened its strategic partnership with Georgia since Russia’s 2008 invasion of Analyst in European Affairs Georgia and 2014 invasion of Ukraine. U.S. policy expressly supports Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and Georgia is a leading recipient of U.S. aid in Europe and Eurasia. Many observers consider Georgia to be one of the most democratic states in the post-Soviet region, even as the country faces ongoing governance challenges. The center-left Georgian Dream party has more than a three-fourths supermajority in parliament, allowing it to rule with only limited checks and balances. Although Georgia faces high rates of poverty and underemployment, its economy in 2017 appeared to enter a period of stronger growth than the previous four years. The Georgian Dream won elections in 2012 amid growing dissatisfaction with the former ruling party, Georgia: Basic Facts Mikheil Saakashvili’s center-right United National Population: 3.73 million (2018 est.) Movement, which came to power as a result of Comparative Area: slightly larger than West Virginia Georgia’s 2003 Rose Revolution. In August 2008, Capital: Tbilisi Russia went to war with Georgia to prevent Ethnic Composition: 87% Georgian, 6% Azerbaijani, 5% Saakashvili’s government from reestablishing control Armenian (2014 census) over Georgia’s regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Religion: 83% Georgian Orthodox, 11% Muslim, 3% Armenian which broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s to Apostolic (2014 census) become informal Russian protectorates.
    [Show full text]
  • Genocides Andconflicts
    0 1 Genocides and Conflicts in the 20th and 21st Centuries Preface This book provides summaries of some of the mass atrocities that have occurred in the last hundred years. We have intentionally included conflicts that often are not studied in courses about genocide. We encourage readers to learn about these events for two reasons: first, when knowledge of these atrocities is not part of our shared history and memory, those who suffered, and their once- vibrant cultures and communities, are made invisible yet again. Second, it is important for us to realize the breadth of genocides across time and place. ‘Never again’ has come to mean ‘over and over again.’ Perhaps if we can recognize that genocide is a wide-ranging and repetitive scourge on the planet, we can someday reach a world without genocide. Thanks go to Jacob Simpson, Research and Advocacy Associate, and Amalie Wilkinson, Research Intern, for their work on this book. 2 Table of Contents Native Americans, 1492-Present ............................................................................................ 3 Namibia, 1904-1907 ............................................................................................................... 5 The Armenian Genocide, 1915-1923 ....................................................................................... 7 The Ottoman Christian Genocide, 1915-23 ..............................................................................9 The Holodomor, 1932-1933.................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • ITA Parliamentary 2013
    Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC EARLY PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 24 and 25 February 2013 OSCE/ODIHR NEEDS ASSESSMENT MISSION REPORT 7-10 January 2013 Warsaw 22 January 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 1 III. FINDINGS .............................................................................................................................................. 3 A. BACKGROUND AND POLITICAL CONTEXT ............................................................................................. 3 B. LEGAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................................. 3 C. ELECTORAL SYSTEM ............................................................................................................................. 4 D. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................................. 5 E. VOTING METHODS ................................................................................................................................ 6 F. VOTER RIGHTS AND REGISTRATION ...................................................................................................... 7 G. CANDIDATE RIGHTS AND REGISTRATION
    [Show full text]
  • Toolkit on Police Integrity New Chapter 000*:Layout 1 2/24/12 12:01 PM Page 2
    Toolkit_cover 2/22/12 6:30 PM Page 1 Toolkit www.dcaf.ch on Police Integrity new_chapter_000*:Layout 1 2/24/12 12:01 PM Page 1 Toolkit on Police Integrity new_chapter_000*:Layout 1 2/24/12 12:01 PM Page 2 DCAF The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) is an international foundation whose mission is to assist the international community in pursuing good governance and reform of the security sector. The Centre develops and promotes norms and standards, conducts tailored policy research, identifies good practices and recommendations to promote democratic security sector governance, and provides in-country advisory support and practical assistance programmes. DCAF gratefully acknowledges the support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the production of the Toolkit. The views expressed are those of the authors alone and do not in any way reflect the views of the institutions referred to or represented within this Toolkit. Cover pictures (top to bottom, left to right): © OSCE/Mikhail Evstafiev © 2007 Joi Ito. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license © Danish Police (politi.dk) © 2009 Beijing Patrol. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license © KEYSTONE/AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam © UN Photo/Christopher Herwig ©DCAF, 2012 All rights reserved. ISBN 978-92-9222-190-4 Design, layout and printing: Valeur, Slovak Republic Published by DCAF (Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces) PO Box 1360 1211 Geneva 1 Switzerland www.dcaf.ch new_chapter_000*:Layout 1 2/24/12 12:01 PM Page 3 Acknowledgements Pierre Aepli, Senior Police Advisor DCAF (until March 2011) initiated the project, developed the concept and coordinated the writing of the nine chapters of the toolkit.
    [Show full text]
  • Western Balkans Stability Monitor
    Western Balkans Stability Monitor November 2019 Issue Table of contents European Self-Harm 4 Albania 7 Government Stability 8 Opposition Activities 10 Regional Relations 11 Security 12 Looking Forward 13 Bosnia-Herzegovina 14 Government Stability 15 Opposition Activities 17 Regional Relations 18 Security 19 Looking Forward 20 Kosovo 21 Government Stability 22 Opposition Activities 24 Regional Relations 25 Security 27 Looking Forward 28 North Macedonia 29 Government Stability 30 Opposition Activities 32 Regional Relations 34 Security 35 Looking Forward 35 Montenegro 37 Government Stability 38 Opposition Activities 39 Regional Relations 40 Security 40 Looking Forward 41 2 Serbia 42 Government stability 43 Opposition activities 44 Regional relations 46 Security 47 Looking Forward 48 About Risk Dimensions 49 War 49 Terrorism 49 Government Instability 49 Civil Unrest 49 Ethnic Unrest 49 About 49 Contact 50 3 European Self-Harm Having deferred the question of opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia several times, European leaders were expected – with some trepidation – to give the green light to at least North Macedonia and possibly Albania’s EU accession hopes at the October European Council. Instead, the October 17-18 European Council not only failed to approve the opening of accession negotiations but sent Balkan hopefuls a signal that they should not bet on having any kind of accession prospects at all. In one fell swoop, the EU came close to entirely destroying its own credibility and leverage in the Western Balkans. To make the situation more bizarre, the chief architect of this act of European self-harm was none other than the man positioning himself to be the EU’s new leading statesman, French President Emmanuel Macron.
    [Show full text]
  • Version of 16 November 2012
    7TH CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY OF PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC) AND THE RULE OF LAW & WORLD PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS 34TH ANNUAL FORUM OF PGA 10 and 11 December 2012 PROGRAMME Nuova Aula del Palazzo dei Gruppi Parlamentari Via Campo Marzio, 78 Camera dei Deputati, Rome, Italy With the High Patronage of With support for PGA ICC Campaign from The European Parliament Humanity United The Netherlands In partnership with Switzerland Association Internationale de Droit Pénal – Liechtenstein AIDP Gruppo italiano Until May 2012, the Campaign received support from With the support of European Instrument for Democracy & ENI Human Rights, European Union With the core support to PGA from Sweden (Sida) & Denmark (Danida) __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Parliamentarians for Global Action and the Italian Parliament acknowledge the in-kind support of UN Women (Country Office Afghanistan), Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI), the Universities of Cologne (Germany) and of Roma Tre (Italy), as well as the in-kind contributions of the Parliamentary Delegations of the European Parliament, and of Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Ghana, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Norway, Portugal, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Yemen Day 1: Monday, 10 December 2012 9:15–10:45 OPENING SESSION [*] Hon. Gianfranco Fini, MP (Italy), President, Chamber of Deputies H.E. Prof. Paola Severino, Minister of Justice, Italy H.E. Judge Sang Hyun Song, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Croatia's EU Presidency 2020
    Band 4 / 2020 Band 4 / 2020 On 1 January 2020, the youngest EU member state, the Republic of Croatia, assumed the Presidency of the EU Council for the first time. This presidency takes place amid a climate of Euroscepticism, en- largement fatigue, Brexit, just to mention a few. On the other hand, it will be an opportunity for Croatia to influence decision-making in the EU. Croatia’s EU Presidency 2020 – This publication evaluates the impact a small member state like Croatia can have on EU policy developments and in particular, how A Catalyst for South East Europe? it can affect European integration in the Western Balkan neigh- bourhood. Against the background of EU’s challenged enlargement policies, the analyses focus on the chances and obstacles for re- gional cooperation, democratization issues and intra-state reforms. ’s EU Presidency 2020 – A Catalyst for South East Europe? South 2020 – A Catalyst for ’s EU Presidency Croatia ISBN: Predrag Jureković and Sandro Knezović (Eds.) 978-3-903121-87-4 4/20 (Eds.) ć ć, Knezovi 39th Workshop of the PfP Consortium Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe Jurekovi Study Group Information Study Group Information Predrag Jureković and Sandro Knezović (Eds.) Croatia’s EU Presidency 2020 – A Catalyst for South East Europe? 39th Workshop of the PfP Consortium Study Group “Regional Stability in South East Europe” 4/2020 Vienna, April 2020 Imprint: Copyright, Production, Publisher: Republic of Austria / Federal Ministry of Defence Rossauer Lände 1 1090 Vienna, Austria Edited by: National Defence Academy Command Stiftgasse 2a 1070 Vienna, Austria In co-operation with: PfP Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Study Group Information Copyright © Republic of Austria / Federal Ministry of Defence All rights reserved April 2020 ISBN 978-3-903121-87-4 Printing: ReproZ W 20-2157 Stiftgasse 2a 1070 Wien Table of Contents Foreword Predrag Jureković and Sandro Knezović .....................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 5 January 2006
    6 January 2006 To: Foreign Ministers of U.N. Member States U.N. Permanent Representatives Re: Essential Elements of a Human Rights Council We, the undersigned organizations and individuals dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights, have closely observed the discussions aimed at creating a new Human Rights Council for the United Nations, as proposed by the Secretary-General and agreed by heads of state in September. As the negotiations resume in the period 11-16 January 2006 (with the hope of a final resolution), we write to underscore the elements which we believe are absolutely essential to create a new Council that would be truly an improvement over the existing Commission on Human Rights. Much progress is reflected in the draft resolution dated 19 December 2005. The following provisions are now included as non-bracketed text, and are of central importance to us: • Affirmation that “the Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon,” repeating the clear language agreed by world leaders in the World Summit Outcome Document (OP3). • Provisions stating that membership in the Council shall be based inter alia on the “contribution [of candidate countries] to the promotion and protection of human rights,” and that “members elected to the Council shall abide by the highest standards for the promotion and protection of human rights and fully cooperate with the Council” (OP6 and OP8). • OP9 language that “members of the Council shall be reviewed under the universal periodic peer review mechanism during their term of membership.” • The decision that the Council “shall meet regularly throughout the year” and that special meetings may be called as needed (OP 11).
    [Show full text]
  • Enhancing Co-Operation to Prevent Trafficking in Human Beings in the Mediterranean Region Isbn: 978-92-9234-442-9
    Offi ce of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Traffi cking in Human Beings ENHANCING CO-OPERATION TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION ISBN: 978-92-9234-442-9 Published by the OSCE Offi ce of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Traffi cking in Human Beings Wallnerstr. 6, 1010 Vienna, Austria Tel: + 43 1 51436 6664 Fax: + 43 1 51436 6299 email: [email protected] © 2013 OSCE/Offi ce of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Traffi cking in Human Beings Copyright: “All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may be freely used and copied for educational and other non-commercial purposes, provided that any such reproduction is accompanied by an acknowledgement of the OSCE/Offi ce of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Traffi cking in Human Beings as the source.” Design: Tina Feiertag, Vienna Illustration on cover: Mediterraneo (2007), Acrylic on raw canvas 40x50cm, by Adriano Parracciani Illustrations on page 11, 19, 35, 41, 49: Tempera on brick 10x10 cm by Adriano Parracciani Photos on page 8, 10, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 33: Enrico Para/Camera dei Deputati Photo on page 8, 43: Alfred Kueppers Photos on page 4: OSCE/Mikhail Evstafi ev Photos on page 32: OSCE/Alberto Andreani Cite as: OSCE Offi ce of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Traffi cking in Human Beings, Enhancing Co-operation to Prevent Traffi cking in Human Beings in the Mediterranean Region (November 2013). The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a pan-European security body whose 57 participating States span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2007 Annual Report Russia
    UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Annual Report 2007 Annual Report RUSSIA UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Annual Report MAY 2007 U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 790 Washington, DC 20002 202-523-3240 202-523-5020 (fax) www.uscirf.gov UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Commissioners Chair Felice D. Gaer Vice Chairs Michael Cromartie Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou Nina Shea Dr. Khaled M. Abou El Fadl Preeta D. Bansal Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Dr. Richard D. Land Bishop Ricardo Ramirez John V. Hanford, III, ex officio, non-voting member Executive Director Joseph R. Crapa UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Staff Tad Stahnke, Deputy Director for Policy David Dettoni, Deputy Director for Outreach Judith Ingram, Director of Communications Holly Smithson, Director of Government Affairs Carmelita Hines, Director of Administration Patricia Carley, Associate Director for Policy Angela Stephens, Assistant Communications Director Dwight Bashir, Senior Policy Analyst Catherine Cosman, Senior Policy Analyst Deborah DuCre, Receptionist Scott Flipse, Senior Policy Analyst Julia Kirby, Middle East Researcher Mindy Larmore, East Asia Researcher Tiffany Lynch, Research Assistant Jacqueline A. Mitchell, Executive Assistant Allison Salyer, Legislative Assistant Stephen R. Snow, Senior Policy Analyst Christopher Swift, Researcher UNITED STATES COMMIssION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Washington, DC, May 1, 2007 The PRESIDENT The White House DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: On behalf of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, I am transmitting to you the annual report, prepared in compliance with section 202(a)(2) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, 22 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]