OSCE

600220 Marina Živaljević

Two parallel training courses on firefighting and first aid were organized for members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, focusing on fire suppression techniques, the use of specialized vehicles and modern equipment, and the provision of first aid. The courses were supported by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB).

From 13 to 24 October, instructors from the Armed Forces of Montenegro, previously trained and certified by MSB experts, conducted an in-house firefighting training course for 12 members of the Armed Forces, at the “Knjaz Danilo” military airport firefighting training area. Ahead of the training course, the Mission and MSB provided the Armed Forces with firefighting equipment in order to enhance the capacities in firefighting and fire prevention.

In parallel, from 20 to 24 October, a first aid training course was organized for 26 participants, conducted by the Armed Forces instructors who had been trained and certified by MSB earlier this year.

This comprehensive training programme represents an important step towards strengthening the preparedness of the Armed Forces in responding to emergency situations, as well as increasing the safety and protection of all citizens. The importance of such training is underscored by the severe wildfires experienced during the summer and the growing risk of similar incidents in the years ahead.

These activities were part of the Mission’s extra budgetary project “Mitigation of Safety and Security Risks related to SALW/SCA in Montenegro”, funded by Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland with substantial in-kind support from Sweden.

MSB strengthens Sweden’s preparedness for major accidents, crises, and war-related emergencies, while also supporting international partners such as the OSCE through co-operation and civil protection and peace-support efforts.

600205

Energy experts and decision-makers from South-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean met in Vienna on 15-16 October for an OSCE Regional Workshop on “Building Energy Systems Resilience: Science-based Decisions to Face Future Risks and Extreme Weather”.

The event equipped participants with detailed long-term climate projection data and practical anticipatory and risk management tools to help make energy systems more resilient to future risks. Senior representatives from ministries of energy and environment, transmission system operators, energy regulators, hydrometeorological services, and academia took part, reflecting the cross-sectoral nature of the project.

“Through this project the OSCE provides critical, high-detail datasets that are essential for long-term energy system planning,” said Kliment Naumoski, Advisor and Grid Planning Expert at MEPSO, the Electricity Transmission System Operator of the Republic of North Macedonia. “The new tools, particularly the visualized climate indices, give us clear and practical insights for screening future risks and opportunities for our infrastructure. This workshop was especially valuable as it helped us learn how to read, interpret, and apply these climate datasets directly in our day-to-day energy planning decisions.”

Over two days, participants reviewed the findings from the OSCE’s downscaled climate-modelling data at a 12 km spatial resolution, covering key energy-relevant indices – such as average temperature rises, consecutive warm and dry days, cooling and heating demand, and precipitation intensity – and explored their implications for energy infrastructure resilience, generation, transmission and demand planning.

Delegates also explored the forthcoming OSCE Energy Security Platform – an online decision support tool that will help energy and climate stakeholders in the beneficiary countries anticipate and prevent multi-dimensional risks while identifying opportunities to enhance energy security and advance the energy transition.

Recognising that energy systems face growing pressures from heatwaves, droughts, flooding, wildfires and shifting resource availability, participants emphasized the need for climate-informed strategies to diversify supply, improve operational robustness and foster cross-border cooperation, and highlighted the key role of the OSCE in making these tools available.

The event was organized by the OSCE Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, under the OSCE extrabudgetary project Mitigating Climate Change Threats to the Energy Sector in the OSCE Region | OSCE, funded by Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United States.

600172 Željka Šulc

Bihać, 23 October 2025 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Rick Holtzapple, conducted a two-day visit to Canton 10 and Una-Sana Canton, meeting with various political leaders, local government officials, civil society actors, and community representatives. The visit reinforced the Mission’s commitment to supporting good governance, democratic processes, the rule of law, human rights, and trust-building efforts across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ambassador Holtzapple began his visit in Livno with a meeting with Canton 10 Prime Minister Ivan Vukadin, where they discussed advancing firearms legislation aligned with international standards, enhancing transparency in concession laws, and advancing the operationalization of the Anti-Corruption Office. The two leaders also touched upon preparations for the 2026 elections, including measures to strengthen electoral integrity, and political co-operation within the canton.

In Glamoč, the Ambassador met with Mayor Nebojša Radivojiša to acknowledge the municipality’s ongoing co-operation with the Mission including the joint CoE-EU-OSCE-UN “Možemo Bolje” initiative. Discussions emphasized inclusive local governance, strong inter-communal relations, and the importance of adequate staffing at the Social Welfare Centre to ensure effective service delivery.

During a meeting in Glamoč with local educational, cultural, social and civil society representatives, Ambassador Holtzapple commended their active role in the aforementioned “Možemo Bolje” trust-building initiative and reaffirmed the Mission’s support for inclusive local development and civic participation in this mixed community.

In Bihać, Ambassador Holtzapple congratulated Prime Minister Mustafa Ružnić on his recent appointment and discussed key government priorities, including anti-corruption efforts and the status of the draft Law on Asset Declaration. He met with Mayor Elvedin Sedić to discuss local governance challenges such as environmental protection of the Una River, sustainable development, and social service delivery as well as the lack of basic living conditions of returnees in areas around Bihać.

The Ambassador also met with Adela Tabaković, Head of the USC Anti-Corruption Office, to reaffirm strong support for the Office’s independence and professionalism, focusing on implementation of the anti-corruption measures and legislation at the cantonal level.

Further, Ambassador Holtzapple met with Vahidin Omanović and Mevludin Rahmanović of the Centre for Peacebuilding (CIM) in Sanski Most to discuss the critical, on-going human rights, youth empowerment, and dialogue initiatives. The conversation included exploring ways to strengthen transitional justice efforts in BiH.

At the meeting with the cross-entity association Mountaineers Without Prejudice at Kanjon Mountain House, the Ambassador praised their work in building and strengthening bridges across entity lines and reiterated the Mission’s commitment to continued co-operation.

During the visit, Ambassador Holtzapple met with the teams of Radio Livno and RTV Sana, reaffirming the Mission’s strong commitment to media freedom and support for professional journalism.

The productive dialogues paved the way for continued co-operation on environmental protection, social service delivery, and trust-building initiatives. The visit underscored the Mission’s commitment to supporting transparent, accountable institutions and fostering reconciliation and stability across Bosnia and Herzegovina.

600166 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Albania’s parliamentary elections on 11 May were competitive and professionally managed, but they took place in a highly polarized environment and contestants did not enjoy a level playing field. While candidates were generally able to campaign freely, there were reports of intimidation, misuse of public resources and pressure on public employees, which undermined equal opportunities. Election day was calm overall, but procedural shortcomings, instances of intimidation and vote buying, and problems with ensuring ballot secrecy were noted.

These are some of the main conclusions from the final report, published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The report offers recommendations to bring elections in Albania closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• Undertaking comprehensive reform of the legal framework through an inclusive consultation process
• Ensuring stability and impartiality of the election administration by depoliticizing nomination procedures for lower-level election commissions
• Prohibiting the use of public resources for campaigning, and imposing sanctions for the misuse of office or state resources to ensure a level playing field
• Clearly defining pre-electoral campaign activities and expenses to ensure proper reporting, oversight, and enforcement of potential sanctions
• Increasing voter awareness of procedures for electronic voting to ensure all voters can cast their ballots independently
• Requiring political party and government footage to be labelled as political advertising and banning it from news and editorial programs, with timely sanction of any violations.

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Albania, headed by Ambassador Lamberto Zannier, started work on 2 April and remained in the country until 22 May.

ODIHR also assessed Albania’s efforts to implement previous recommendations. While some were addressed, many long-standing recommendations remain unimplemented, including those related to the composition of election commissions, interim reporting on campaign finance, and strengthening independent media coverage. A full list of recommendations can be found on page 32-34 of today’s report.

All 57 OSCE participating States have formally committed to follow up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations. The ODIHR Electoral Recommendations Database tracks the extent to which recommendations are implemented across the region.

600160

The signature looks real, but is it? Forensic document experts know that even the slightest hesitation in a pen stroke, or the smallest ink variation, can reveal a false identity. The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the State Forensic Science Bureau of Latvia (SFSB), delivered a specialized training on forensic handwriting examination for forensic document experts from the Main Forensic Center of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) from 21 to 23 October in Riga.

The training, hosted at the SFSB laboratory, focused on advanced handwriting and signature examination techniques in accordance with the Best Practice Manual from the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes. The participants learned how to recognize subtle signs of forgery, including disguised handwriting, simulated signatures, and unnatural pen movements often seen in altered or counterfeit documents such as passports and border permits.

They also learned how to use scientific handwriting analysis to confirm whether a signature is genuine or forged, an important skill for frontline border security efforts. At border crossing points, individuals whose identity is in doubt may be asked to sign their name so officers can use these analysis techniques to compare the live signature with the one in the passport. This basic practice can help detect potential imposters before documents are sent for deeper forensic examination.

The Latvian experts taught participants about how subtle features such as pen pressure, letter connections, writing speed, and flow can reveal whether a signature is genuine, imitated, or disguised. Using specialized tools like microscopes, infrared lighting, and digital analysis software, they practiced spotting signs of tampering that are often invisible to the naked eye.

Participants also studied how external factors, such as stress, illness, writing surfaces, or the type of pen, can influence handwriting. They were trained to distinguish between natural variations in a person’s writing and suspicious signs of fraud, such as traced or photocopied signatures.

The training course was an important part of preparing participants for completing their national certification exams in forensic examination of handwriting This certification ensures border security officers have the requisite skills and knowledge to effectively and independently carry out forensic handwriting examinations.

The training course was part of an ongoing extrabudgetary project supporting the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in reducing illegal border crossings by using a fake or stolen identity. This project is funded by the United States.

599847 Željka Šulc

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) condemns the use of misogynistic and religiously prejudiced rhetoric directed at STAV journalist Rabija Arifović and other female journalists and members of journalists’ associations. Media professionals must be able to work in a safe and respectful environment, with their freedoms and personal security fully protected.

The Mission commends the response from law enforcement and judicial institutions and urges bodies responsible for gender equality and human rights to work on ensuring security, professional protection and safe online space for all female journalists who often encounter gender-based harassment, online abuse, and threats to their personal safety in carrying out their professional duties.

The Mission calls on all actors to refrain from language and rhetoric that undermines the safety, integrity, or professional standing of journalists.

The Mission will continue to support efforts aimed at safeguarding journalists and promoting a safe and respectful environment for media professionals.

600136 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 17 October 2025, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in co-operation with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation, organized introductory sessions on the recently established Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan Border Agreement.

The event, attended by 30 regional officials (one woman) from both institutions in the Sughd Region, highlighted the agreement’s importance as a key milestone in bilateral co-operation.

The sessions aimed to enhance institutional capacity by equipping participants with knowledge and practical skills needed for the effective implementation of the agreement at local level. Through training and open dialogue, officials discussed regional co-operation on transboundary rivers, the legal framework for bilateral water co-operation, national water legislation, and integrated water resources management.

By empowering regional staff, the initiative promotes closer collaboration and co-ordination between border regions of the two countries, contributing to sustainable resource management and stability in border communities.

This activity aligns with the OSCE’s mission to support dialogue, foster co-operation, and promote lasting peace and sustainable development in the region.

600112

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), in collaboration with the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), convened a two-day workshop in Tashkent on 20 and 21 October for members of territorial election commissions and staff of the Central Election Commission.

During the event, titled “International Electoral Standards and the Practice of Conducting Elections in Uzbekistan”, participants familiarized themselves with key international electoral standards and engaged in discussions on their practical application in the national context.

The event was opened by Zayniddin Nizamkhodjaev, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, and Ambassador Antti Karttunen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

“Election management bodies are fundamental to ensuring transparency and fostering public confidence in the electoral process,” Ambassador Karttunen said.

“The professionalism, impartiality and openness of members are key factors in building trust among citizens. Ongoing investment in training, technological innovation and effective communication remains essential to strengthening trust in democratic institutions

The workshop focused on the challenges faced by election commissions in the administration of elections, with participants engaging in constructive dialogue to identify practical and context-specific solutions.

In June, the PCUz commissioned a comprehensive analysis of ODIHR’s recommendations on Uzbekistan’s 2024 parliamentary elections. This analysis is intended to facilitate implementation of these recommendations.

The PCUz will continue to working closely with the Central Election Commission in supporting the ongoing development of transparent and credible election processes in Uzbekistan.

LONDON, 22 October 2025 – OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu completed his first official visit to the United Kingdom today. He participated in the 2025 Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit on the Western Balkans in London, which brought together leaders from across Europe and South-Eastern Europe.

“Since the 1990s, the OSCE has been deeply engaged in the Western Balkans,” said Sinirlioğlu. “In a region where the scars of conflict endure, lasting peace depends not only on political agreements but also on inclusion and resilient institutions. These principles lie at the heart of the OSCE’s continued commitment to the Western Balkans.”

During the visit, the Secretary General met with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and other senior officials, including National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell.

600091

A two-day OSCE workshop in Ashgabat on 21 and 22 October brought together 27 regulators, supervisory authorities, prosecutors, investigators, representatives of commercial banks, and other professionals to address money-laundering risks linked to virtual assets and blockchain-based finance.

This workshop marked the launch of a two-part training series designed to help national institutions align their regulatory, supervisory, and investigative practices with international standards, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations 15 and 16. A follow-up session in November 2025 will beuild on this foundation, focusing on legislative, regulatory, and investigative aspects.

Participants explored key topics such as four pillars of compliance in blockchain-based finance, licensing and registration of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), and institutional arrangements for effective supervision. Through practical exercises, they explored how to draft relevant legislation, manage virtual asset investigation cases, and enhance co-operation between regulators, law enforcement, and the banking sector.

The training proved timely, as national authorities are currently drafting legislative amendments on virtual assets. Participants highlighted the importance of continued OSCE support in providing expert guidance and capacity-building assistance. The event concluded with discussions on emerging typologies of crypto-related crime typologies and blockchain applications beyond cryptocurrencies.

The event was organized in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, as part of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Innovative Policy Solutions to Mitigate Money-Laundering Risks of Virtual Assets”, implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA). The project receives financial support from Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

BISHKEK, 23 October 2025 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 30 November early parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, following an invitation from the national authorities and in accordance with its mandate.

The mission is led by Tamás Meszerics and consists of a core team of 12 experts based in Bishkek and 30 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 29 October. In addition, ODIHR plans to request 300 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day. 

The mission will assess the conduct of the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the election process, including the conduct of the campaign, including on social networks, the work of the election administration at all levels, election legislation and its implementation, respect for fundamental freedoms, media coverage, election dispute resolution, and the work of citizen observer groups. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

ODIHR will publish an interim report some two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and media on the observation mission’s activity, and the day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings will be presented at a press conference. A final report containing an assessment of the entire election process and recommendations will be published some months after the elections.

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek operate separately and independently under their own mandates. For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Kyrgyzstan, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/kyrgyzstan.

Media contacts:

Ružica Jovanović, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission: ruzica.jovanovic@odihr.kg  or +996755001756.

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR spokesperson: Katya.Andrusz@odihr.pl or +48 609 522 266

Open to: students attending Bachelor’s and Master’s studies at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Goce Delcev University - Shtip, University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola, South East European University, and University American College Skopje. Employees, consultants, or interns of the OSCE, and their immediate family members, are not eligible to participate.

Submission deadline: 21 November 2025

Awards: The authors of the three best essays will each receive vouchers for IT equipment

The OSCE Mission to Skopje aims to advance the rule of law and human rights by implementing applicable international standards and OSCE commitments in the judiciary and fundamental rights areas, in line with North Macedonia's strategic priorities. The Mission addresses various challenges in the domains of judicial independence and impartiality, criminal justice, anti-corruption, anti-discrimination, gender equality and fundamental rights in North Macedonia as identified in various governmental policy documents and international expert assessments.

In parallel to the anti-corruption masterclasses series, organized in co-operation with five national universities (University American College Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Goce Delcev University - Shtip, University St. Kliment Ohridski Bitola and South East European University), the OSCE Mission to Skopje has welcomed the strong interest and engagement shown by students. Building on this enthusiasm, the Mission is pleased to announce an essay writing competition for students. The competition aims to further encourage active participation in anti-corruption initiatives, drawing on the insights students gained from lectures delivered by more than a dozen anti-corruption professionals, scholars, and activists during the masterclass series.

The competition will be open until 21 November 2025.

Essays shall demonstrate a well-informed understanding of the complex nature of corruption and propose realistic ideas on how to reduce corruption. Authors should provide one or more arguments on their chosen topic, elaborated and supported with credible academic, legal or policy sources. Thus, authors are encouraged to present their own opinion but need to make sure such opinion is based on credible and convincing evidence. Essays shall be written in a well-structured and clear manner, with adequate use of language.

Essays shall be based on one of the following general topics:

•            Integrity and the use of AI

•            Corruption and crypto assets

•            Criminal aspects of corruption

•            Corruption and gender

• Corruption and media

These topics provide a general direction, allowing authors to develop their essays more specifically, as long as they remain aligned with one of the five general topics.

An evaluation committee consisting of three professors will assess the anonymously submitted essays applying the following criteria:       

•            Essay topic and relevance (max. 25 points)

•            Creativeness and originality of proposed argument(s) and solution(s) (max. 25 points)

•            Argumentation and use of evidence and sources (max. 25 points)

•            Language, structure and clarity (max. 25 points)

Essays shall be written in English, in Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing. The total length should be between 1,400 and 1,600 words (approximately 3 pages). Essays that exceed this word count will not be considered.

All essays must be the original work of the authors. Any instance of plagiarism, including the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, will result in disqualification from the competition.

Info session

For interested students, the OSCE Mission to Skopje will organize an online info session with more precise guidelines on how to prepare a competitive essay, one week before the essay submission deadline. To obtain information on the exact time and date for the session and a Zoom link, please send an email to Ana.DespotovskaBogevska@osce.org and provide your contact information.

Application process

Instructions for the essay writing competition are available in Macedonian and Albanian as well.

Authors shall submit their essays as PDF files to Ana.DespotovskaBogevska@osce.org by 21 November 2025. To support the process of anonymous evaluation, authors should include their full name, surname, and the name of their university in the body of the email. Authors must ensure that their names do not appear in the essay document itself.

Nothing in or related to this contest shall be construed as a waiver, express or implied, of any of the privileges and immunities of the OSCE.

600058

Judges and prosecutors from across Moldova enhanced their knowledge and practical skills in adjudicating financial crime cases involving virtual assets during a two-day OSCE workshop, held on 20 and 21 October in Chisinau.

Organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in co-operation with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) of the Republic of Moldova, the workshop built upon the first training held in September 2025. It provided advanced, hands-on exercises to strengthen judicial understanding of blockchain technology, virtual asset investigations, and the presentation of digital evidence in court.

“We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for OSCE’s support in the continuous training activities organized by the National Institute of Justice,” said Ghennadi Epure, Deputy Director of the NIJ. “We express our hope that, through joint efforts, we will succeed in forming a professional body of prosecutors and judges — equipped with advanced and specialized knowledge in the field of investigating crimes involving the use of electronic and virtual currencies,” he added.

The training placed particular emphasis on practical exercises and mock trials, allowing participants to simulate courtroom presentations, translate complex technical data into accessible legal arguments, and develop strategies for asset tracing, seizure, and confiscation of virtual assets.

“This kind of crime is relatively new for Moldova. Criminal prosecution authorities do not have so much experience in handling such cases and I believe that the topics covered in this workshop are very timely and they will be very useful for our work,” said one of the participating prosecutors.

As in the first session, the workshop was preceded by a public lecture on virtual assets, offering future judges and prosecutors the opportunity to learn about crime typologies involving virtual assets, and to analyse a real-life case study from a neighbouring country.

These activities were organized as part of the OSCE extrabudgetary project, “Innovative policy solutions to mitigate money-laundering risks of virtual assets”, implemented by OCEEA, with the financial support from Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.

VIENNA, 22 October 2025 - The OSCE Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) and the Forum on Information and Democracy (FID) launched today a new policy manual on “Safeguarding Media Freedom in the Age of Big Tech Platforms and AI”. The publication for OSCE participating States aims to protect freedom of expression and media freedom, as well as promoting information integrity and independent public interest journalism in the digital era. The manual was presented as part of the OSCE RFoM’s “Healthy Online Information Spaces: From Policy Guidance to Pathways Forward” conference, held in Vienna and online.

The publication was developed in co-operation with the FID and with the support of an international steering committee consisting of renowned experts from across the OSCE region. It is the outcome of over a year of in-depth research and analysis, several expert roundtables, and consultations involving over 150 leading scholars and practitioners.

Highlighting the profound impact of AI and digital platforms on information spaces, as well as challenges related to the concentration of power and the lack of transparency, accountability, and human rights due diligence, the policy manual provides concrete guidance to promote the visibility and viability of public interest journalism as well as the safety of journalists online.

“States have an obligation to protect and promote media freedom, by ensuring an enabling environment that fosters democratic debate, and the free exchange of ideas and information. This includes ensuring that Big Tech doesn’t employ strategies that limit access to journalistic content. Our new policy manual offers analysis, tools and principled guidance, grounded in international human rights standards and OSCE commitments, to support States in designing frameworks that safeguard media pluralism, independence and public interest,” said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Ambassador Jan Braathu.

Journalism finds itself in a complex relation with Big Tech, increasingly depending on it for audiences, financial models, and — to a large degree —the dissemination of news content. This results in a struggle for news visibility, which affects access to accurate, fact-based information as well as the economic and financial sustainability of media outlets.

Camille Grenier, Executive Director of the Forum on Information and Democracy, underlined that: “The behaviour of Big Tech has shown us that we can only guarantee media freedom and access to reliable information if States implement democratic rules in the information space. Building upon international human rights law, OSCE commitments, and the Declaration of the Partnership for Information and Democracy, this policy manual provides guidance enabling States to act urgently and in multilateral co-operation.”

Anya Schiffrin and Natali Helberger, co-chairs of the Steering Committee, highlighted that “the current concentration of economic, technological and political power in the hands of a few Big Tech platforms that control large parts of the digital information infrastructure is a threat to democracy”. They underlined that “the policy manual formulates concrete steps to safeguard media freedom in the age of Big Tech platforms and AI”.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He 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

Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented their final report on Germany’s 2025 early parliamentary elections in Berlin and discussed its key findings and recommendations.

The discussions with government officials, the election administration, relevant Committees of the Bundestag, the Federal Constitutional Court, the campaign finance oversight body and representatives of civil society organizations focused on plans to undertake a comprehensive legal reform, effective measures to increase women’s active participation in political life, efforts to address disinformation and manipulative content, establishing an effective oversight body for campaign finance and ensuring the right to a timely legal remedy.

“We appreciate the ongoing dialogue with the German authorities on ODIHR’s electoral recommendations, and value their openness to making use of our assessments as a means of strengthening the democratic process,” said Tana de Zulueta, Head of the ODIHR Election Assessment Mission for the February 2025 early parliamentary elections. “We were informed of planned amendments to the electoral legislation and the establishment of a working group in Parliament by the ruling coalition to that end. As recommended, we encourage an open and consultative discussion of the reforms well in advance of the next elections.”

ODIHR experts also outlined potential areas for ODIHR’s engagement with national institutions and offered assistance to bring the electoral process closer in line with OSCE commitments and international standards, including legal reviews and sharing of best practices.

ODIHR’s election observation also assesses the country’s efforts to implement previous recommendations through changes in legislation, procedures and practices. For Germany, the ODIHR mission evaluated the follow-up to recommendations on the 2021 and 2017 parliamentary elections and concluded that one recommendation was fully implemented and four were partially addressed, while the others remain to be carried out.

Further details can be found in the ODIHR Electoral Recommendations Database. All OSCE participating States have committed to following up promptly on ODIHR's election assessments and recommendations.

600055 Communication and Media Relations Section

On 22 October, the OSCE, through its Gender Issues Programme and with the support of the WIN project, marked the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security with a high-level event in Vienna. The event brought together participants from all three editions of the Women Peace Leadership Programme (WPLP) – the flagship mentoring initiative under the OSCE Networking Platform for Women Leaders, including peacebuilders and mediators.

This milestone event comes at a critical time. While the OSCE has made measurable progress since implementing its Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality in 2004 - launching numerous initiatives across its 57 participating States to support women's leadership - significant challenges remain and a growing global backlash against women's rights call for renewed commitment and action.

Opened by the OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, Finland’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE and Chair of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Vesa Häkkinen, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OSCE, Ambassador Raphael Nägeli, Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta to the OSCE  Deborah Borg, the event brought together representatives from participating States, Partners for Co-operation and WPLP alumnae to discuss innovative strategies and collaborative pathways to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda over the next 25 years.

In his remarks, OSCE Secretary General Ambassador Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu emphasized that societies “Women and girls suffer disproportionately from conflict. Yet women often remain sidelined from decision-making processes that affect societies as a whole. This undermines the sustainability and durability of peace processes. At the OSCE, we recognize the vital role that women play in rebuilding societies and we invest in supporting women’s participation in peace and security efforts”.

Dr. Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues and Head of the Gender Issues Programme, highlighted women's role in comprehensive and lasting peace agreements: "Bringing their voices to the forefront is necessary for effective conflict resolution efforts, as their diverse perspectives enrich peacebuilding processes and promote a culture of peace”.

Three thematic panels explored key dimensions of the Women, Peace and Security agenda: The first, "Women, Peace and Security agenda throughout the years: What works?", examined effective practices and developed concrete recommendations for progress. The second, "Women and Climate: A Call to Action," addressed the nexus between women, climate, and security, highlighting the importance of women's participation in climate-related decision-making. The final panel, "OSCE Tools to Advance WPS," explored ways to enhance women's meaningful participation in peace processes through collaborative approaches.

Launched in 2022 as part of the multi-year project WIN for Women and Men, the Women Peace Leadership Programme is a high-level mentoring initiative designed to support and empower women peacebuilders from across the OSCE region and Afghanistan through extensive training on leadership, mediation, and communication skills, as well as mentoring by internationally renowned women leaders. 

600187 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

Some sixty IT students and faculty members learnt about potential challenges of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) during an OSCE-organized lecture session that took place on 23 October 2025 at the Turkmen Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics.

Otabek Rashidov, Programme Officer from the Action against Terrorism Unit of the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department, delivered the lecture to enhance the understanding of young IT professionals of potential risks and opportunities of new technologies and their benefits for academic studies.

“The topic of this session is the responsible use of AI, a subject that lies at the intersection of technological progress and ethical foresight,” said William Leaf, Head of Centre, OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“While AI has an incredible potential to innovate, create and find new technological solutions, it also brings significant responsibilities,” stressed Leaf.

“I am confident, this learning opportunity will become an important platform for sharing knowledge, challenging assumptions, and building the ethical frameworks that will guide AI development and its responsible use by young generation.”

During his presentation, Otabek Rashidov elaborated on the history of AI and ethical aspects of its use, sharing practical examples and stimulating lively discussions. Discussions  emphasized the importance of the responsible use of AI for professional and personal development, protection of core human rights and dignity, and creation of safe digital environment.

The presentation is part of continued co-operation with the Cyber Security Centre of Excellence of the Institute of Telecommunications and Informatics of Turkmenistan established in 2022 with the support of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

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On 29 and 30 September, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) conducted a specialized training course on gender-based violence (GBV) for 30 police and judicial professionals in Podgorica, Montenegro.

Tailored to the specific needs of practitioners in the country, the training aimed to foster a shared understanding of trauma-informed and victim-centred approaches to addressing GBV. It also enhanced participants' knowledge of the national legal frameworks, while raising awareness of the profound and far-reaching impacts of GBV on victims, their families, communities and society as a whole.

By bringing together professionals from across the criminal justice sector, the training also sought to foster stronger inter-institutional co-operation in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of GBV cases — a crucial element in ensuring a comprehensive and effective criminal justice response.

A highlight of the training was the presentation of Lullaby Goodbye, a theatre performance conceptualized by TNTD’s Strategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU) and based on the real-life experiences of a survivor of online GBV. The performance served as a powerful awareness-raising tool, illustrating the evolving nature of gender-based abuse. Real case examples provided practical insights, underscoring the importance of integrating survivor perspectives into professional practice.

Participants also deepened their understanding of victim-centred approaches in the context of recent national legal reforms, including the criminalization of sexual harassment. They enhanced their practical skills in evidence collection and explored the importance of risk-assessment tools and effective multi-sectoral co-ordination. Particular emphasis was placed on the critical role of first-line police supervisors in promoting GBV-sensitive practices among first responders.

The course was held by TNTD’s SPMU in co-operation with the OSCE Gender Issues Programme, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Centre for Training in the Judiciary and State Prosecution of Montenegro.

The training was organized within the framework of the OSCE’s ongoing efforts to promote gender-responsive policing under the TNTD/SPMU regional project “Enhancing Criminal Justice Capacities for Combating Gender-based Violence in South-Eastern Europe”, with financial support from, Austria, Finland, France Germany, Italy and Norway.

600001 Communication and Media Relations Section

On 15 and16 October, the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Issues Programme organized a two-day training session for 21 mentors of the first Mentoring programme for women police officers within the National Police of Ukraine.

The development of this Mentoring programme and the preparation of mentors form part of a joint initiative between the Department of Main Inspectorate and Human Rights Compliance of the National Police of Ukraine and the OSCE Gender Issues Programme, implemented through the WIN Project. This initiative aims to strengthen women's leadership in law enforcement.

Opening of the training, Vadym Filin, Deputy Head of the Department and Head of the Human Rights Compliance Unit, emphasized the importance of empowering women in policing.

“The National Police of Ukraine fully supports the development of women’s leadership. Women who combine professionalism, commitment, and a strong sense of duty play a crucial role in building a modern and resilient law enforcement system,” he stated.

The training marked the first stage of a nine-month pilot mentoring programme, set to begin in November 2025 across four regions of Ukraine. Twenty-one mentors will be paired with 21 mentees to promote women’s leadership, professional growth, and institutional resilience. Additional online sessions will provide ongoing support to mentors and mentees throughout the programme.

Project experts Marta Chumalo and Marta Vasylkevych guided participants through a comprehensive preparation process covering not only mentoring techniques but also self-regulation, psychological resilience, workplace discrimination prevention, and reflection on gender norms in a traditionally male-dominated environment.

Participants noted that the training increased their self-awareness and confidence, enabling them to guide their future mentees more effectively.

Through the WIN Project, the OSCE continues to support Ukraine's security institutions in promoting gender equality and inclusivity, in line with the implementation of Ukraine’s National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 regarding Women, Peace, and Security.

599995 Communication and Media Relations Section

On 13 and14 October 2025, 25 women leaders from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) took part in the final module of the leadership workshop ‘’Leading Smarter - Not Harder’’ organized by the OSCE Gender Issues Programme through the WIN Project.

Launched in 2023, this initiative builds on previous collaboration with SESU to strengthen women’s leadership and resilience in Ukraine’s security and emergency response sector. The final session focused on preventing professional burnout, enhancing resilience amid prolonged conflict, and introducing modern leadership approaches, including elements of neuroleadership. Participants also explored ways to advance gender mainstreaming within SESU, developing a women’s network within the service, and maintaining a healthy work–life balance.

The WIN Project team designed a dynamic, interactive course aimed at equipping participants with practical leadership tools while creating a space for recovery, peer support, and mutual inspiration.

Many participants highlighted the tangible impact of the last year’s workshop on their professional growth, reporting career advancement and renewed strength and motivation to continue their demanding work.

“Your strategies for building self-confidence and focusing on personal commitments helped me feel empowered even in the darkest days,” one participant noted.

This initiative reflects the OSCE’s continued commitment to advancing gender equality, promoting women’s leadership in the security sector, and strengthening institutional resilience in challenging contexts.