Congratulations to FHE Youth in Government delegation on their work at the Michigan Youth in Government Spring Conference last week in Lansing. There were approximately 600 high school students from all over the state in attendance at this conference.  Students in our delegation participated in the Youth Legislature as members of the House and Senate. […]

The post FHE Youth in Goverment appeared first on Forest Hills Public Schools.

Toronto, ON – A finance professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management received the Governor’s Award from the Bank of Canada. Mikhail (Mike) Simutin, an assistant professor of finance, will receive the award for 2017. The award recognizes outstanding academics at a relatively early stage in their careers, who are working at Canadian […]

Toronto, ON – When one atom first meets another, the precise nature of that interaction can determine much about what kinds of physical properties and behaviours will emerge. In a paper published today in Nature Physics, a team led by U of T physicist Joseph Thywissen reported their discovery of a new set of rules […]

Toronto, ON – At the Japan-Canada Summit Meeting in May 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe noted that Japan wished to support Japanese studies at Canadian universities in order to promote mutual understanding between the two countries. Today, based upon this commitment, the Government of Japan is conferring US$5 million on the University of Toronto to […]

World Health Organization Launches Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency in the Pharmaceutical Sector at University of TorontoToronto, ON – The University of Toronto and the World Health Organization are proud to launch the WHO Collaborating Centre for Governance, Accountability and Transparency for the Pharmaceutical Sector with a policy workshop and celebration at the Leslie […]

Toronto, ON – Family businesses, arguably the most important contributors to Canada’s economy, recognize the need for strong governance, but approach board oversight in a variety of ways depending on their size and stage of maturity. A survey conducted by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness (CCBE) at […]

Toronto, ON –Seven of Canada’s most active and influential organizations dedicated to advancing good governance and gender equality in the workplace, including the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, have come together to form the Canadian Gender and Good Governance Alliance (CGGGA). The new group aims to […]

One of the few silver linings of COVID-19 has been the very welcome, and long overdue, recognition given to workers who were once underappreciated in our society. Unfortunately, this increased appreciation has not always translated to adequate compensation or sufficient measures to keep workers safe, and many workers have had to fight for better protection and/or pay. Nevertheless, the pandemic has highlighted many important issues related to ...

Since more companies are putting a focus on ESG principles, the HVAC industry is positioned to turn those goals, into a reality.

Jessi Ashdown and Uri Gilad, authors of the book "Data Governance: The Definitive Guide," discuss what data governance entails, why it's important, and how it can be implemented. Host Akshay Manchale speaks with them about why data governance...

Jeroen Mulder, author of Multi-Cloud Strategy for Cloud Architects, joins host Robert Blumen for a discussion of public cloud, private cloud, and multi-cloud computing architectures and trends. They start by considering what defines cloud computing and what differentiates the major cloud providers, including whether they are more alike or different in the services they offer.  Jeroen discusses governance, regulatory compliance, and data locality as drivers of where enterprises want to run their workload. They explore use cases for multi-cloud, and discuss architectural challenges in migrating to kubernetes, as well as issues with networking, security, and identity management with multi-cloud architectures. Finally, they discuss running public cloud compute on on-prem resources with Anthos, Outback, and related technologies.

The government has announced plans to make it illegal to smoke outside schools and hospitals, and in children's playgrounds in England. They have also said that some outdoor places could become vape-free.

116-24 : List of Deliverable Canadian Government Bond Issues for the LGB, CGB, CGF and CGZ Futures Contracts

128-24 : List of Deliverable Canadian Government Bond Issues for the LGB, CGB, CGF and CGZ Futures Contracts

Like many lawmakers in Harrisburg, State Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford, Fulton and Franklin Cos.) will be keeping a close eye on budget talks at the Capitol.  The process started after Governor Wolf unveiled his budget proposal earlier this month. “It’s basically the Governor saying ‘this is my wish list,’” said Topper. “That’s the way I look at it. “ There’s a good chance that Topper and his Republican colleagues will have a different set of wishes. Topper said they will be looking at what is needed to run the government efficiently. “There’s always going to be disagreement on that number. It’s a negotiation,” he said. “But from my standpoint, I’m always going to be advocating for spending less money–being more efficient with what we have and not going back to the tax payers for their hard-earned money.” One of the programs that Topper will be pushing for is the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, or EITC for short. It enables businesses to get a tax credit for contributing to a scholarship organization, educational improvement organization or a pre-K scholarship organization. “This is a way that we can make sure that businesses who want to contribute to our Catholic schools—and private schools really, whether they are Catholic or not, that we can’t give direct dollars to directly through the state, this is a chance for them to be able to contribute to their communities and get tax deductions through that. It has been a widely successful program that has benefited both the communities and the businesses they serve in, as well as the schools. “ Topper sees a lot of support for not only keeping, but also increasing the EITC. “We’ve seen increases in the EITC since I’ve been here. Speaker Turzai has been leading the charge on that, as well as a former colleague of mine, Jimmy Christiana and Senator Regan when he was Representative Regan in the House. There’s a lot of bi-partisan support for increasing the EITC. “ Another issue that Topper will keep his eye is abortion. He is part of a staunch Pro-Life Caucus at the Capitol. Like many of his colleagues he was alarmed by what happened in New York with the new abortion law. “You’ve seen a lot of—even millennials,” Topper said, “who have come to understand that – I think technology has really made a difference, when you can see these children through ultrasounds…I knew what my kids looked like before they were born. That technology wasn’t available back in the time of Roe V. Wade.” “It just wasn’t something that people could look at and understand. Now they can. The science is on our side. And I think that’s one social and cultural issue that we’ve moved to our side, the pro-life movement.” And Topper joined his colleagues in adding re-assurance to pro-lifers in PA. “This is something I don’t expect to see in Pennsylvania under this legislature but we have to have an answer for it—as we talk about the value of life at conception, what these little children mean to us as a society and how we are going to protect them.”    

Justin had the news from the People's Bank of China here:

• PBOC governor will maintain yuan exchange rate at a reasonable, balanced level

PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng emphasized the Bank will not let the yuan plummet without a fight:

• Will step up countercyclical adjustment
• Should resolutely guard against the risk of exchange rate overshoot

With the surging USD after Trump's win the yuan is just one of many weaker currencies:

At 10 am Sydney time on Thursday, November 14, 2024,

• Panel Participation by RBA Governor Michele Bullock, at the ASIC Annual Forum, Sydney
• that's 2300 GMT, 1800 US Eastern time on Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Perhaps we'll hear something on wages data from earlier today:

• Australia data - Wage Price Index for Q3 2024: +0.8% q/q (expected +0.9%, prior +0.8%)

But, probably not:

• Australia - "Wage inflation is moderating as expected"

The RBA next meet on December 9 and 10 and no change to the cash rate is widely expected.

For some context, these subsidies did come to an end in May but were reinstated in August through to October to cope with the warmer weather. Subsequently, they were continued until this year-end but the funds had to be drawn from reserves in the budget for the fiscal year that started in April.

NHK is now reporting that the government is considering keeping these subsidies from January through to March next year. Amid a higher cost of living in key populated areas such as Tokyo, the measure above is mainly to try and combat rising consumer prices.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Association of Broadcasters announced Charlyn Stanberry has joined the organization as vice president of Government Relations, effective today. Stanberry will report to Shawn Donilon, executive vice president of Government Relations.

Ray Quiñones has joined the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) as director of Government Relations, effective today. Quiñones will report to Shawn Donilon, executive vice president of Government Relations.

Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Room 21, Parliament Buildings

Room 29, Parliament Buildings

Room 21, Parliament Buildings

Room 30, Parliament Buildings

Even for organizations that are banking on SOA, SOA governance remains a largely informal process. Bad idea, say experts Cathy Lippert, Mark Dutra, and Bruce Bailey.

Wikis and spreadsheets are great tools - but not for SOA governance. Experts Cathy Lippert, Mark Dutra, and Bruce Bailey talk about the importance of maintaining and carefully managing an inventory of SOA assets.

What's the connection between a well-managed inventory of SOA assets, project delivery, and high-level architecture? Experts Cathy Lippert, Mark Dutra, and Bruce Bailey explain.

Experts Eric Stephens and Tim Hall discussion why it's important to revived the dormant conversation about IT governance.

Balancing functional, technical, operational requirements to meet the challenge of defining appropriate governance "guardrails."

Bringing IT architecture out of the ivory tower to make governance a less intimidating, more collaborative process.

What are we talking about when we talk about SOA Governance? Why does is matter?

Some things never change: Exploring the most persistent SOA Governance challenges.

The most common SOA Governance mistakes and why organizations make them.

Cloud, mobile, IoT - what new challenges face SOA Governance in the rapid evolution of enterprise IT?

SARAJEVO, 9 June 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in co-operation with the Fojnicani-Maglaj Association, facilitated today a visit to the National Museum of BiH in Sarajevo for 50 students and teachers of Zepce’s Fra Grga Martic and Maglaj primary schools and their branch schools in Bradici and Tujnica.

The aim of the excursion, a rare opportunity for the children to visit the capital, was to promote cultural values and help build a more tolerant and cohesive society in the Maglaj and Zepce municipalities.

During their visit, the students and school principals had the opportunity to meet with Jonathan Moore, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We should invest more effort in creating opportunities for children to spend time with each other and learn from each other,” said Moore.

“The children visited the Museum, which is always very inspirational for our pupils. They get creative and express their impressions in the classroom through essays and art projects,” said Ivo Bilonic, Principal of Fra Grga Martic primary school from Zepce.

Osman Mujdza, Principal of Maglaj primary school, said: “Our school has had a very successful co-operation with the OSCE Mission to BiH so far. This activity enables the children not only to familiarize themselves with the cultural and historic heritage of BiH but also to forge closer ties among each other.”  

Strengthening multi-ethnic co-operation and tolerance in local communities is an important part of this visit. “We want to contribute to developing a culture of peace and creating better conditions for those living in rural areas,” said Davor Supukovic, member of the Steering Board of the Fojnicani-Maglaj Association.

The visit was organized as part of the OSCE Mission’s efforts to create closer links between schools and local communities through education about the diversity of the peoples, religions and traditions of BiH as a source of respect and pride.

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NEUM, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12 June 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a two-day alumni meeting for over 20 students who attended the OSCE-organized Youth and Security Summer School when it was held for the first time last year. The peace and security studies students of the Universities of Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka discussed current security challenges and ways to promote youth participation in the development of a comprehensive security policy for BiH.

“The meeting is an excellent opportunity for enhancing the knowledge and capacity of future security professionals. It provides a platform for them to actively participate in developing and implementing security policy,” said Jonathan Moore, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH. “The recommendations they produced will be forwarded to the BiH Council of Ministers’ Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Monitoring and Implementation of Security Policy.”

Damjan Jugovic, student at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo and member of the OSCE’s Youth Advisory Group said: “This is a chance for us to get more acquainted with the work of different security and intelligence agencies in BiH and support the co-operation between students from different universities.”

The students also expressed hope that affiliation with the summer school would help them in their future careers. “Having met peers from Mostar and Banja Luka, I realized that we all think alike. We want change and a better future. I am sure the practical knowledge we gained from the school will increase our chances for employment,” said Jovana Bilinac, student at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo.

The main goal of the Summer School on Youth and Security of the OSCE Mission to BiH is to promote the development of democratic institutions through education of young security experts. The school provides a forum for them to discuss a wide range of security- and policy-related issues and increases their participation in political life as well as decision-making processes.

The organization of the alumni meeting was supported by the Hungarian Embassy in BiH. 

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• Visit to Jajce of international community representatives led by OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
• OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina facilitates visit to National Museum for children from Zepce and Maglaj
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VIENNA, 16 June 2016 - OSCE Heads of Delegations will visit the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 19 to 22 June 2016, where they will learn more about the Mission’s work and see first-hand how post-conflict rehabilitation and reform is progressing in the country.

The ambassadors of the OSCE participating States will visit Sarajevo and Travnik. They plan to meet BiH Presidency members; the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs; representatives of the Inter-Religious Council, international organizations, media and civil society; and visit a storage site for weapons taken out of use.

The visit will focus on areas where the OSCE is working to help build a peaceful, stable future for the country, including education; tolerance and non-discrimination; countering violent extremism; and post-conflict reconciliation, specifically focusing on questions relating to war crimes and sexual violence in conflict.
 
Ambassador Sian MacLeod, Head of the UK Delegation to the OSCE, who is leading the ambassadorial visit, said Heads of Delegations are looking forward to visiting BiH - an OSCE participating State where the organization invests significant time and resources - and are keen to demonstrate their support for the OSCE Mission’s work.

“I am grateful to the German Chairmanship for asking me to organize this visit, demonstrating the continuing commitment of OSCE states to security and stability in the Western Balkans,” said Ambassador MacLeod. “I hope that our visit will underline the importance of reconciliation and reform for a secure, prosperous future for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
 
Ambassador Jonathan Moore, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, expressed his confidence that the trip will foster understanding among Heads of Delegations of the country and the Mission’s role, including its work at the local level.
 
For questions related to the visit, please contact: Zeljka.Sulc@osce.org and Andrew.Peebles@fco.gov.uk       

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JAJCE, 19 July 2016 – The recent decision of the Central Bosnian Canton Assembly to divide the secondary school in Jajce, despite court decisions and students’ protests, was the main focus of discussions held today by representatives of the international community in BiH, including the Office of the High Representative, the French Embassy and the USAID Mission Director, who joined the Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, Ambassador Jonathan Moore, in meetings with Jajce municipal authorities and civil society. 

Ambassador Moore condemned the decision by the Cantonal Assembly to divide the students against their will. “The children of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve the best conditions for inclusive, quality education.  The creation of yet another case of ‘two schools under one roof’ is a move in exactly the wrong direction, and is not the way to solve other questions such as questions of curriculum or educational certificates.  Practice has shown that administrative unification of divided schools improves conditions for learning and saves scarce resources.  The Canton cannot afford the schools it has now.  We should respect both principles of inclusion and the will of the students.  Local authorities in Jajce should withdraw their request, and cantonal authorities should not implement this mistaken decision,” said Ambassador Moore.

“The recent demonstrations we have seen show that children in Jajce do not want to be divided.  In this, they have our admiration and support. OHR joins the call for authorities of the Central Bosnia Canton to rethink the decision to form a new school in Jajce, and instead refocus their efforts to find solutions to problems in the education sector without endangering the multi-ethnic character of Jajce and the Central Bosnia Canton, “ said Michael Doyle, attending the visit on behalf of the High Representative Valentin Inzko.

“The unity and strength of France are mirrored in the existence of unified schools for all children. As friends of this country, we the French people want to see the same values and principles to be implemented in BiH. I would like to congratulate the Jajce students for their fight and collective spirit”, said Donato Guiliani, cultural counsellor of the French Embassy and director of the French Institute in BiH.

This is the third OSCE-organized visit of international community members to schools and communities in BiH.

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SARAJEVO, 8 April 2016 – On occasion of International Roma Day, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina organized several events in Tuzla, Prnjavor and Zivinice to raise public awareness on serious economic, social and political challenges the Roma community continues to face in BiH.

Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Ambassador Jonathan Moore underlined the importance of protecting, promoting and advancing the rights of Roma and other national minorities in BiH. “For more than a decade we have been assisting the authorities to address the marginalization and discrimination of Roma and to ensure equality of opportunity for Roma in access and treatment in areas of education, housing, health care, and public participation. We are grateful to many persons in BiH for their positive contributions.”

At the diploma ceremony to most accomplished Roma students from Tuzla Canton held today in Zivince, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Canton Tuzla Zlatan Muratovic applauded all efforts leading toward including Roma people in the education system and gender equality. “Our priority is to include all Roma people in the education system of the Tuzla Canton and to continue promoting Roma enrolment in elementary and secondary schools and universities. We want the Roma people to be socially active and economically independent.”

President of the Association “Euro Rom” Nedzad Jusic expressed his gratitude for being a part of such an important celebration for Roma people. “I hope we will be able to further improve the position of Roma people in Tuzla Canton, working together to implement joint policies and activities.”

At a roundtable held in Prnjavor participants discussed the good practices and challenges in the implementation of Roma Action Plan. “Today, we would also like to express our appreciation to dr. Siniša Gatarić mayor of the Municipality Prnjavor for supporting development of Local Roma Action Plan adopted in October last year,” said President of Roma NGO Romani Cej Snjezana Mirkovic.

The OSCE Mission to BiH continues to support the implementation of the Roma Action Plan for Housing, including by monitoring the selection of beneficiaries and mediating between local authorities and the Roma community when the need arises. Since 2008 more than 750 housing units for Roma have been built in BiH.

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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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Some 70 representatives of akimats (municipalities) in villages of Kazakhstan’s Tselinograd District’s met on 27 May 2016 in Akmol, Akmola region, to discuss the ongoing local self-governance reform and brainstormed on how to further develop the legal and institutional framework.

The event participants reviewed economic and financial aspects of local self-governance, administrative offences proceedings, public procurement, state property management as well as community involvement in the decision-making process at the local level.

The training seminar was supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the National Economy Ministry. The event is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to promote good governance and democratization in Kazakhstan. 

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BISHKEK, 22 June 2016 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek supported a two-day Internet Governance Forum in Central Asia, the first of its kind, which concluded today in the Kyrgyz capital.

Some 100 specialists in the field of internet governance and development, including representatives of the Central Asian state authorities, telecommunication experts, internet service providers, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations from Europe and Central Asia, discussed issues related to cyber security and regulations, the development of the Domain Name System (DNS) industry, as well as global and national approaches to accessing the internet.

“Kyrgyzstan ceased to be a ‘dead-end’ country in terms of the Internet in 2015 and has opened connections to countries in South-East and South Asia,” said Ernis Mamyrkanov, Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Transport and Communication. “This enhances the role of Kyrgyzstan in the issue of regional transit. Now we need a platform where all participants can discuss relevant issues and this Forum is intended to take that place.”

Daniele Rumolo, acting Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said that governments have a role to play when it comes to regulating the Internet. “This responsibility extends to the protection from harmful content, and fighting cybercrime. However, governments must ensure that all stakeholders, including civil society, business actors, and internet-users, are consulted and continuously involved in these efforts.”

The Forum was co-organized by the Ministry of Transportation and Communication and the Civil Initiative on Internet Policy Public Foundation, supported by the SecDev Foundation (Canada), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the Internet Society, the United Nations Development Programme in Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The Forum is part of the OSCE Centre’s project on promoting national dialogue and capacity building on the information security needs of the Kyrgyz Republic. 

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SARAJEVO, 16 June 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today published the report of Judge Joanna Korner CMG QC on war crimes processing at the state level in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At a press conference held on this occasion, Ambassador Jonathan Moore, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, noted that the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has been monitoring the prosecution of war crimes before the domestic courts of BiH since 1996, as part of its mandate under the Dayton Peace Accords.

“In 2003, the Mission developed an increasingly structured trial monitoring capacity.  In November 2006, the BiH High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council issued an Opinion recognizing the role of the Mission in observing criminal proceedings, stating that the OSCE Mission’s trial monitors should be given ‘full and unrestricted access to all documents they request within their mandate which includes monitoring the activities of courts and prosecutors’ offices,’” said Moore. 

The Mission has carried out training courses and other capacity-building activities for judicial and prosecutorial staff, and provided expert advice to the judiciary based on its findings.

“The Mission is routinely asked to provide information and analysis regarding the quality of war crimes processing at the state and entity levels. These inquiries come from a variety of sources, including private persons, victims’ and survivors’ associations, ICTY, and employees of BiH judicial institutions,” said Moore. “The purpose of such inquiries is generally to understand the capacity of domestic judicial institutions for processing war crimes cases in a manner that is fair to the interests of both victims and defendants and in line with international standards, and to identify gaps in the processing of such cases.”  

Moore emphasized that it is normal in democratic societies to have a vigorous public debate about judicial processes.  “No one is universally happy with every verdict, sentence, conviction, and acquittal.  Nevertheless, justice has yet to be done in many cases, more than 20 years after the end of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

In accordance with the mandate, role, and authorities of the Mission, with the support of the HJPC and in coordination with ICTY Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and the British Embassy, Judge Korner was engaged by the OSCE Mission to BiH on the basis of her professional background and knowledge. 

Judge Korner visited BiH twice in order to review available materials, speak with prosecutors, judges, and others, and prepare an analytical report that would offer suggestions as to how to improve the processing of war crimes at the state level, at which the most complex and serious war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide cases, are processed. 

“The work of Judge Korner, her analysis and concrete advice are very valuable.  It is of course up to the institutions themselves, including the HJPC, the Prosecutor’s Office of BiH, and the Court of BiH to react to the report and to act upon its recommendations.  We respect the role of those institutions in guaranteeing the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

The Mission’s work in this regard is supported financially as part of its core budget and by additional contributions from the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Italy, and Austria, and is closely co-ordinated with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

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SARAJEVO, 16 June 2016 – An-OSCE supported course on security policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for some 30 participants from government institutions, parliament, police, armed forces, civil society, academia, media and industry concluded today in Sarajevo.

The two-week course, organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH and Council of Ministers’ Inter-ministerial Working Group on Monitoring the Implementation of BiH Security Policy, focused on the necessity of a multi-disciplinary approach and co-ordination and co-operation among various security actors. The course also aimed at increasing their knowledge of the BiH security policy and security system.

“The responsibility for security is not the exclusive domain of any one particular ministry or institution. No single institution has sufficient resources or mandate to address what have become global security concerns and problems,” said Michael Delacruz, Head of Security Co-operation Unit at the OSCE Mission to BiH.

Momir Brajic, member of the Council of Minister’s Inter-ministerial Working Group, said: “Implementation of the security policy requires a particular accent to be placed on the establishment and improvement of inter-section co-operation, principally on co-operation between the government and civil sector. Therefore, this course is an excellent forum for exchange of opinions and experiences between different actors in the area of security.”

Dario Busic, Head of the Department at the BiH Ministry of Communication and Transport, said: “The course covered very interesting topics, some of which were new for me. It, therefore, enabled me to see the field of transportation, as my field of expertise, from a new perspective.”    

The OSCE Mission to BiH and Inter-Ministerial Working Group have been organizing security policy courses since 2007 to raise understanding of BiH’s security policy and to exchange information in this area. The course is accredited by the BiH Civil Service Agency with ten credits and serves for the professional development and career advancement of civil servants.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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VIENNA, 21 July 2016 – The mass cancellation of broadcasting licenses, criminal investigations against, and dismissal of, hundreds of journalists at the state broadcaster, and blocked websites are the latest, severe challenges to freedom of expression and media freedom in Turkey, Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, said today.

Fully aligning herself with the statement made by the Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier on 16 July, strongly condemning any attempt to change the democratic order of Turkey through the use of force (statement available at www.osce.org/cio/254431), the Representative said:

“Democratically elected governments must be safeguarded, but they in turn must protect media freedom and support the role journalists play in ensuring and strengthening democracies,” Mijatović said.  “Fully recognizing the difficult times that Turkey is going through, the authorities need to ensure media freedom offline and online in line with their international commitments.”

On 19 July, the Radio and Television Supreme Council of Turkey (RTÜK) cancelled the licenses of radio and television stations that allegedly support the Gulen movement. The following television channels are currently affected: STV, Samanyolu Haber, Samanyolu Haber Radyo, Can Erzincan TV, Kanal 124, Yumurcak TV, Hira TV, MC TV, Dünya TV, Kanal Türk, Bugün TV, Mehtap TV, Berfin FM, Kanal Türk Radyo, Burç FM, Samanyolu Haber Radyosu, Radyo Mehtap, Haber Radyo Ege, Dünya Radyo, Radyo Küre, Merkür TV, Esra Radyo, Tuna Shoping TV, and Radyo Anadolu.

“Using the full force of my mandate, I urge the authorities of Turkey to ensure that pluralistic debate, diverging views and safety of journalists are respected,” Mijatović said, adding that the deteriorating media freedom situation in Turkey have been subject to numerous interventions from her Office in the past few years (available at www.osce.org/fom).

Also on 19 July, the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against 370 staff members of the state broadcaster TRT, for their alleged links to the Gulen movement.  

Further, the Representative expressed concern about the rapidly growing number of blocked websites in Turkey. In the past few days, dozens of websites suspected for endangering national security and public order have been blocked. More than 112.000 websites are reported being blocked in the country today.  

Mijatović noted with deep concern reports about death threats being made in social media against journalists critical to the authorities, and emphasized the importance of journalists’ safety. She also recalled warnings in several major media outlets announcing the possible arrests of members of the media on terrorism charges. She said that Turkey holds more journalists in prison than any other OSCE participating State – a fact her Office continuously raises attention to, by regularly publishing a detailed table on imprisoned journalists.

“Freedom of expression does not stop at views deemed appropriate by the government,” Mijatović said. “It remains the role of journalists to inform people of public issues, including highly sensitive ones, and it remains the role of the authorities to ensure that journalists can do so freely and safely.”

The Representative offered the continued assistance and expertise of her Office to the authorities in Turkey ensuring that media freedom and freedom of expression are protected, even under difficult circumstances.

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

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

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

They include:

• Verbal attacks on writer and journalist Nenad Veličković;

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

• Threats and insults against journalists of FTV Mreža magazine;

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

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

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

• Verbal threats against freelance journalist Vuk Bačanović; and

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

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

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

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VIENNA, 16 June 2016 - OSCE Heads of Delegations will visit the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 19 to 22 June 2016, where they will learn more about the Mission’s work and see first-hand how post-conflict rehabilitation and reform is progressing in the country.

The ambassadors of the OSCE participating States will visit Sarajevo and Travnik. They plan to meet BiH Presidency members; the BiH Minister of Foreign Affairs; representatives of the Inter-Religious Council, international organizations, media and civil society; and visit a storage site for weapons taken out of use.

The visit will focus on areas where the OSCE is working to help build a peaceful, stable future for the country, including education; tolerance and non-discrimination; countering violent extremism; and post-conflict reconciliation, specifically focusing on questions relating to war crimes and sexual violence in conflict.
 
Ambassador Sian MacLeod, Head of the UK Delegation to the OSCE, who is leading the ambassadorial visit, said Heads of Delegations are looking forward to visiting BiH - an OSCE participating State where the organization invests significant time and resources - and are keen to demonstrate their support for the OSCE Mission’s work.

“I am grateful to the German Chairmanship for asking me to organize this visit, demonstrating the continuing commitment of OSCE states to security and stability in the Western Balkans,” said Ambassador MacLeod. “I hope that our visit will underline the importance of reconciliation and reform for a secure, prosperous future for the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
 
Ambassador Jonathan Moore, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, expressed his confidence that the trip will foster understanding among Heads of Delegations of the country and the Mission’s role, including its work at the local level.
 
For questions related to the visit, please contact: Zeljka.Sulc@osce.org and Andrew.Peebles@fco.gov.uk       

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