VIENNA, 20 July 2016 – Presenting the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s work concerning the refugee and migrant crisis at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, Swiss parliamentarian Filippo Lombardi laid out the Assembly’s plan of action going forward, which includes monitoring the situation on the ground and developing policy recommendations for the OSCE and its participating States.

The meeting was convened by the OSCE German Chairmanship to present and discuss the report by Amb. Claude Wild, Chair of the OSCE Informal Working Group Focusing on the Issue of Migration and Refugee Flows. The participants discussed in particular the importance of improving global migration governance and how the OSCE can lend its contribution to promoting regional implementation of a global migration governance architecture.

Lombardi noted that the OSCE PA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, which he chairs, has been active in three main areas, including by organizing field visits, strengthening co-operation with the OSCE and other international actors, and promoting discussions on the migration crisis within the OSCE PA.

“The migration and refugee crisis remains high on the agenda of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as highlighted by the importance accorded to this issue in the Tbilisi Declaration adopted at the OSCE PA Annual Session on 5 July,” Lombardi said. “Indeed, the various aspects of this complex issue are addressed in the resolutions of all three general committees as well as in a number of supplementary resolutions” adopted in Tbilisi, he added.

Stressing the need for better communication strategies between governments and the public, Lombardi said that while media plays a fundamental role in shaping public opinion on migration, “political forces bear an equally important responsibility.

“Governments, diplomats and parliamentarians must join forces to tackle the root causes of migration,” he said.

Lombardi further highlighted a recent field visit to camps in Calais and Dunkirk, the Parliamentary Assembly’s contribution to the 27 June meeting of the Informal Working Group, which was addressed by five OSCE parliamentarians, and noted that the PA’s Ad Hoc Committee on Migration met officially for the first timeduring the OSCE PA Annual Session in Tbilisi on 3 July.

In June, the OSCE PA’s then-human rights and humanitarian committee chair, Portuguese parliamentarian Isabel Santos, joined a delegation of the OSCE’s Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, for a visit to Lampedusa, Italy, to an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea, and to a refugee reception centre in Catania.

Migration will also occupy a prominent position in the discussions of the OSCE PA Autumn Meeting to be held in Skopje from 29 September to 2 October, Lombardi pointed out.

Other than Lombardi’s presentation, today’s special meeting of the Permanent Council included a comprehensive report by Amb. Wild, who noted that addressing the migration crisis requires a multidimensional response based on protection, combating crime, border management, successful integration, and solidarity and partnerships. The OSCE has a number of comparative advantages when addressing migration and refugee flows and is thus uniquely positioned to address this crisis, he emphasized.

Lombardi welcomed the priorities of the OSCE’s Informal Working Group and stressed that members of the PA’s Ad Hoc Committee have agreed to keep in mind the principles identified by this body in carrying out its work.

The Permanent Council and the Ministerial Council are the primary decision-making bodies of the OSCE.

To learn more about the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s work in the field of migration, please click here. A video interview conducted with Ad Hoc Committee Chair Filippo Lombardi is available on the OSCE PA’sYouTube channel.

Related Stories

• Press registration open for OSCE Parliamentary Assembly annual session in Tbilisi
• At start of Central Asia visit, Special Representative Muttonen calls for unity in struggle against violent extremism
• OSCE PA’s Santos welcomes release of Azerbaijan’s Leyla Yunus

The OSCE Mission to Skopje organized a workshop on 23 June 2016 for 35 police managers from the Sector of Internal Affairs on identification, prevention and investigation of hate crimes.

The aim of the workshop was to strengthen the capacity of police officers to identify hate crimes and provide responses in line with democratic policing principles and international human rights standards. 

This workshop complemented other previous and ongoing activities of the Mission in this area which are implemented in co-operation with national authorities.

The event was the first in a series of eight workshops which will be held in each sector for internal affairs in the country.

Related Stories

• OSCE Mission to Skopje organizes two-day workshop on multi-ethnic policing
• OSCE Mission to Skopje organizes workshop for national Police Union on countering gender-based discrimination
• OSCE Mission to Skopje supports roundtable discussion on the role of women in creating safer communities

DUSHANBE, 29 June 2016 – Copies of the new Manual on Countering Domestic Violence, published by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, were presented today to the Interior Ministry for further distribution among police inspectors dealing with cases related to this crime.

The Manual aims at increasing the professional skills of Tajik law enforcement agencies and is primarily designed for police inspectors who work to promote the implementation of the law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence. The law was adopted in 2013.

“Countering domestic violence is an important part of work carried out by the law enforcement on a daily basis, and the Manual equips the police inspectors with necessary tools to deal with both victims of domestic violence and the perpetrators,” said Ali Bobonazarzoda, National Co-ordinator on Police Reform under the Interior Ministry of Tajikistan.

Viorelia Rusu, the OSCE Office’s Gender and Anti-Trafficking Officer, said: “Importantly, the Manual also includes aspects of referral and building local partnerships in effective protection of violence survivors.”

By exploring the phenomenon of domestic violence through understanding the psychology of offenders and victims, as well as challenging stereotypes and examining aspects of gender equality, the Manual identifies the concrete role for police personnel in countering this negative social phenomenon. It also outlines the roles of police inspectors by taking a multidisciplinary and holistic approach of support and protection for the victims through close co-operation with civil society and community leaders. The Manual also provides guidance on how to work with both victims and offenders in order to prevent and address cases of domestic violence.

The publication is a part of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan’s activities to implement its Gender Strategy for 2016-2018, which supplements the OSCE’s wider 2004 Gender Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality. The electronic version of the Manual in the Tajik and Russian languages is available online at: http://www.osce.org/tajikistan/248201.

Related Stories

• Tajik Ministry of Internal Affairs officials complete OSCE-organized training course on effective intervention in domestic violence cases
• OSCE Office in Tajikistan supports regional training courses on rights of persons in police custody
• OSCE Office in Tajikistan organizes workshop for law enforcement agencies and civil society

Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 2 June 2016, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors described country engagement and highlighted the disturbing increase in hate speech.

The statement covered the High Commissioner’s activities since her last statement to the Permanent Council in November 2015. During this period Thors visited Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova.

The High Commissioner expressed concern about the increase in hate speech targeting national minorities. Thors called for renewed efforts to tackle hate speech in order to prevent tensions and to promote integration with respect for diversity.

Thors also informed the Permanent Council about the work her institution is doing together with researchers to identify best practices that highlight the bridge building potential of national minorities in diverse societies.

The full statement can be found here.

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
• OSCE High Commissioner encourages inclusive approach to integration and education issues in Moldova and welcomes joint working group on Gagauzia

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

KYIV, 5 AUGUST 2016 –OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Madina Jarbussynova, on Friday concluded an official visit to Ukraine aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking and the risks encountered by the most vulnerable groups as a consequence of the current crisis.

During her five-day visit, she met with representatives of the Donetsk Oblast state administration and female Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Kramatorsk. Ambassador Jarbussynova also travelled to Kharkiv to talk to relevant civil society representatives about the situation on the ground, how to prevent the expansion of the conflict-driven human trafficking phenomenon, and to evaluate existing mechanisms of identifying, referring and assisting victims of trafficking in human beings.

“More than one-and-a-half million citizens have been displaced – a vast number that demands a comprehensive response,” Jarbussynova said. “This vulnerable group can easily find itself in situations where human trafficking may occur.”

In Kyiv, the OSCE Special Representative met with Ukrainian authorities to discuss progress in anti-trafficking measures and review future plans.

“The Government of Ukraine has recently demonstrated a high level of commitment to addressing human trafficking, particularly in enhancing its victim identification efforts and in filing cases to relevant courts”, said Jarbussynova.

At the same time, she noted that there are still considerable gaps in the National Referral Mechanism for victims, and that long-term, sustainable measures should be sought.

The Special Representative travels regularly to Ukraine, engaging with high-level authorities and holding training sessions together with the Special Monitoring Mission and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian institutions and OSCE monitors to spot human trafficking trends and to report on alleged cases.

Related Stories

• Special Representative praises Bulgaria for efforts to eliminate modern-day slavery
• Winners of OSCE design contest challenge violent extremism with creative cartoons
• OSCE organizes field study in sustainable energy for the OSCE Mediterranean Partner Countries.

"Don't you lay a hand on him!" Universal UK has unveiled another official trailer for the new Wolf Man movie, arriving in theaters January 2025 early next year. A few extra glimpses of different footage added to this trailer though most of it is similar to the official US trailer from last month. Produced by Jason Blum & Blumhouse, this a fresh update on the classic furry Universal Monster originally invented with the 1941 film The Wolf Man. Most recently there was the 2010 remake called The Wolfman starring Benicio Del Toro plus tons of other werewolf flicks in the last few years. From Blumhouse and visionary writer-director Leigh Whannell, the creators of the chilling modern monster tale The Invisible Man, comes a terrifying new lupine nightmare: Wolf Man. The new tagline: "What if someone you loved became something else?" What would you do? A man must save himself and his family when they are stalked, terrorized, and haunted by a deadly werewolf at night – but something else is going on. Christopher Abbott stars with Julia Garner, Sam Jaeger, Matilda Firth, Ben Prendergast, and Benedict Hardie. This is looking better and better the more they show - especially as […]

Chef Cristina Bowerman, the only female chef with a Michelin star in Rome for her restaurant, Glass Hostaria, takes over Anantara Siam’s Italian restaurant, Biscotti until Dec 30. 

JERUSALEM — Israeli authorities have caused a forced displacement of Palestinian people in Gaza to an extent that constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said in a report on Thursday.

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.

While Mando and Grogu are set to return in future Star Wars projects, The Mandalorian season 4 no longer appears to be one of them.

Batman never shows up in The Penguin, just like its creatives claimed. However, he was very nearly added to the show at one point.

The Hurricanes' defense struggled in their loss to Georgia Tech, but linebacker Jaylin Alderman and cornerback O.J. Frederique Jr. were two bright spots.

How do you rate Mario Cristobal's game management in the Hurricanes' loss to Georgia Tech? Take our poll and make your voice heard.

The Hurricanes landed four-star defensive lineman Hayden Lowe, flipping him from USC.

Comments

Twisthink’s Taryn Kutches on Manufacturing Technology and How to Start the Innovation Process  Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)

Bumble surveyed 40,000 millennial and Gen Z users about dating. Here's what they said.

Jack Teixeira will serve up to 15 years in prison for leaking sensitive government documents on Discord.

Shop home, tech, and beauty gifts for the lucky lady in your life.

Vimeo — Too many failed login attempts results in a shrugging Vimeo robot and a page title of ‘VimeUhOh’.

/via Chris Droom

El oscarizado actor regresa a nuestras pantallas en la segunda temporada de este 'thriller', esta vez ambientado en Afganistán y rodado sin un tumor del tamaño de un niño en el estómago. "En mis 60 años de carrera, nunca había interpretado a un personaje durante tanto tiempo como a Dan Chase", reconoce Leer

El presidente valenciano medita en todo caso una remodelación más amplia del Consell para esquivar el mensaje de que toda la responsabilidad por la DANA es de la Generalitat, sin descartar tampoco cambio de carteras Leer

El convenio busca proceder con más rapidez en la valoración de los siniestros y e el cobro de las indemnizaciones por parte de los asegurados Leer

Se estrena como cantautor y disfruta, otra vez, del éxito, pero lo ocurrido con la DANA en Valencia le enciende: "La soberbia de la clase política ha quedado clara" Leer

Esta edición ha contado con la creatividad de Hombres G, Chenoa y Susanna Griso, entre otras personalidades Leer

La decisión del tribunal de Schleswig-Holstein de autorizar la entrega a España del prófugo Puigdemont tiene un sabor agridulce al limitarla a la malversación, no a la rebelión o sedición. Hay una cierta justicia poética en que se le reconozca la condición de justiciable en tanto que chorizo o mangante, pero se le ampare en tanto que rebelde o sedicioso.

Podemos fracasar ante el Cambio Climático. O podemos superarlo. Inteligencia frente a estupidez.

Venezuela es un país fundido a negro, dotado por la naturaleza con ingentes reservas energéticas, que no tiene capacidad siquiera para alimentar las gastadas bombillas de los "cerros". La bajada obligatoria de los precios en las tiendas de moda ha dejado arrasada las estanterías de Zara. 

A falta de conocer la letra pequeña del acuerdo entre Grecia y las instituciones, y de que el Parlamento heleno apruebe las reformas exprés que exigen los acreedores, la larga negociación pone en evidencia la supremacía alemana en Europa y lanza un aviso a las nuevas formaciones políticas de izquierda.

El pasado día 30, el juez Hurtado ordenó a la UCO registrar el despacho del fiscal general con el objetivo de incautarse de sus dispositivos electrónicos Leer

Los investigadores sospechan que estuvo escondido en zonas de bosque. Él mismo explicó al llamar a la Guardia Civil que no podía soportar la presión de la búsqueda Leer

 Leer

Esta mañana amanecimos nerviosos con la noticia de la apertura de las dos embajadas. A las diez de la mañana en Washington Silvio Rodríguez tocará alguno de sus clásicos temas en la inauguración  de la embajada cubana allí.

El fallo considera que la líder peronista desvió 1.000 millones de dólares Leer

José Tomás tenía sangre mexicana antes y después de la trágica corrida del sábado. La llevaba antes de enfrentarse a 'Navegante' después de que una grave cogida, precisamente en Aguascalientes cuando tenía 18 años, le uniera definitivamente a esta tierra gracias a la sangre azteca que corría por sus venas y de la que siempre presumía.

Pues hora feliz como en todo el mundo...

Cuando hablamos por primera vez de la faloteca, allá por octubre del 2008, comentamos sorprendidos que el responsable del museo aseguraba poseer cuatro documentos de donación de la especie Homo Sapiens. Pues bien, a través de su página web hemos sabido que el pasado 8 de abril el museo ha recibido oficialmente un pene humano (con sus testículos y todo). Con esta adquisición, la faloteca ya tiene representadas en sus estantes 46 especies de mamíferos islandeses. El nombre del donante no ha trascendido.

A propósito de la última película de los hermanos Coen

La nueva resurrección del vampiro Jim Jarmusch

Marina & The Diamonds es el pulido diamante que el pop británico presenta al mundo como su próxima joyita, gracias a sus canciones de pop-rock barroco con estribillos pegadizos como Superglue 3 y una fuerte personalidad.

En su primera declaración por la demanda civil contra él, Conor Mc Gregor admite que consumió alcohol y cocaína pero asegura que la demandante, al abandonar el hotel, no estaba afectada ni presentaba lesiones Leer

Es el fotógrafo de los escenarios cinematográficos. Sus imágenes podrían podrían estar tomadas en un decorado de película bélica. Si no fuera porque sabemos que esto está ocurriendo de una forma real, podríamos pensar que es un director de cine. 

[Premium Times] Mr Jega alleged that some legislators attempted to influence budget allocations and secure contracts, undermining public officials' efforts to maintain integrity.

Deported Ukrainian children are Russia's future army recruits, ombudsman says

Man ploughs car into crowd in southern China, leaving 35 dead amid divorce rage

New storms and flooding hit Spain's southern Malaga province as EU debates crisis management