I'm entranced by old technologies being rediscovered, repurposed, and reinvented. Just think, the term artificial intelligence (AI) entered the language in 1956 and you can trace natural language processing (NLP) back to Alan Turing's work starting in 1950. Text analytics has its antecedents in data mining. Data mining itself has a long history, all the way back to Thomas Bayes, who died in 1761, and his eponymous theorem that still informs algorithms regarding inference, probability, and predictions.

Enterprise search projects start with intentions to provide ?Google for our organization' but too often fail to deliver on that promise. In our experience, these projects fail due to a lack of sustained effort and governance. The commercialization of next-generation search technologies allows you to fulfill this promise if you take a systematic approach to implementation.

This image shows a particular optical illusion that confronts us every day. Notice the difference between the black text on a white background and the reverse. With reversed type — light text on a darker background — the strokes seem bolder.

Black text on white is very familiar, so we can be forgiven for thinking it correctly proportioned. For familiarity’s sake we can say it is, but there are two effects happening here: The white background bleeds over the black, making the strokes seem thinner. With reversed type the opposite is true: The white strokes bleed over the black, making it seem bolder.

One of the most obvious examples of this is with signs where the letters are punched into the surround then lit from inside. In his article, Designing the ultimate wayfinding typeface, Ralph Herrmann used his own Legibility Text Tool to simulate this effect for road and navigational signs.

One might say that characters are only correctly proportioned with low-contrast. Although objective reality hails that as true, it isn’t a good reason to always set type with low contrast. Type designers have invariably designed around optical illusions and the constraints of different media for us. Low-contrast text can also create legibility and accessibility problems. Fortunately, kind folks like Gez Lemon have provided us with simple tools to check.

As fascinating as optical illusions are —  the disturbing, impossible art of Escher comes to mind — we can design around reversed body type. On the Web, increasing tracking and leading are as simple as increasing the mis-named letter-spacing and line-height in CSS. However, decreasing font weight is a thornier problem. Yes, we will be able to use @font-face to select a variant with a lighter weight, but the core web fonts offer us no options, and there are only a few limited choices with system fonts like Helvetica Neue.

Reversing a logotype

For logotype there are plenty of options, but it makes me slightly uncomfortable to consider switching to a lighter font for reversed type logos. The typeface itself is not the logotype; the variant is, so switching font could be tricky. Ironically, I’d have to be very sure that that was no perceivable difference using a lighter weight font. Also, with display faces, there’s often not a lighter weight available — a problem I came across designing the Analog logo.

The logotype worked well when testing it in black on white. However, I wanted a reversed version, too. That’s when I noticed the impact of the optical illusion:

It looked bloated! Objective reality be damned; it simply wouldn’t do. After a few minutes contemplating the carnage of adjusting every control point by hand, I remembered something; eureka!

Punching the paths through a background image in Fireworks CS4 removed the illusion. (Select both the path and the background then using Modify > Combine Paths > Punch.) Is this a bug? I don’t know, but if it is, it’s a useful one for a change!

I grinned. I was happy. All was well with the world again. Lovely! Now I could go right ahead and think about colour and I wouldn’t be far from done. This is how it emerged:

A final note on logotype design & illusions

Before we even got to actual type for the Analog logo, we first had to distill what it would convey. In our case, Alan took us through a process to define the brand values and vision. What emerged were keywords and concepts that fed into the final design. The choice of type, colour, and setting were children of that process. Style is the offspring of meaning.

I always work in greyscale for the first iterations of a new logo for a few simple reasons:

1. The form has to work independently of colour — think printing in greyscale or having the logo viewed by people with a colour-impairment.
2. It allows for quick testing of various sizes — small, high contrast versions will emphasise rendering and legibility issues at screen resolutions, especially along curves.
3. I like black and white. :)

I realise that in this day and age the vast majority of logos need to perform primarily on the Web. However, call me old-fashioned, but I still think that they should work in black and white, too.

Brands and display faces emerged with consumer culture during the 19^th Century. Logotypes were displayed prominently in high streets, advertising hoardings, and on sign boards. In many instances the message would be in black and white. They were designed to be legible from a distance, at a glance, and to be instantly recognisable. Even with colour, contrast was important.

The same is true for the Web today; only the context has changed, and the popularity of logomarks and icons. We should always test any logo at low resolutions and sizes, and the brand must still have good contrast (regardless of WCAG 2.0) to be optimal. A combination of colour and form works wonders, but in a world of a million colours where only a handful are named in common parlance, having the right form still seems a smarter choice than trying to own a palette or colour.

A final word

This article was prompted by a happy accident followed by a bit of reading. There are many references to optical illusions in design and typography books. The example image at the start of this article was inspired by one found in the excellent Stop Stealing Sheep and Find Out How Type Works by Erik Spiekermann and E.M. Ginger. There’s also plenty of online material about optical or visual illusions you can dive into. There’s also more on . Oh, and don’t forget the work of M. C. Escher!

Human eyes are amazing. In two sets of watery bags we get a wide-angle lens with incredibly sharp focus and ridiculous depth of field. Apparently our brain is even clever enough to compensate for the lag in the signal getting from retina to cortex. I know next to nothing about ocular science. Spending a morning reading and thinking about optical illusions, and contemplating my own view here in the garden office is pretty awe-inspiring. If only my photographs were as good as my eyes, illusions or no.

Preset (Everyday) + transform + exposure + graduated filter + radial filter. If shots like this take more than 2 minutes to edit, it’s probably not worth editing. ⏱
—
Boxing Day will be the last day to get my Lightroom presets discounted, which leaves you only 3 more days! Get on it! ???? (at Toronto, Ontario)

Merry Xmas everyone! It’s giveaway time! ????????
.
Thank you to all those who participated in my preset giveaway this week! The support makes all the hard work and extra effort worth it!
.
Without further ado, the randomly drawn winners of my custom Lightroom presets are @l9lee @rchellau @bokeh.jay! Congrats and check your DMs soon for details! ????
.
You still have until tomorrow to grab my presets (which this shot was edited with) for 50% off! They’ll be going back to regular price after so don’t miss out! ???? (at Toronto, Ontario)

I’ve gone subway hopping for photos in every city I’ve been to except the one I live in. ???? (at Toronto, Ontario)

Incident Name: LUCKNOW DR
Territory: CFA
Agency: CFA
Fire District: North Central
Incident No: 189525
Date/Time: 14/11/2024 22:44:00
Type: OTHER
Location: BEVERIDGE
Status: Responding
Size: SMALL
Vehicles: 0
Latitude: -37.4764620871069
Longitude: 144.94403673476685

Adrian Stevenson works for the Learning Technology Services Team which is part of Internet Services at the University of Manchester. He is responsible for investigating and assessing emerging Web and elearning technologies and is the organiser of the University's eLearning Technologies Group. His experience is in Web-based systems design and development using HTML, XML and Web Service technologies. Adrian has also worked for MIMAS, a national data centre based at the University of Manchester, on the JISC-funded JORUM project (2002-2005). Prior to this he was a Web Developer for Multimedia Services at Leeds Metropolitan University (2001-2002) and the Web Editor at King's College London (2000-2001). Adrian first studied Economics and later Continental Philosophy at the University of Warwick. Following this he became a professional guitarist in a number of bands based in London, as well as a Sound Engineer for a number of independent artists including My Bloody Valentine. Adrian facilitated a workshop session on "Know Me Knowing YouTube".

Steven Warburton is an e-learning ICT manager at King's College London with a wealth of experience in the implementation and evaluation of learning technology within a variety of educational settings. He has managed both technical and pedagogically driven e-learning projects that have included work on personal publishing tools, social software, virtual learning environments, and the development of blended teaching programmes. Steven gave a plenary talk on "What does 'Community of Practice' mean for Institutional Web Managers?".

David Hyett, Head of Information and Records Management, British Antarctic Survey gives a plenary talk on Web 2.0 - Whatever Happened to Web 1.0? At the start of the redevelopment of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) external Web site, there was initial enthusiasm for "Web 2.0" with many stakeholders using the term without actually knowing what it meant. Fancy, interactive interfaces, are no substitute for good information architecture, good navigation and good content - all of which should be underpinned by understanding the user and their goals. The session will look at how the Web 2.0 concept can be interpreted and will argue that it should be used with caution. Web 2.0 by any definition is likely to have its place within an organisation's Web strategy but should only be considered once we've got Web 1.0 right! And let's now forget about "Usability 2.0" and "Accessibility 2.0" either! The experience and lessons learned by BAS will be highlighted.

A new Victorian Government medical technology strategy will position Victoria as an internationally competitive developer of medical technology. Victoria’s Medical Technology Industry Strategy will create more high value jobs and attract investment for the state’s advanced manufacturing sector.

Victoria will host an unprecedented number of international sporting, arts, cultural and trade events between 9 January and 29 March 2015 as part of the 80 Days of Melbourne initiative. A business-hosting component of the initiative is designed to attract high profile, senior international business leaders to Melbourne to secure international investment and jobs for Victoria.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 2:00pm
Location: Duderstadt Center
Organized By: Engineering Education Research

Abstract: Engineering textbooks have problems, and those problems have problems. While they may be complex and time-consuming, textbook problems are “tidy” in that they are well-defined, closed-ended, and decontextualized. In contrast, the practice of engineering is “messy.” The design process is ill-defined, modeling and analysis are open-ended, and the engineered systems affect and are affected by society in positive and negative ways. In this talk I frame the messiness of engineering as an important part of the conversation about DEI in engineering. By exposing students to the messiness of engineering throughout their undergraduate education, instructors can better prepare students for their careers; help students to reflect upon their views and biases; and present engineering as socially constructed, instead of inherently upholding a white supremacist culture. I will then present the SHUTTLE Lab’s design-based research approach to putting some of this messiness back into engineering science courses. Specifically, I will describe our work addressing the messiness of mathematical modeling. We are focused on the professional skill of engineering judgment, and are simultaneously creating open-ended modeling problems, studying emerging engineering modeling judgment, and training faculty to notice and respond to their students’ displays of engineering judgment.

Bio: Aaron W. Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering and a Core Faculty member in Engineering Education Research at the University of Michigan. His design-based research focuses on how to re-contextualize engineering science engineering courses to better reflect and prepare students for the reality of ill-defined, sociotechnical engineering practice. Aaron holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Michigan and a Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was an instructor in Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. Outside of work, Aaron enjoys collecting LEGO NASA sets, camping, and playing disc golf.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

In 2015, Johnson & Johnson launched WiSTEM2D – Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing, and Design (STEM2D) – initiative to promote learning and career opportunities in STEM2D disciplines. Led by a network of volunteers from across Johnson & Johnson and its local operating companies, this ambitious initiative seeks to promote learning across Youth, University and Professionals.  We are inviting university students to participate in a WiSTEM2D Virtual Event – Leadership Development Program Panel! Participants will hear fromfive female panelists working in a variety of pharmaceutical and medical technology roles at Johnson & Johnson, on the topics noted above, as well as an opportunity to submit questions.- Meredith DiBona, Associate Director – Global Trial Associate Leadership Development ProgramLead- Erin McGrann, Global Trial Associate (GTA) – Global TrialAssociate Leadership Development Program- Kaiya Mitchell, Global Trial Associate (GTA) – Global Trial Associate Leadership Development Program- Nora Tovar, Early In Career Programs Manager, MedTech – R&D Leadership Development Program- Saila Incollingo, IT Director, MedTech – Technology Leadership Development Program

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Fall Into A Classroom by Joining Beaufort County School District's Fall Virtual Hiring Event! The Recruiting Team for Beaufort County School District (BCSD) in South Carolina is seeking the best and brightest teachersfor a January 2024 start! Located south ofCharleston and north of Savannah, the Beaufort County School District isa diverse community encompassing Bluffton, Beaufort, and Hilton Head. If you like plentiful sunshine, intercoastal waterways and hundreds of miles of beaches, it might be just the place for you! We are hosting a hiring event for upcoming December graduates interested in a certified teaching position in January! We pride ourselves on creating an amazing environment for new college graduates to thrive from around the country! We are excited to announce that we offer the following life-changing perks! $51,816 First Year Tacher Salary | One of the Top Paying Districts in South CarolinaLocality Supplement of $1,500 each year (Only $750 for January – May)Comprehensive Induction and Mentoring Program of Support for Career GrowthCompetitive Benefits and Retirement PackageNo Cost & Anonymous Virtual Mental Health CounselingEducational Support for TeachersPrime Opportunities for Internal Career MobilityAn Abundance of Professional Development OpportunitiesBeautiful Location, Weather and LifestyleClose to Charleston (SC), Savannah (GA) and Jacksonville (FL) We would love to invite you to register to our virtual hiring event which we will hold on November 14th, from 1pm-5pm. To get started, complete an application via Frontline. Once you have completed your online application, you will be ableto select an interview time that works best for you via Calendly. If you are ready to learn more about our school district, check out our Back to School Video, highlighting some of our schools in the county.  Are you wondering what makes Beaufort County School District so special? Our amazing teachers have the answers! ????✨ Check out these inspiring stories from our educators, sharing why they chose to join BCSD and what makes our community the perfect place to grow, learn, and make a difference. ❤️???? ???? Watch their stories here and discover the heart and passion that drive our schools! #WhyBCSD #LiveWhereYouLoveLoveWhereYouWork We cannot wait to meet you! The Recruiting TeamBeaufort County School District (SC)bcsdrecruiters@beaufort.k12.sc.usOffice Number: 843-379-6920

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 1:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

FALL into a career that changes lives!  Mark your calendar for the upcoming Virtual Hiring Event, become a teacher with Beaufort County School District, and start in January 2025!???? Why Join Beaufort County School District? ????Looking for a place where you can live where you love and love where you work? ???? Beaufort County School District is calling your name! Here’s why you should consider becoming part of our amazing team:✨ Locality Supplement - We value our educators and reward them for choosing to work in our beautiful community. ???? Affordable Afterschool Childcare - Peace of mind with affordable care for your little ones aged 5-12. ???? Two-Year Induction & Mentoring Program - We support our new teachers every step of the way. ????️ Prime Location - From the charm of Hilton Head Island to the vibrant communities of Bluffton and Beaufort, you’ll be working in some of the most desirable areas in the Lowcountry. ???? Close to Charleston & Savannah - Enjoy the perks of living near these historic cities. ???? Internal Career Mobility - Grow your career with us, and explore endless opportunities within the district. ???? Professional Development - We’re committed to your growth with ample opportunities to enhance your skills.Join us and make a difference in a place you’ll be proud to call home! ???? #BeaufortCountySchools #TeachingInParadise #CareerInEducation #JoinOurTeam

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 12:00pm
Location: Dental & W.K. Kellogg Institute
Organized By: Office of Research School of Dentistry

Oral Health Sciences Seminar Series

Leveraging Focused Ultrasound to Drive Tissue Regeneration via On-Demand Modulation of Microenvironmental Cues

Mario L. Fabiilli, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Radiology
Department of Biomedical Engineering

Thursday, November 14, 2024
12:00 – 1:00pm
DENT G550
Host: Dr. Renny Franceschi
Sponsored by TEAM

*CE credit will be given to the School of Dentistry Faculty. If you would like CE credit, please sign in at the seminar

The post Working Families reveals average parental benefits appeared first on Personnel Today.

Midsummers Eve by Sally Caldwell Fisher is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to pcs

Everlasting Armes Canvas Framed by Master Peace Collection is a(n) Open Edition. The Edition is Limited to Open Edition pcs

Officials from the U.S., Canada, and Finland on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that formally launches a trilateral effort to share resources and knowhow to develop and produce […]

Starfish Space on Wednesday announced a new funding round that will allow it to complete development and build of three spacecraft that will be used for on-orbit docking and maneuvering […]

The Pentagon on Wednesday disclosed additional capabilities selected for its Replicator initiative to get after fielding innovative technology rapidly at scale, which includes small drones from an Army program, loitering […]

In their latest Global Beverage Packaging Market report, market research firm TechNavio (technavio.com) estimates that the beverage packaging industry will have a compounded annual growth rate of 4.11% globally over the next four years.

The European session is going to be once again a bit empty on the data front with just a couple of low tier data points. We get the 2nd estimate of the Eurozone Q3 GDP and the ECB Meeting Minutes. Both of them are old news and the market won't care much about it.

In the American session, the focus will be on the US PPI and Jobless Claims data. Yesterday's US CPI came in line with expectations and after a bit of a "sell the fact" reaction in the US Dollar, the market started to bid it again.

The CPI wasn't the main culprit though as the momentum got triggered by Fed's Logan comment saying "models show that Fed funds could be very close to neutral" potentially implying a lot more cautious approach on rate cuts in 2025.

13:30 GMT/08:30 ET - US October PPI

The US PPI Y/Y is expected at 2.3% vs. 1.8% prior, while the M/M measure is seen at 0.2% vs. 0.0% prior. The Core PPI Y/Y is expected at 3.0% vs. 2.8% prior, while the M/M figure is seen at 0.3% vs. 0.2% prior.

This report will be seen in light of the US CPI data yesterday as it will give us a better estimate of the US Core PCE due at the end of the month. An upside surprise might trigger some more US Dollar gains as the market could price out some more the rate cuts expected in 2025, but the December cut remains pretty much assured.

13:30 GMT/08:30 ET - US Jobless Claims

The US Jobless Claims continues to be one of the most important releases to follow every week as it’s a timelier indicator on the state of the labour market.

Initial Claims remain inside the 200K-260K range created since 2022, while Continuing Claims after an improvement in the last two months, spiked to the cycle highs in the last couple of weeks due to distortions coming from hurricanes and strikes.

This week Initial Claims are expected at 223K vs. 221K prior, while Continuing Claims are seen at 1880K vs. 1852K prior.

Central bank speakers:

• 08:30 GMT - ECB's de Guindos (dove - voter)
• 13:00 GMT/08:00 - BoE's Mann (hawk - voter)
• 14:00 GMT/09:00 ET - Fed's Barkin (neutral - voter)
• 15:00 GMT/10:00 ET - Fed's Kugler (dove - voter)
• 18:30 GMT/13:30 ET - ECB's Schnabel (hawk - voter)
• 19:00 GMT/14:00 ET - ECB's Lagarde (neutral - voter)
• 20:00 GMT/15:00 ET - Fed Chair Powell (neutral - voter)
• 21:15 GMT/16:15 ET - Fed's Williams (neutral - voter)

TASHKENT, 5 November 2015 – Addressing and preventing human trafficking in the hospitality and tourism sector is the topic of a two-day OSCE-supported training course, launched today in Tashkent, for 25 representatives from Uzbekistan’s tourism infrastructure, airlines, airport services and police.

The course, organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the National Inter-agency Commission on Counteracting Human Trafficking, aims to contribute to preventing human trafficking through awareness raising and developing the anti-trafficking codes of conduct for personnel.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan Gyorgy Szabo said the training course would help representatives from private businesses develop corporate responsibility for preventing human trafficking in the tourism infrastructure.  

Astrid Winkler, representative of the ECPAT International (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes), said that “It is important that all stakeholders, including the tourism business, understand what human trafficking is and take a stance against it. Business can do a lot in terms of prevention.”

The training course is part of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s project to assist Uzbekistan in combating the trafficking in human beings.

Related Stories

• OSCE launches training seminar for Uzbek journalists on human trafficking
• OSCE-supported training course in Uzbekistan focuses on addressing and preventing human trafficking in the tourism sector
• OSCE Project Co-ordinator lights up central Tashkent with 20 solar-powered street lamps

Twenty-five lecturers from law faculties at fifteen universities from around Ukraine, during a roundtable discussion supported by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator on 13 July 2016 in Kyiv, developed recommendations on teaching human rights within Master of Law university programmes.

The discussions focused on teaching the European Convention on Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), with international experts from the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg for International, European and Regulatory Procedural Law, the Union University and the ECtHR highlighting ways of ensuring a human rights-based approach to legal education.

Participants exchanged syllabi, research materials and teaching methodologies and agreed to set up a platform to further develop the human rights law curricula. This community of practice will function on a permanent basis with further support from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator and with the participation of leading Ukrainian law schools.

The roundtable discussion was held as part of the Second Annual Inter-University Human Rights School on 11-15 July 2016, which was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine in co-operation with the Lviv and Kyiv Universities.

The School was held as part of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s project on safeguarding Human Rights through the courts. The project is being implemented with the financial support of the Government of Canada, and follows on from the First Annual Inter-University School dedicated to the Right to Life held in 2015.

Related Stories

• Call for Applications to the Youth Contact Groups from Donetsk and Luhansk Regions
• OSCE-trained Ukrainian cyber-police officers begin fulfilling their mission
• OSCE Project Co-ordinator supports creation of a pool of trainers on anti-corruption for Ukraine’s judges

The OSCE Mission to Moldova held the final in a series of three training sessions for 12 psychologists and professionals working with domestic violence victims. The session took place on 27 June 2016 in Rybnitsa, a town on the left bank of the Dniester/Nistru River.

The event aimed to equip participants with essential skills in family counselling and post-traumatic stress rehabilitation. Participants studied means to identify family violence, various coaching techniques to use when working with families, as well as methods for handling trauma and post-traumatic stress among domestic violence victims.

In the past week, similar training events have been held in Chisinau and Tiraspol with the total participation of 50 professionals from Bender, Causeni, Chisinau, Comrat, Drochia, Rybnitsa and Tiraspol.

Participants in the training sessions included psychologists, teachers, medical professionals, lawyers and social workers, all of whom encounter cases of domestic violence in their work through Moldova’s referral system.

The training events were held as part of the Mission’s project to strengthen the capacity of those who provide crisis services to women and families on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. The project was developed following a country-wide assessment conducted in 2014 and 2015. The assessment identified a number of challenges in this field in Moldova, most notably the difficulties in accessing domestic violence services – including shelters and crisis centres – for those living in rural areas, and a lack of state resources. 

Related Stories

• OSCE Mission to Moldova trains lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River on addressing discrimination
• Civil society representatives tackle key NGO management issues at OSCE Mission to Moldova-supported event
• Summer School to be held for lawyers from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 26 July 2016 – Some 25 athletes and sport trainers today discussed gender-based violence at an OSCE-supported roundtable discussion attended by a world amateur boxing champion (1986) and former member of parliament, Orzubek Nazarov.

At the event organized by the Ensan-Diamond NGO with support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, participants discussed how violent behaviour at training venues might impact social relationships further in life. Gender equality, gender-based stereotypes and promoting positive images of masculinity without resorting to violence, were among the main topics of the discussion.

“Preventing gender based-violence and promoting gender equality is at the centre of OSCE human rights commitments and comprehensive approach to security,” said Anete Erdmane, OSCE Human Dimension Officer at the Osh Field Office. “The initiative aims at supporting Kyrgyzstan in achieving positive change through dialogue and engagement with men.”

Jamilya Kaparova, director of Ensan-Diamond, said: “The nature of sports training and overall culture of masculinity can contribute to an increased aggression among athletes. Such behaviour can result in gender-based violence and negatively affect family and community members. To reach out to this important audience and promote positive role models, we have invited Mr. Nazarov who has been an outspoken advocate for gender equality.”

The roundtable discussion follows a similar event which also took place in Osh in November 2015.

The initiative was held in line with the OSCE’s efforts to assist Kyrgyzstan in implementing its National Action Plan for 2015-2017 on gender equality. The National Action Plan foresees developing a culture of aversion to gender discrimination and violence against women and men at all levels of society.

Related Stories

• To mark World Day against Trafficking in Persons OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports public awareness raising campaign
• OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports summer school on topical issues of police reform
• OSCE Centre in Bishkek trains defence lawyers and prosecutors on right to liberty and freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention

ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 22 June 2016 – An OSCE-supported train-the-trainer regional course on document security for some 20 border guards from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan began today in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The three-day event is organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA).

Experts from Latvia and Slovakia will share best practices in international document security, including the identification of falsified travel documents, document control, the use of paper and polymer substrates in document security, conventional printing techniques, photo protection, secondary verification, and profiling techniques to identify potential criminals during the border crossing check-up procedure. The participants will also have an opportunity to work with genuine and falsified travel documents from different countries in order to utilize the new methods learned in the course.

“In order to protect a country’s borders, it is crucial to know what verification methods are used in all travel documents and the common features of forged documents,” said Colin McCullough, Political Officer at the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. “This is best done through consistent familiarization on relevant technology and regular exchange of information and experience with other relevant authorities,”

Gunta Laganovska, a trainer at the seminar and Chief of the Expert Service, Central Department of the State Border Service for the Republic of Latvia, said: “International co-operation between border services is a crucial part of a system to prevent illegal migration. The exchange of information and experience in identifying forged documents enables the growth of the professionalism of all participants in this seminar. The train-the-trainers approach allows for the possibility to transfer new skills to a large number of border guards where they work.”

The seminar is part of the Office’s long-standing efforts to promote the OSCE border security concept and counter transnational crime in the host country.

OSH, Kyrgyzstan, 26 July 2016 – Some 25 athletes and sport trainers today discussed gender-based violence at an OSCE-supported roundtable discussion attended by a world amateur boxing champion (1986) and former member of parliament, Orzubek Nazarov.

At the event organized by the Ensan-Diamond NGO with support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, participants discussed how violent behaviour at training venues might impact social relationships further in life. Gender equality, gender-based stereotypes and promoting positive images of masculinity without resorting to violence, were among the main topics of the discussion.

“Preventing gender based-violence and promoting gender equality is at the centre of OSCE human rights commitments and comprehensive approach to security,” said Anete Erdmane, OSCE Human Dimension Officer at the Osh Field Office. “The initiative aims at supporting Kyrgyzstan in achieving positive change through dialogue and engagement with men.”

Jamilya Kaparova, director of Ensan-Diamond, said: “The nature of sports training and overall culture of masculinity can contribute to an increased aggression among athletes. Such behaviour can result in gender-based violence and negatively affect family and community members. To reach out to this important audience and promote positive role models, we have invited Mr. Nazarov who has been an outspoken advocate for gender equality.”

The roundtable discussion follows a similar event which also took place in Osh in November 2015.

The initiative was held in line with the OSCE’s efforts to assist Kyrgyzstan in implementing its National Action Plan for 2015-2017 on gender equality. The National Action Plan foresees developing a culture of aversion to gender discrimination and violence against women and men at all levels of society.

The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on Serbia’s 24 April 2016 early parliamentary elections recommends a comprehensive review of legislation to further improve election process.  

The report, while finding the elections were efficiently administered and held in a competitive environment, spells out key areas that would benefit from such a review, including unclear rules on candidate registration, inadequate regulation of campaign finance, deficiencies and loopholes in dispute resolution mechanisms, an absence of sanctions for some violations and the lack of provisions on election observation.

The report, published on 29 July 2016, notes that, while fundamental freedoms were respected and candidates were able to campaign freely, biased media coverage, undue advantage of incumbency and a blurring of the distinction between state and party activities hindered a level playing field for contestants. To this end, the report recommends specific campaign regulations, including the introduction of ceilings on campaign expenditures and preventing the misuse of administrative resources and the abuse of office.  

In noting the absence of an effective mechanism for monitoring media conduct during the campaign, the report recommends clarifying the competences of the media regulatory body in investigating and sanctioning breaches of legislation in a timely manner.

A review of the election appeals system to guarantee an effective and timely remedy for all complaints, and particularly in cases related to electionday irregularities and election results, is also among the report’s recommendations.

Additional recommendations relate to providing unrestricted access of citizen and international observers to the entire electoral process, including voting, counting and tabulation, and enhancing the transparency of the tabulation of results.

Related Stories

• OSCE/ODIHR final report on Serbia’s parliamentary elections notes respect for fundamental freedoms, recommends steps to further improve election process
• Parliamentary Elections
• International election observers in Serbia to hold press conference on Monday

TIRANA, 9 May 2016 - The OSCE Presence in Albania today launched a sports-based youth development programme in co-operation with Tirana Rugby Club, with the aim of promoting teamwork, sport ethics, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging among youth, helping them understand that there are always positive alternatives to anti-social behaviour and criminality.

The Presence’s youth development programme will build on the Tirana Rugby Club’s success, helping to increase participation of youth in rugby and promoting both the cross-community and cross-border aspects of sport, bringing together young people from across Albania and the region for training events and tournaments.

Currently there are very few opportunities for youth to take part in interactive activities such as sports outside schools. Tirana Rugby Club, on the other hand, has engaged with youth, including the most vulnerable such as unemployed and/or school dropouts in its activities. Despite funding challenges, the Club has supported events where teams from Albania and the region compete regularly.

“While the development of rugby as a sport in Albania is relatively new, the interest and commitment of so many in such a short period of time, is not,” said Head of the OSCE Presence Florian Raunig. “As a result, building one team has led to creating a second one. Therefore today we present both Tirana Rugby Club and the Ilirians Rugby Club, wearing their new club colours.”

The sports kits were provided by the OSCE Presence and will be on show over the next few months, as these two teams meet in Korça, Elbasan and Durrës to play a series of exhibition games, which will increase the visibility of and interest in the sport.

The Presence will support local authorities, including police, social services and the regional education directorate, to directly involve youth in the activities. The activities will be planned and co-ordinated to allow young women and girls to be equally involved.

Albanian Rugby Development Officer Adam Vernon said: “We thank the OSCE Presence for its support and are excited about the opportunity this initiative has afforded us. We have many positive examples of youth engagement outcomes in Albania and hope that we can further encourage the development of the sport in many local communities over the next few months. The future of the sport in Albania is bright. We will wear our new kit with pride, in support of the game we all love.”

Related Stories

• Albania justice reform adoption welcome, says OSCE Presence in Albania
• OSCE Presence launches nationwide ‘Justice without delays’ initiative in Albania
• OSCE Presence supports dialogue on Albania’s totalitarian past

THE HAGUE, 20 April 2016 - Education is in many ways the space where issues of equality, national identity and the concept of nationhood are being negotiated, said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors today as she opened a high-level conference to mark 20 years of The Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities.

Underlining how education can contribute to preventing conflicts and to peace-building efforts, Thors said it is crucial that governments and education ministries analyse and anticipate tensions that may arise from competing demands placed on the education system such as questions on the language of instruction. These tensions often reflect the widespread societal debates about the place of national minorities as a whole, she added.   

Thors was addressing the start of a two-day conference, which brings together 180 government representatives, experts, teachers, education professionals, non-governmental actors and other local and international stakeholders active in the field of education, conflict prevention and peace-making to discuss the challenges in adapting education systems to ethnically diverse societies.

Gernot Erler, Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the 2016 OSCE Chairmanship, highlighted how challenges in this area have evolved in the two decades since The Hague Recommendations were launched.

“Today, we should realize more and more how crucial the right treatment of minorities by ensuring equal rights, tolerance and cross-border dialogue, is for preventing conflicts,” he said.

In his keynote speech, Fernand de Varennes, Dean of the Law Faculty of the University of Moncton in Canada underlined that the first HCNM recommendations - The Hague Recommendations - are the building block, the foundation upon which latest, The Ljubljana Guidelines on integration, must be understood. When it comes to education in minority language, he pointed out that to an increasing degree it is already perceived as an internationally recognised human right.

During a panel discussion, Srđan Verbić, Minister of Education, of Serbia, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, First Deputy State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia as well as leading human rights academics, Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark and Jan de Groof discussed what role education should have when building stable multi-ethnic societies. .    

At the margins of the conference, HCNM premiered its film charting the story of the founding of the Bujanovac Department of Economics as the first multilingual and multi-ethnic higher education institution in southern Serbia. The Department has been supported by the HCNM since its inception. To learn more about the project, watch the film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsiKoZKtZhU

HCNM also screened the winning entries from its first-ever video contest, “Our school, our diversity” during the conference. School pupils across the OSCE region were invited to shoot and script a video of no longer than 60 seconds illustrating why diversity matters in the classroom. Having received 101 submissions from 15 OSCE participating States, HCNM carefully reviewed each entry to select the winning films. Watch the movies at: www.osce.org/hcnm/234801

Related Stories

• OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities holds fifth regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education in Central Asia
• Language rights, participation, security and access to justice fundamental to welfare of communities in Kosovo, says High Commissioner Thors
• High Commissioner Thors, in her OSCE Permanent Council address, discusses country engagement and highlights the increase in hate speech targeting national minorities

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Washington DC and New York City from 25 to 29 April 2016, where she explored opportunities to strengthen co-operation in conflict prevention, implementing early action policies and in fostering inclusion within diverse societies.

Thors met with officials from the United States and representatives of international organizations, including the United Nations Secretariat, Funds, Programmes and Agencies, as well as members of the academia, think tanks and human rights organizations.

During her visit, Thors welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of the Resolution 2282 (2016) on the Review of United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture as renewed meaningful support to conflict prevention worldwide. In discussions, it was also noted that the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the data provided during their implementation are very relevantpertinent for building just and inclusive societies.

“I am pleased with the strengthened partnerships with the wider international community achieved during my trip, in particular in thematic areas such as access to justice and education, both highly relevant to national minorities and conflict prevention,” Thors concluded.

Related Stories

• OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities holds fifth regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education in Central Asia
• Language rights, participation, security and access to justice fundamental to welfare of communities in Kosovo, says High Commissioner Thors
• High Commissioner Thors, in her OSCE Permanent Council address, discusses country engagement and highlights the increase in hate speech targeting national minorities

ASHGABAT, 4 May 2016 – Best practices in regulating online media and broadcasting were the focus of an OSCE-supported master class for some 25 representatives of state agencies, parliament, mass media and academia that ended in Ashgabat today.

The two-day event addressed international standards, mechanisms and principles of regulation and self-regulation of online media, as well as models of broadcasting regulation and approaches to broadcasting licensing. Participants were representatives of the Mejlis (parliament), the State Committee for Television, Radio and Cinematography of Turkmenistan, the Supreme Court, the Ministries of Communications and Justice and representatives from educational and research institutions, national broadcast, print and online media.

“While taking many forms such as provisions in national legislation, administrative directives or technical instructions, regulation may also serve different goals, including public interest, market needs or technical efficiency,” said Ivo Petrov, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“Our event today is held in a new format of a master class, and we organized it to engage participants in an active discussion on concrete practical examples and recommendations on applying efficient mechanisms of regulating online media and broadcasting to promote a free and pluralistic mass media.”

International experts also provided insights on the legal aspects of media and advertising activities as well as media policy in the context of media regulation. The practical part of the master class included case studies on models of regulating the broadcasting sphere and covering large sports competitions.

The televising and broadcasting of global performances and sports events formed a special focus of discussions in light of the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games which will be hosted by Turkmenistan. Participants exchanged views on the organization of newsrooms and press services for large-scale sports events as well as the access of journalists and rules of accreditation for international sports events.

Related Stories

• Representatives from Turkmenistan discuss media reforms during OSCE-organized study visit to Latvia
• OSCE trains Turkmenistan journalists on reporting skills
• OSCE seminar in Turkmenistan promotes freedom of religion and belief

ASHGABAT, 31 May 2016 – Some 25 law-enforcement and military officials, at an OSCE-organized training course that concluded in Ashgabat today, discussed practices of responding to terrorism threats to large public events.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the eight-day training course to assist the host government in strengthening the capacities of relevant officials in countering terrorism threats while ensuring the security during large public events. Representatives from the Ministries of Defence and National Security, Interior Ministry, as well as the State Border Service, State Migration Service and the General Prosecutor’s Office discussed ensuring the security of public events, including facility security, resistance, emergency power, medical emergency and fire precaution.

International experts from Turkey introduced participants to the philosophy and models of crisis/hostage negotiations, practices of responding to hostage incidents and applying optimal negotiation tools.   

The course also addressed the relevant legislative acts, such as the Laws of Turkmenistan on Emergency Rule and on Organizing and Holding Meetings, Rallies, Demonstrations and other Mass Events.

“As Turkmenistan recently passed a number of laws addressing the organization of public events, rallies and demonstrations, the Centre designed this training course to facilitate the exchange of best practices in ensuring the security during mass gatherings and events in line with international standards and national legislation,” said Richard Wheeler, Political Officer of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“The training course has an added value as it familiarized the relevant officials with effective techniques and instruments they will need to successfully accomplish their important task of ensuring the security and maintaining public order during the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and other large-scale events which will be held in Turkmenistan.”

During the course, participants also discussed contemporary crowd management techniques and took part in simulation exercises. 

Related Stories

• OSCE Centre supports strengthening aviation security in Turkmenistan
• Representatives from Turkmenistan discuss media reforms during OSCE-organized study visit to Latvia
• OSCE seminar in Turkmenistan promotes freedom of religion and belief

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 27 June 2016 – The OSCE Mission together with the Kosovo Police will hold a two-day conference on preventing violent extremism and radicalization, starting tomorrow in Prishtinë/Priština. 

The conference will gather representatives of law enforcement agencies, religious communities, civil society, academia and media, and will explore a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing the threats of violent extremism and radicalization in Kosovo.

Participants will also elaborate on measures taken so far to prevent violent extremism and radicalization, as well as the challenges they face.

Major Fatos Makolli, Director of the Directorate against Terrorism of the Kosovo Police, and Naim Hoxha, Organized Crime Advisor at the OSCE Mission, will deliver opening remarks.

Media representatives are invited to attend the opening of the conference on Tuesday, 28 June 2016, at the Hotel Sirius in Prishtinë/Priština, starting at 09:30 hrs. 

Related Stories

• OSCE Mission assesses implementation of new Criminal Procedure Code of Kosovo
• Mini-Olympic Games 2016
• OSCE Mission-organized Junior Basketball Tournament

Fifty-two representatives of Local Crime Prevention Centres (LCPCs) in Kyrgyztsan, including members of the courts of Aksakals (local elders), women and youth councils completed a two-day workshop supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek  on 7July 2016 in Osh, with the aim of enhancing interactions between the police, civil organizations and the public.

Participants improved their practical skills on analyzing security situations and applying problem-solving methods, and in strengthening effective communication with the police and other stakeholders. LCPC members learned about the development and implementation of crime prevention projects and programmes. Participants also revised the normative-legal documents that regulate LCPCs and crime prevention activities.

“Preserving public order and preventing crime is the shared responsibility of the police, local self-government bodies, and local communities,” said Pavel Khalashnyuk, acting Head of Police Affairs at the OSCE Centre. “This training course seeks to strengthen this collective, consultative approach and the LCPCs’ capacity to foster community engagement in crime prevention and to strengthen the effectiveness of the partnership with police in addressing community security concerns.”

The workshop was conducted at the Community Policing Training Centre by a local expert and trainers from the Main Directorate for Public Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and of the Ministry’s Academy.

Related Stories

• OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports newly established working group on police reform
• OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports summer school on topical issues of police reform
• OSCE Centre in Bishkek enhances police investigators’ skills in crime investigation techniques

BISHKEK, 3 June 2016 – Wrapping up a two-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, which has included meetings with the Speaker of the Parliament, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and officials at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Special Representative for Central and Eastern Asia and Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Christine Muttonen spoke to students today at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek on conflict prevention and peace-building, noting the strengths of the OSCE’s approach, as well as areas for improvement.

Muttonen’s visit this week – her first to Kyrgyzstan since her appointment as Special Representative in January – has served as an opportunity to discuss confidence-building in the region and developing co-operative approaches to common challenges such as energy security, water management and border co-operation. In her meetings with Speaker of Parliament Chynybay Tursunbekov and Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Abdyldaev, Muttonen noted the importance of continuing to build trust and dialogue through the OSCE.

“There is a need to develop ways of countering the lack of trust and promoting co-operation between countries in the region,” she said. “The OSCE is our common organization, an inclusive organization in which all of its members have an equal voice, and we need to work effectively together within this forum.”

Discussions in Bishkek also focused on promoting follow-up on OSCE/ODIHR election-related recommendations and on the importance that Kyrgyzstan attaches to the OSCE and its Parliamentary Assembly. Muttonen expressed appreciation for the fact that Kyrgyzstan intends to send a full delegation to the OSCE PA’s 25th Annual Session in Tbilisi, Georgia, next month.

In meetings with staff of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Muttonen was briefed on the situation in the country and heard about the Centre’s ongoing projects, notably in the spheres of early warning and conflict prevention, as well as youth-oriented and parliamentary development projects. There was also discussion on the possibility of holding future OSCE PA events in the country.

In her lecture at the OSCE Academy, she highlighted the early warning capabilities of the OSCE – including through its field operations such as the Centre in Bishkek – but regretted that sometimes political considerations hamper effective implementation of early warning mechanisms. Discussing the OSCE’s consensus-based decision-making procedure and the non-binding character of its decisions, Muttonen pointed out the OSCE is only as strong as its participating States allow it to be.

Nevertheless, she said, the OSCE’s response to the crisis in and around Ukraine has served as an example of its ability to engage in conflict prevention and peace-building. “The Ukraine conflict has shown that the OSCE is well-placed and equipped to engage in conflict prevention and support mediation and peace-building,” said the PA Vice-President. “Through its unanimous vote principle, the OSCE and its participating States can formulate strong political agreements, even if the process may be slow.”

She noted that OSCE parliamentarians have been active in supporting the Central Asian countries’ peace-building efforts, notably through fact-finding missions.

Muttonen’s speech at the OSCE Academy concluded a week-long visit to Central Asia, which included meetings with government officials, parliamentary leaders and representatives of civil society in Astana, Almaty, and Bishkek.

In her mandate as Special Representative, she is tasked, inter alia, with encouraging active participation in the PA by parliamentarians from Central Asia, as well as liaising with and supporting the work of the OSCE field operations in the region.

To watch a recent interview with the Special Representative, in which she discusses her priorities, please click here. Photos of her visit this week to Central Asia are on Flickr. Her full remarks to the OSCE Academy are available here.

Related Stories

• Christine Muttonen of Austria elected OSCE PA President, Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers also elected
• OSCE parliamentarians in Tbilisi adopt wide-ranging Declaration on human rights, security and the environment
• OSCE parliamentarians consider resolutions on security, economic and environmental concerns and human rights

ULAANBAATAR, 30 June 2016 – Election day was orderly and followed a competitive campaign. This, however, did not offset the impact of late fundamental changes to election laws on Mongolia’s democratic development, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. While the June 29 parliamentary elections were highly contested and freedoms of assembly and association were respected, restrictive campaign provisions, coupled with the media’s subservience to political interests, limited impartial and comprehensive information available to voters, the statement says.

“We were pleased to see that voting took place in a calm and peaceful manner. This was a genuinely competitive contest, with high turnout and no certainty as to which party would win. We applaud the fact Mongolia is a functioning democracy,” said Laima Liucija Andrikienė, Head of the European Parliament delegation. “There were, however, some elements which cause concern, including significant last-minute changes to the election laws, which, among other things, prevented 150,000 Mongolian citizens living outside the country, including diplomats, from voting.”

The observers said the consolidation of election legislation into a new law adopted on 25 December 2015, following an inclusive process, was a positive development toward establishing a cohesive electoral framework. However, changes in May 2016 – from a mixed electoral system to a solely majoritarian one, establishing 76 single-mandate constituencies and approving their boundaries – were introduced by parliament in a process that lacked transparency, public consultation and adherence to established criteria, the observers said. This resulted in profound population discrepancies among constituencies.

A total of 498 candidates, including 69 independents, was registered in a process that was largely inclusive and provided voters with a range of political choices. Contrary to OSCE commitments and other international obligations, however, there are disproportionate restrictions on candidacy rights the statement says. While there was general confidence in the accuracy and inclusiveness of the voting register, the May changes to the election laws also effectively disenfranchised 150,000 citizens living abroad for the parliamentary elections.

“For an election to be meaningful, voters first have to be offered a genuine choice, and voters were given that choice here. That choice also has to be between candidates competing on a level playing field and who have equal access to independent media to explain their platforms. In this, there is still work to do,” said Ambassador Audrey Glover, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR long-term election observation mission. “Elections are about voters, and the main problem for voters was understanding the significant last-minute changes to election laws, which affected the rules of the game profoundly and raised questions about political motivation.” 

Despite undue campaign restrictions, the freedoms of assembly and association were respected and candidates were generally able to convey their messages to the electorate. At times the lines were blurred between parties and the administration at both the national and local levels, the observers said. There were multiple instances of alleged vote-buying, which resulted in a number of formal complaints and the deregistration of two candidates.

The GEC received some 50 pre-election complaints. Courts reviewed 21 cases regarding candidate registration, and the police handled more than 1,000 campaign-related complaints. Although legislation clarifies the complaints and appeals process to some extent, a general lack of formalization and transparency in the process within the election administration and the protracted handling of disputes in courts undermined the right to effective remedy.

The media offered extensive election coverage, but abandoned their journalistic role, for the most part simply granting direct access to the politicians. Paid political advertisements and free airtime overshadowed editorial content, and campaign material prepared by political parties was also included in news programming, undercutting the credibility of the media. Consequently, voters were deprived of independent and analytical reporting, the observers said.

In preparation for election day, the General Election Commission met key operational deadlines and fulfilled its mandate. At the same time, the observers said, it lacked transparency and accountability to stakeholders, diminishing trust in the credibility of the process. The testing of vote-counting machines was conducted professionally by the Commission in the presence of stakeholders and, to address concerns over the machines’ accuracy and integrity, the law was amended stipulate that up to 50 per cent of polling stations would be subject to manual recounts. The procedures stipulating the manual re-count, however, were only finalized two days prior to the elections.

All parties and coalitions complied with the 20 per cent gender quota provided for by law, and 26 per cent of contestants were women. There were, however, no women candidates in more than one-third of the constituencies. While there is only one woman member of the General Election Commission, women were better represented in lower-level election commissions. Overall, women remain underrepresented in political life.

Election day proceeded in an orderly manner in most of the country and, while the right to vote was respected, the secrecy of the vote was not consistently ensured. The observers’ assessment of the counting and tabulation of votes was a notable exception to the overall positive assessment of voting, mostly as a result of significant procedural errors or omissions. A number of civil society organizations monitored the pre-election environment, including campaign finance and the media, and issued timely statements highlighting key shortcomings.

For further information, contact:
Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR, +976 95 14 1635 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

Tim Boden, European Parliament, +976 99 976294 or +32 473 844431, timothy.boden@europarl.europa.eu

Related Stories

• OSCE/ODIHR opens election observation mission for parliamentary elections in Mongolia
• International election observers in Mongolia to hold press conference on Thursday
• OSCE/ODIHR observers to hold press conference in Ulaanbaatar on Friday

The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on Serbia’s 24 April 2016 early parliamentary elections recommends a comprehensive review of legislation to further improve election process.  

The report, while finding the elections were efficiently administered and held in a competitive environment, spells out key areas that would benefit from such a review, including unclear rules on candidate registration, inadequate regulation of campaign finance, deficiencies and loopholes in dispute resolution mechanisms, an absence of sanctions for some violations and the lack of provisions on election observation.

The report, published on 29 July 2016, notes that, while fundamental freedoms were respected and candidates were able to campaign freely, biased media coverage, undue advantage of incumbency and a blurring of the distinction between state and party activities hindered a level playing field for contestants. To this end, the report recommends specific campaign regulations, including the introduction of ceilings on campaign expenditures and preventing the misuse of administrative resources and the abuse of office.  

In noting the absence of an effective mechanism for monitoring media conduct during the campaign, the report recommends clarifying the competences of the media regulatory body in investigating and sanctioning breaches of legislation in a timely manner.

A review of the election appeals system to guarantee an effective and timely remedy for all complaints, and particularly in cases related to electionday irregularities and election results, is also among the report’s recommendations.

Additional recommendations relate to providing unrestricted access of citizen and international observers to the entire electoral process, including voting, counting and tabulation, and enhancing the transparency of the tabulation of results.

Related Stories

• OSCE/ODIHR final report on Serbia’s parliamentary elections notes respect for fundamental freedoms, recommends steps to further improve election process
• Parliamentary Elections
• International election observers in Serbia to hold press conference on Monday

THE HAGUE, 20 April 2016 - Education is in many ways the space where issues of equality, national identity and the concept of nationhood are being negotiated, said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors today as she opened a high-level conference to mark 20 years of The Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities.

Underlining how education can contribute to preventing conflicts and to peace-building efforts, Thors said it is crucial that governments and education ministries analyse and anticipate tensions that may arise from competing demands placed on the education system such as questions on the language of instruction. These tensions often reflect the widespread societal debates about the place of national minorities as a whole, she added.   

Thors was addressing the start of a two-day conference, which brings together 180 government representatives, experts, teachers, education professionals, non-governmental actors and other local and international stakeholders active in the field of education, conflict prevention and peace-making to discuss the challenges in adapting education systems to ethnically diverse societies.

Gernot Erler, Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the 2016 OSCE Chairmanship, highlighted how challenges in this area have evolved in the two decades since The Hague Recommendations were launched.

“Today, we should realize more and more how crucial the right treatment of minorities by ensuring equal rights, tolerance and cross-border dialogue, is for preventing conflicts,” he said.

In his keynote speech, Fernand de Varennes, Dean of the Law Faculty of the University of Moncton in Canada underlined that the first HCNM recommendations - The Hague Recommendations - are the building block, the foundation upon which latest, The Ljubljana Guidelines on integration, must be understood. When it comes to education in minority language, he pointed out that to an increasing degree it is already perceived as an internationally recognised human right.

During a panel discussion, Srđan Verbić, Minister of Education, of Serbia, Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, First Deputy State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality of Georgia as well as leading human rights academics, Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark and Jan de Groof discussed what role education should have when building stable multi-ethnic societies. .    

At the margins of the conference, HCNM premiered its film charting the story of the founding of the Bujanovac Department of Economics as the first multilingual and multi-ethnic higher education institution in southern Serbia. The Department has been supported by the HCNM since its inception. To learn more about the project, watch the film here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsiKoZKtZhU

HCNM also screened the winning entries from its first-ever video contest, “Our school, our diversity” during the conference. School pupils across the OSCE region were invited to shoot and script a video of no longer than 60 seconds illustrating why diversity matters in the classroom. Having received 101 submissions from 15 OSCE participating States, HCNM carefully reviewed each entry to select the winning films. Watch the movies at: www.osce.org/hcnm/234801

Related Stories

• OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities holds fifth regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education in Central Asia
• Preservation, inspiration and dialogue: Twenty years of The Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities
• Our school, our diversity

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Washington DC and New York City from 25 to 29 April 2016, where she explored opportunities to strengthen co-operation in conflict prevention, implementing early action policies and in fostering inclusion within diverse societies.

Thors met with officials from the United States and representatives of international organizations, including the United Nations Secretariat, Funds, Programmes and Agencies, as well as members of the academia, think tanks and human rights organizations.

During her visit, Thors welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of the Resolution 2282 (2016) on the Review of United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture as renewed meaningful support to conflict prevention worldwide. In discussions, it was also noted that the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the data provided during their implementation are very relevantpertinent for building just and inclusive societies.

“I am pleased with the strengthened partnerships with the wider international community achieved during my trip, in particular in thematic areas such as access to justice and education, both highly relevant to national minorities and conflict prevention,” Thors concluded.

Related Stories

• OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities holds fifth regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education in Central Asia
• Language rights, participation, security and access to justice fundamental to welfare of communities in Kosovo, says High Commissioner Thors
• High Commissioner Thors, in her OSCE Permanent Council address, discusses country engagement and highlights the increase in hate speech targeting national minorities

Supporting the process of ethical standards reform and developing a code of conduct for members of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, was the focus of an event, co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Verkhovna Rada, the Agency for Legislative Initiatives, the USAID RADA Program and the Netherlands Institute for Multi-party Democracy.

Bringing together 20 Members of Parliament, the event aimed at identifying and addressing specific ethical dilemmas facing them. The event also provided a platform for discussing various ethical dilemmas relating to conflict of interest, gift declaration, gender equality and conduct in private vs. public life with representatives of around 50 civil society and international organizations.

"Enhancing trust in the Verkhovna Rada is a necessary precondition for ensuring and maintaining the legitimacy and trust of our institution," said Andriy Parubiy, Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine. "This is our main responsibility and an opportunity."

Participants also discussed avoiding harm to the reputation of the Parliament by considering ethical dilemmas and the low level of public trust in the institution, as well as exploring ways the introduction of ethical standards for its members can increase confidence. 

Pat Cox, former President of the European Parliament and Head of the European Parliament's Needs Assessment Mission to the Verkhovna Rada, said: "Ethics is not only about black and white, legal and illegal, but also about regulating unethical behaviour and thus showing the public that you strive towards ensuring the highest professionalism standards in your work."

"ODIHR has, in recent years, supported more than 12 national Parliaments with developing and adopting a code of conduct," said Kateryna Ryabiko, Project Co-coordinator at ODIHR. "I am convinced that we, together with partner organisations and experts, will be able to support the Verkhovna Rada with ethics reform and development of professional standards for MPs that will meet the public’s expectations of transparency and accountability."

The event was organized as part of the ODIHR’s "Strengthening dialogue among civil society and with key governmental stakeholders in Ukraine" project, which was launched in April 2015 with the goal of enhancing effective mechanisms for dialogue to address key human rights issues in Ukraine, in line with OSCE commitments and international standards.

Related Stories

• Political party legislation in Ukraine, focus of OSCE/ODIHR expert workshop
• OSCE workshop in Kosovo focuses on improving the recording of hate crimes
• OSCE/ODIHR final report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s postponed early parliamentary elections recommends continuing electoral reform process

COPENHAGEN, 25 July 2016 – In response to the measures taken by the Turkish authorities following the attempted coup, Ignacio Sanchez Amor (MP, Spain), Chairperson of the OSCE PA Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, issued the following statement today:

“I remain concerned by the developments which have been taking place in Turkey since the attempted coup, as expressed in an earlier statement. As I joined the rest of the international community in offering strong support to the restoration of constitutional order, I also warned against reprisals and hasty purges and underscored the need to safeguard democratic institutions.

“Unfortunately, the sudden dismissal of thousands of judges, prosecutors, academics, and journalists across the country has challenged human rights standards, due process, the right to a fair trial, and freedom of expression. As underlined by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Turkey’s response to these unconstitutional events should seek to reinforce, not undermine, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and media freedom.

“I once again call on the Turkish authorities to follow a responsible approach to ensure that the constitutional order is reinforced through the respect of human rights and the independence of democratic institutions in line with OSCE commitments.”

Related Stories

• Christine Muttonen of Austria elected OSCE PA President, Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers also elected
• Assembly’s work on migration presented to OSCE ambassadors by Ad Hoc Committee Chair Lombardi at special Permanent Council
• OSCE PA human rights committee Chair Ignacio Sanchez Amor issues statement on developments in Turkey

This report is for media and the general public.

At 10:10 on 2 August, an armed man at a known Ukrainian Armed Forces position wearing military-style clothing with no markings stopped two SMM vehicles in government-controlled areas travelling east on the road from Lopaskyne (government-controlled, 24km north-west of Luhansk) to Lobacheve (government-controlled, 17km north-west of Luhansk).  When one of the SMM monitors stepped out of the vehicle to speak with the man, the latter chambered a round into his submachine gun (AKSU-74) and after removing the weapon’s safety, pointed it at the SMM monitor and put his finger on the trigger. Speaking in Russian, the armed man told the SMM “Stop. You are not going anywhere”.

The SMM requested the armed man call his commander, which he did. Standing approximately two metres away, the man kept his gun pointed at the SMM monitor and spoke to someone in Russian on his handheld radio. Approximately five to seven minutes later, another man arrived at the scene carrying an assault rifle (AK-74) with a silencer. He was accompanied by three other armed men carrying assault rifles, some of whom appeared to be intoxicated, and appeared to be in a position of authority. Some of the men were dressed in military-style clothing. Using Russian and speaking in an aggressive manner, the man said that he and the other armed men present were members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The SMM monitor asked the man who appeared to be in charge to order the armed man to lower his weapon. He did so but the weapon was not made safe.

Speaking with the commander of the group, the SMM monitor tried to diffuse the situation by explaining the Mission’s mandate and after approximately fifteen minutes, the SMM was allowed to leave the area and proceed to Lobacheve to complete their tasks.

The SMM returned safely to its base at 16:00. The Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination was informed.

Related Stories

• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 1 August 2016
• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 31 July 2016
• Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 29 July 2016

"How much would you risk just to discover what you're capable of?" Prime Video has launched their main official trailer for the "revolutionary" new animated anthology series called Secret Level, the successor to the acclaimed Love, Death + Robots anthology series on Netflix. This time, Tim Miller and Blur Studios (the same studio that made Love, Death + Robots) are focusing on video games, launching with a collection of 15 animated short films. Secret Level is a new adult-animated anthology series featuring original stories set within the worlds of some of the most beloved video games. A "celebration of games and gamers." Each episode of Secret Level serves as a gateway to a new adventure, unlocking exciting worlds from gaming classics and highly anticipated new titles. Games referenced include Armored Core, Crossfire, Dungeons & Dragons, Honor of Kings, Mega Man, Pac-Man, Spelunky, The Outer Worlds, Unreal Tournament, as well as Warhammer 40,000. So many talented video game designers have been secretly working on this for the past few years. This is an extraordinary trailer - so emotional, so exciting, packed with stunning footage. I cannot wait to see what they've been cooking up here! What a geeky surprise for us […]

"I want to face my wife's killers, look them in the eyes, and balance the scales." Dark. 20th Century Studios has unveiled an official trailer for The Amateur, a thrilling new revenge movie from British director James Hawes (who also directed a bunch of episodes of that spy series "Slow Horses" if you want to get a sense of his cinematic style). The film follows a nerdy CIA cryptographer / software geek who manages to blackmail his own agency into training him to let him go after a group of terrorist who killed his wife in London. He realizes his bosses will not act due to conflicting internal priorities, so he takes things into his own hands. Rami Malek stars as Charles Heller, along with Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne. This reminds me of Jason Bourne at first glance, with him hopping around cities in Europe outsmarting everyone over there. Might turn out really good? Certain looks unsettling and thrilling. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for James Hawes' thriller The Amateur, direct from YouTube: Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder […]

Batman's absence in The Penguin might seem like a glaring issue, but producer Matt Reeves has a pretty logical explanation for why he doesn't show up.