The International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC) will take place in May 2019, and will see approximately 1,000 delegates visit Melbourne to discuss, collaborate and present on the latest scientific achievements in particle acceleration. Melbourne’s winning bid was presented in Korea, and was a direct result of collaboration between the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and the Australian Synchrotron, a particle acceleration research facility located in Melbourne.

AEREON, a global leader in combustion, vapour recovery and pollution-control technologies has announced the opening of a new 1250 square metre (13,000 square feet) operations facility in Melbourne. The large facility will create flares, thermal oxidizers and gas compression units that adhere to Australian code requirements in the oil and gas industries. Local fabrication of the materials will allow AEREON to better improve their customer experience and ensure consistency and quality in their product range.

Melbourne has been recognised as the top Major City in Human Capital and Lifestyle, according to the fDi Intelligence Global Cities of The Future 14/15 study. Cities in the study were categorised according to population and, as a Major City, Melbourne was awarded the top position in cities with populations less than 10 million. As winner of the Human Capital and Lifestyle category, Melbourne scored high results in categories such as; literacy rate, education expenditure, health, quality of life, percentage of population as labour force, number of students and numerous other indicators.

The Singapore based low-cost airline, Scoot, has announced that it will launch direct flights from Melbourne to Singapore in November 2015. Scoot is a low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines that flies to a variety of locations in China and Australia. The airline was founded in 2011 and has embarked on a new strategy in providing low fares and quality customer service to travellers. Travellers will be flying with Scoot on the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner; the world’s most advanced aircraft.

Hotel and accommodation booking app, HotelQuickly, has opened an office in Melbourne as part of its plans to expand its operations in the Australian market. The Hong-Kong headquartered company, which was launched in March 2013, has more than 600,000 users globally and offers last-minute discounted hotel and accommodation booking options for travellers.

Global pharmaceutical company Janssen-Cilag, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has signed a three-year research collaboration agreement with Melbourne’s Monash University. The collaboration will focus on ground-breaking research at Monash University to develop potential new medicines to treat autoimmune diseases and disorders .

The global data centre and software giant, Equinix, has recently opened a new state-of-the-art data centre in Melbourne, as part of its expansion plans throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The centre, which is strategically located in Port Melbourne, about 2.5 kilometres from the Central Business District, will help to meet the growing regional demand for premium data centre services, and comes amidst strong growth in Australia and Victoria’s IT markets. Equinix has invested A$60 million in the centre, known as ME1, and early reports indicate an successful launch.

The Victorian Government has announced it will begin work on one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects, the Melbourne Metro Rail Project. The new Melbourne Metro Rail line includes a nine-kilometre twin rail tunnel from Melbourne's south, under the CBD, through to the university and health precinct in the city's north. It will include five new and expanded underground stations.

Melbourne’s Monash University and Amearo Engineering have captured the attention of global aviation industry giants by creating the world’s first 3-D printed jet engine. The manufacturing breakthrough will lead to cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient jets, and will result in advances in medical technology, according to engineers and researchers.

The Feynman Prize for Nanotechnology was awarded last month to Dr Amanda Barnard. Often referred to as the Nobel Prize of nanoscience, the prize’s importance is remarkable in that it recognises prodigious talent in the sector and is a reliable predictor of scientific discoveries with a very high translational impact on industry.

The global mobile payments company, Square, will open its Australian headquarters in Melbourne, which will be its fourth global base after the United States, Canada and Japan.

More than 150 international buyers and investors from Europe, the Middle East and Asia will travel to Victoria as part of a major inbound trade mission that showcases its diverse wine industry. Meet the Winemaker, will introduce international buyers to over 100 key winemakers from 21 diverse winemaking regions around Victoria, allowing the industry to develop new export opportunities and giving the world an insight into Victoria’s unique winemaking capabilities.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 6:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Interested on what it's like to be an attorney & Marine?  We will host a virtual law panel with three Marine Corps attorneys on Thursday, 14 Nov at 6pm EST.  During this event students and other participants will hear from young lawyers who are currently serving as Marine Corps Officers practicing law. The panelist will share their stories and share information about career paths as aMarine Corps attorney. Attendees will also have an opportunity to have questions answered.  

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 6:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Are you a student or recent graduate passionate about making a difference? Join us this fall for our virtual information sessions hosted by the Partnership for Public Service! Our Call to Serve team is excited to guide you through the pathways to impactful careers in the federal government. The Partnership’s Call to Serve team will share: 
Entry-level government opportunities, including internship and fellowship programs.
Practical tips to navigate the federal hiring process.
Tools for effectively searching government jobs.
This is a unique chance to gain valuable insights and set yourself on a path to make a meaningful impact in the federal government. Don’t miss out—spaces are limited, so secure your spot today by signing up here.  Participants are required to sign up on our website, do not sign up via Handshake! 

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 5:30pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Penny W Stamps School of Art & Design

Fernando Laposse specializes in transforming humble natural materials into refined design pieces. He has worked extensively with overlooked plant fibers such as sisal, loofah, and corn leaves. Laposse’s works are the result of extensive research which culminates in objects of “endemic design” where materials and their historical and cultural ties to a particular location and its people take center stage. He often works with indigenous communities in his native Mexico to create local employment opportunities and raise awareness about the challenges they face in a globalized world.
Laposse’s projects are informative and educational and touch on topics such as sustainability, the loss of biodiversity, community dissolution, migration, and the negative impacts of global trade in local agriculture and food culture. He does so by documenting the issues and announcing possible resolutions through the transformative power of design.
Laposse’s projects have been exhibited in the Triennale di Milano, the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, The Design Museum in London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the World Economic Forum, among others. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Design Museum Gent, Le centre national des arts plastiques, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. Laposse studied at Central Saint Martins in London as a product designer and currently lives and works in Mexico City.
Presented in partnership with Design Core Detroit. This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan.
Series presenting partners: Detroit PBS and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Radio.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 4:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Engineering Career Resource Center

Are you worried about finding a summer internship? Feeling stressed with everything you have going on?

You are not alone—these concerns are common among students, even this early in the academic year!

Join Advisors from the Engineering Career Resource Center and the College of Engineering CAPS office to learn strategies for coping with stress and self-doubt, as well as discovering how you can stay focused and navigate your continued job search. There's plenty of time to find valuable opportunities, and we're here to help!

Join at the following Zoom Link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93691826960

Registration in Engineering Careers, by 12twenty is encouraged but not required.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 4:00pm
Location: Student Activities Building, Maize and Blue Auditorium, 515 E Jefferson St, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Organized By: University Career Center

If you are interested in interning for the Office of Governor Whitmer, please join us on Thursday, November 14 from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM at the Maize & Blue Auditorium (located on the 1st floor of the Student Activities Building).Staff and recruiters from the Governor’s office will be visiting campus to provide an overview of their internship program for both Spring 2025 and Summer 2025. If you are in the Public Service Intern Program or pursuing professional opportunities in government, this is the event for you! Please come prepared with some questions toask the speakers as there will be Q&A for students who attend.  

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 4:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Curious about AmeriCorps and how it might fit in with your career goals? Come learn more about a year of service with the GO Tutor Corps!

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 4:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Info Session: Amgen Undergrad Finance Internship Summer 2025 Please join the Amgen corporate finance team for a virtual presentation to learn more about our undergraduate finance internship and biotechnology company. Our summer internship gives students the opportunity to own business-critical projects, participate in a case competition with fellow interns, network with company executives,and much more. Please see event details below. We look forward to meetingyou! Info Session: Amgen Corporate Finance Internship Summer 2025Where: via Teams linkWhen: Thursday, Nov. 14th at 4:00-5:00pm PSTTo apply or to learn more about the internship, search Job ID #R-195767 at careers.amgen.com. Amgen is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. With a foundation of strong values, Amgen uses science and innovation to transform insights into medicines for patients with serious illnesses. Our mission is to serve patients and we embody this in every initiative, goal and task. When you join our team, you’ll make a positive impact in the world.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 3:00pm
Location: Off Campus Location
Organized By: Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies

This presentation focuses on the importance of studying contemporary Gulf states. The definition of contemporary in this context considers the period starting from the early 1990s. The reason for this has to do with the collapse of the Soviet Union, regional changes like the invasion of Kuwait and its consequences, and the wider Middle Eastern regional consequences. The presentation also looks at the patterns that emerged in all Gulf states at the same time in different contexts: political, economic, and social.

Mahjoob Zweiri is a professor of contemporary politics and Middle Eastern history with a focus on Iran and the Gulf region. He was the director of the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University from 2018 to 2024 and the head of the humanities department from 2011 to 2016. Before joining Qatar University in 2010, Zweiri was a senior researcher in Middle Eastern politics and Iran at the Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan. From March 2003 to December 2006, he was a research fellow and then director of the Centre for Iranian Studies in the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at Durham University. Zweiri has more than 95 publications in the areas of Iran, contemporary Middle Eastern history and politics, Gulf studies, social sciences in universities of the future, and artificial intelligence’s role in social sciences. In addition to Arabic, he is fluent in Farsi and English. Zweiri is the founder and editor of the *Journal of Gulf Studies*, published by Intellect, and editor of the book series *Contemporary Gulf States*. Currently, he is a visiting professor at the University of Michigan.

Register and attend over Zoom: https://myumi.ch/pkJWz.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 2:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Join us for a special Veterans Panel where PCC employees who have transitioned from military service to civilian roles share their personal journeys. This discussion will highlight the unique strengths veterans bring to the workplace and the ways in which PCC fosters an environment that values their contributions. Whether you're a veteran or interested in how military skills translate to corporate success, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.  

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

????Discover Your Career Path with PMG ????Are you ready to launch your career in digital marketing? Join us at PMG for a virtual information session tailored for college students interested in our award-winning company culture and the career opportunities within our Graduate Leadership Program (GLP). Here’s what we’ll cover:????Award-Winning Culture: Discover what makes PMGone of AdAge's Best Places to Work for nine consecutive years. Learn about our core values and the initiatives that shape our unique culture.????Graduate Leadership Program Overview: Explore our 8-week onboarding process, designed across three dynamic tracks—Media Marketing, Data Analytics, and AI & Software Engineering. Understand how we equip new hires with the skills and support needed for a strong career start.????Inside the Hiring Process: Receive expert advice from our campus recruiting team on how to excel in our hiring process and stand out as a candidate.????Guest Speaker – Brent Aydon: Hear from Brent Aydon, a Client Strategy Lead who started his career in our Graduate Leadership Program. Brent will share a glimpse into the projects he has worked on and discuss his career growth and experiences with PMG.????Don’t miss out—RSVP today to secure your spot and move closer to making your professional aspirations a reality.

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

Are you an undergraduate student or recent graduate interested in a summer internship experience at a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)national laboratory?Join us virtually on Nov. 14, 1–5 p.m. ET, to learn about DOE's Summer 2025 Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) and Community College Internships (CCI) programs! These stipend-based 10-week programs provide technical training and research opportunities at DOE national laboratories and other facilities. SULI and CCI are sponsored and managed by the DOE Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS).During the event, representatives from DOE national laboratories will be on hand to connect with attendees in 1-on-1 chats. Plus, we'll have a live informational session on the CCI and SULI programs.REGISTER TODAYIf you have any questions, contact us at ORISEVirtualEvents@orau.org.

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 12:00pm
Location:
Organized By: University Career Center

Join us for a quick informational sessional about our exciting Financial Advising Internship! Our recruitment team will provide an overview of the internship program and how the experience can help jump start your career in the financial services industry. Whether you are looking to gain hands on experience or develop your financial expertise, this internship offers valuable insight and mentorship. All majors are welcome. We look forward to hearing from you!  -Northwestern Mutual Metro Detroit

Event Begins: Thursday, November 14, 2024 12:00pm
Location: Weiser Hall
Organized By: Center for Japanese Studies

Please note: This lecture will be held in person in room 1010 Weiser Hall and virtually via Zoom. This webinar is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Once you've registered, the joining information will be sent to your email. Register for the Zoom webinar at: https://myumi.ch/RmN4G

The Korean scholar-bureaucrats (yangban) have been drawing public attention among Japanese intellectuals since the beginning of the 20th century. This lecture reviews how Japanese magazines represented yangban, tracing how their image changed from the evil noblemen that kept Korean society stagnant to the graceful embodiers of vanishing authentic Korean culture. Both these images, and even the transition from one to the other, were driven by a Japanese version of orientalism.

Shimpei Cole Ota is a sociocultural anthropologist trained both in Seoul National University (ABD, 2003) and Osaka University (Ph.D., 2007). His basic question focuses on what brings drastic changes to societies and cultures, especially before and after modernization, liberalization, and globalization in South Korea and Korean America.

This lecture is made possible with the generous support of the U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant.

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at umcjs@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.

Proteomics International Appoints New Director, No Securities Held  TipRanks

Proteomics International Announces Director Departure  TipRanks

The post Government could save £21m by allowing four-day week appeared first on Personnel Today.

This week's interview is with Connections Director, Layla Granata. The Crew will interview Layla about her new position at The Well and her passion for cultivating awareness of our city. The Crew also discusses their thoughts from the AOD Series. Email thespoutpodcast@gmail.com with any feedback or leave a review on iTunes. Like The Well - Spoutcast on Facebook, find us on Twitter: @thespoutcast, or add us on Instagram: @thespoutcast. Check back in with the Spoutcast each week for a new episode or search Spoutcast in iTunes to subscribe to this podcast. This week's music is from Josh Garrels. Speaker: The Spoutcast Team

Blow Dat Horn by Alonzo Adams is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to Limited Edition 100 pcs

California or Bust by Disney Chilmark is a(n) Chilmark Studios. The Edition is Limited to Limited Edition of 250 pcs

Elon Musk will co-lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration, president-elect Trump said late Tuesday. According to Trump’s press statement, the Department of Government Efficiency will […]

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that Canada has topped its international rankings of the Top 10 Countries for LEED. The list highlights countries outside of the U.S. that are making significant strides in sustainable building.

UBS remain upbeat on further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts to come. Analysts at the bank acknowledge heightened concerns about inflation in the market, and also trimmed market pricing for cuts ahead.

Ahead of Wednesday's CPI report (Forexlive Americas FX news wrap 13 Nov: US CPI comes out as expected. USD continues rise) UBS points:

• Economic data signals a stronger-than-expected economy. Concerns about inflation remain

• Market expectations lean towards a slower pace of Fed rate cuts

• Fed officials view the current rate as restrictive but are balancing employment and inflation goals. A major inflation surprise would be required to shift policy outlooks.

• The Fed is likely to continue rate cuts, with a potential 25 basis point cut in December and further easing expected in 2025.

And, the data result was not enough to dissuade analysts at UBS from expecting further cuts from the FOMC ahead, referring to the in line CPI print not changing the underlying fundamentals and economy narrative.

***

The latest from FedWatch shows a solid expectation for a 25bp cut on December 18:

2100 GMT / 1600 US Eastern time on Thursday, November 14, 2024:

• Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey will deliver a speech at the Annual Financial and Professional Services Dinner, Mansion House

We last heard from Bailey a week ago:

• BOE governor Bailey: I will not specify what gradual means for rate cuts
• BOE governor Bailey: We do not have a specific equilibrium level of interest rate in mind
• BOE governor Bailey: We still need to see services inflation to come down more broadly

Non policy-related comments.

https://www.cpa.com/system/files/cpa/infographics/bdcinternationalpayments_infographic.pdf

The main objective of this OSCE project is to create evidence including in the context of conflict/crisis  to be used in the long term for improved programming and policy-making.

The contractor will be expected to undertake all aspects of work relating to the survey and additional qualitative research, including:

• pre-test/pilot study of the new conflict module;
• development of country/area specific research tools;
• qualitative key expert interviews and focus group discussions;
• interviewer selection (female interviewers only);
• interviewer training;
• random selection of respondents;
• questionnaire finalisation and translation of fieldwork and interviewer training materials;
• all fieldwork/data collection;
• data entry and processing;
• data analysis and drafting several thematic and regional reports.

The data will be collected through the use of structured, quantitative survey interviews and additional key expert interviews and focus group discussions. The survey interviews will be carried out face-to-face in each country/area by female interviewers who have completed in-depth, in-person training dedicated to the topic of the survey.

The interviews will be conducted using a standardised questionnaire already developed. Part of the contract will be testing revisions on this questionnaire and finalizing it.

The required net sample size is a minimum of 1500 women per country/area using a strict random (probability) sample.

The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring the quality, consistency and timeliness of work carried out in each country/area selected to take part in the study. The consistency of the methods and procedures applied in the various countries/areas and strict compliance with the detailed methodology of the survey needs to be ensured by the Contractor. The foreseen total duration of the assignment is 15 months.

Related Stories

• Implementation of the Project “Promoting awareness-raising tools on combating sexual exploitation through internet (social theatre) (2016)”
• Provision of Printing and related Services for the OSCE
• Provision of IT Security Consulting Services on IT Information Security Incident Response

TASHKENT, 12 July 2016 – A three-day seminar for journalists to improve their skills in reporting on human trafficking, organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the Office of the Prosecutor General, began yesterday.

The seminar brings together 26 journalists from all the regions of Uzbekistan to discuss the challenges of reporting on human trafficking and effective ways to overcome them by drawing on international and national good practices. “For better coverage of human trafficking, it is important to both see it as a global phenomenon and understand its specifics in your own country,” said Anatoly Verbin, an international media expert, addressing the media specialists.  

Ambassador John MacGregor, the Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, said that OSCE anti-trafficking commitments include the cultivation of partnership with journalists to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the complexity of the phenomenon, which is a composite of many serious crimes as well as denials of rights. “Prevention of human trafficking cannot be effective if the media do not join us in raising awareness of this crime. The trafficked persons need understanding and assistance in restoring their rights, not moral accusations, judgment or pity,’’ he noted.

Gyulnoza Rakhimova, the head of the press service of the Office of the Prosecutor General, stressed that the training will cover current legislative and law enforcement practices, how to make the information more interesting for readers and not to violate the rights of victims of trafficking.”

The training is part of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s project to assist Uzbekistan in combating trafficking in human beings and to develop a comprehensive victim-support system through expert advice and information.

Related Stories

• 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
• OSCE promotes implementation of effective traffic safety measures in Uzbekistan

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

Awards recognizing best practices in local governance in Montenegro’s municipalities over the course of this year were presented at a ceremony organized on 28 December 2015 in Podgorica by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in co-operation with the Union of Municipalities and the Ministry of Interior.

The annual Awards, now in their eighth year, are open to all local government units and allow them to showcase successful and innovative solutions and initiatives in providing services to their citizens.

Opening the award ceremony, Chairperson of the Executive Board of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro and Mayor of Cetinje, Aleksandar Bogdanović, said the Awards were the product of the excellent co-operation of national authorities, local government and international organizations with the aim of supporting sustainable development at the local level.

Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission Dan Redford said: “The OSCE Mission to Montenegro has always and will continue to support each and every effort of local governance units in Montenegro to enhance principles of good governance in their communities. These are of fundamental importance because local government is closest to citizens and provides them with essential services. Our goal has always been to mobilize and stimulate action by local stakeholders so that the citizens may benefit from good democratic governance at the local level, through the continuously improving quality of local public services.”

General Director of Directorate for State and Local Authorities in the Ministry of Interior Dragana Ranitović said this programme is of great importance for local governance units as it enables the sharing of best practices among municipalities and that it could be expanded further to facilitate bilateral cross-border co-operation.

The winners of this year’s Awards are:

• Žabljak Municipality for its economical financial practices;
• Budva Municipality for its effective human resources management through an electronic personnel recording system;
• Petnjica Municipality for establishing institutional models to enhance co-operation with citizens and the diaspora;
• Bijelo Polje Municipality for its work in economically empowering women;
• Berane Municipality for establishing a Secretariat for Sports, Culture, Youth and Co-operation with NGOs, and a Youth Council.

Berane Municipality also received a special award for introducing a more efficient accounting management system for budget spending, and for establishing the post of an Internal controller.

Related Stories

• OSCE Mission to Montenegro-supported campaign on benefits of composting kicks-off in Pljevlja
• OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports seminar on strengthening co-operation between prosecutors and police on forensic evidence
• OSCE Mission to Montenegro and Montenegrin parliament hosted meeting of Secretaries General of Western Balkans parliaments

Secretaries General and Deputy Secretaries General of Western Balkans parliaments, heads of human resources and information and communications technology departments, legal advisors and representatives of OSCE Missions in the region took part in a meeting on strategic and annual planning in parliaments in Podgorica, Montenegro on 1 and 2 June 2016.

The aim of the event, hosted by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Montenegrin Parliament, was to discuss current developments and exchange best practices and lessons learned in regard to planning in parliaments.  

Dan Redford, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, stressed the importance of developing the institutional capacity of parliaments to make them strong and self-reliant.

Suljo Mustafic, Secretary General of the Parliament of Montenegro, thanked the OSCE Mission to Montenegro for its support and co-operation in publishing the Parliamentary Lexicon - a collection of terms used in parliamentary life - which was presented at the meeting. Mustafic underlined the importance of transparency in the decision-making process and the benefits of planned development of parliamentary institutions regardless of the constant changes that parliaments underlie. 

Related Stories

• OSCE-supported Awards recognize best practices in local governance in Montenegrin municipalities
• OSCE-supported conference on accessibility of public buildings for persons with disabilities organized in Budva
• OSCE Mission to Montenegro-supported campaign on benefits of composting kicks-off in Pljevlja

BAKU, 29 December 2014 – The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku announced today the results of a contest aiming to raise awareness of the issue of domestic violence in Azerbaijan. Prizes were awarded to the best media reports on the issue written in 2014.

The evaluation committee, comprising representatives from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku and the State Committee for Women, Family and Children Affairs, reviewed some 20 articles submitted by journalists from various print and online media outlets in Azerbaijan and selected three winners:

-          Jeyhun Musaoghlu, from Aznews.az, won first place. In his article, Musaoghlu looked into the role of media in raising awareness about domestic violence and the protection of victims, as well as the importance of ensuring gender equality to reduce domestic violence;

-          Aynur Elgunesh, from Var.az, won second place. She investigated current challenges in implementing the law on the prevention of domestic violence and highlighted the importance of co-operation between government agencies and civil society organizations in the operation of shelters for victims of domestic violence;

-          The third place winner is Fuad Huseynzade, from Interfax-Azerbaijan. He investigated the main reasons that lead to domestic violence and analysed socio-economic and psychological aspects of this phenomenon in Azerbaijan. 

The winners of the competition received monetary rewards as follows: first place: – 1500 AZN (approx. 1430 Euros), second place – 1200 AZN (approx. 1150 Euros) and third place – 1000 AZN (approx. 955 Euros). They will also receive certificates from Ambassador Alexis Chahtahtinsky, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku.

This contest was part of a project supporting the implementation of the law on the prevention of domestic violence in Azerbaijan.

Related Stories

• More Muslim voices in Europe condemning anti-Semitism needed, says Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism
• OSCE and Azerbaijan discuss cybersecurity
• OSCE trains legal professionals on preventing domestic violence

BISHKEK, 22 July 2016 – Three public discussions on the regulatory legal acts regarding the use of natural resources and environmental protection are being organized from 19 July to 27 July 2016 by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the local Aarhus Centre in the districts of Toktogul, Aksy and Kadamjay in southern Kyrgyzstan.

The discussions are gathering representatives of environmental services, the local authorities, village- and district-level state administrations, local council deputies and public organizations, to exchange ideas on environmental problems and discuss how to address them through active public scrutiny.

“Local stakeholders should be aware of the environmental legislation upfront. This will help them to prevent conflict arising from the use of natural resources,” said Dmitry Prudtskikh, Environmental Officer at the OSCE Centre. “I am glad to see that the Aarhus Centre in Osh has established a platform for communication between governmental, public and private structures, with the support of the OSCE.”

Kanybek Isabaev, Director of the Aarhus Centre in Osh, said: “For several years, we have been disseminating information to the public and our partners on the legislation regarding environmental protection, the rational use of natural resources, and subsoil and environmental safety in our country. It is very significant that citizens can participate in decision-making in the area of ecology, a sphere that is becoming increasingly important in Kyrgyzstan.”

During the discussions, participants will gain knowledge on issues of environmental protection, public access to environmental information, the normative legal acts of the Kyrgyz Republic on ecology and the basic principles of the Aarhus Convention.

The event was organized as part of the OSCE Centre's project on promoting environmental security through dialogue and enhanced disaster risk reduction.

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.

VIENNA / WARSAW, 29 July2016 – To combat human trafficking,  a comprehensive, co-ordinated and victim-centred approach that includes creating opportunities for regular and safe migration, as well as protecting the human rights of migrants, is urgently needed by all state actors, civil society and multilateral organizations, said senior OSCE officials today ahead of World Anti-Trafficking Day on 30 July.

Multiple and complex security challenges such as armed conflict, the spread of violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism and climate change, have recently pushed millions of people into mass, mixed migration flows throughout the OSCE region, putting an increasing number of  them at risk of being trafficked.

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier emphasized that “effective and early identification of potential victims and the fight against the impunity of perpetrators need to be at the core of any resilient security governance strategy. This is particularly important within the context of mixed migration flows, which expose already vulnerable individuals to trafficking syndicates.”   

“Human trafficking is a grave violation of the human rights of its victims – human beings who are exploited, most often for profit,” said Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). “A victim-centred approach, placing the protection of all human rights at the heart of efforts to prevent and end trafficking, is essential if we are to ensure that anti-trafficking measures do not further threaten the safety, dignity and rights of those we are responsible to help and protect.”

OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Madina Jarbussynova stressed that crisis situations are placing strenuous challenges on already vulnerable groups within and around the OSCE region. “As we join the efforts of the United Nations on this World Day against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness and promote the protection of rights and dignity of all, any protective measures should first and foremost be conducted in the best interest of potential victims, especially amongst irregular migrants, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and unaccompanied minors.” Focusing on the complex nexus between trafficking and conflict situations, Ambassador Jarbussynova will on Monday start a week-long official visit to Ukraine to raise awareness of human trafficking threats.  

Related Stories

• OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Steinmeier and Secretary General Zannier offer condolences on passing of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel
• OSCE Secretary General and Europol Director discuss need to address threat of trafficking children migrants
• Strong multilateral institutions, confidence-building instruments key in addressing divisions, say participants of OSCE Security Days in Berlin

International standards and the national legal framework on freedom of religion or belief were the focus of two consecutive training events organized jointly by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) from 25 to 28 July 2016 in Bishkek.

The training for 25 prosecutors and 31 defence lawyers from all regions of Kyrgyzstan was provided in close co-operation with the Training Centre for Prosecutors under the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Training Centre for Lawyers. The course covered a wide variety of topics directly relevant to the work of the participants, including recent developments in Kyrgyzstan.

Drawing on the guidance of national and international experts, participants discussed the nature of the right to freedom of religion or belief, its interrelatedness with other human rights and fundamental freedoms, the nature, extent and impact of violations of freedom of religion or belief, and the duties of the state to respect, protect and fulfil this universal human right. Participants also took part in mock trials on cases involving interference with freedom of religion or belief, such as through the banning of religious clothing and discrimination against religious organizations. 

“In using topical case studies, the participants were able to apply the knowledge they had acquired in a practical ‘courtroom’ environment and improve their legal skills in analysing freedom of religion or belief cases and advancing cogent and structured arguments,” said Mark Hill, one of the participating international experts and a senior barrister from the United Kingdom.

Dilnoza Satarova, Associate Officer on Freedom of Religion or Belief at ODIHR, said: “ODIHR welcomes co-operation with the Training Centre for Prosecutors of Kyrgyzstan and the Training Centre for Lawyers in organizing this course. Such capacity-building activities are key to advancing freedom of religion or belief for all, and ODIHR stands ready to support similar initiatives in Kyrgyzstan in the future.”

The two events are part of a series of training events for lawyers, prosecutors and judges on a variety of human rights-related issues conducted as part of the OHCHR project “Peace and Reconciliation through strengthening the rule of law and protection of human rights”, which is funded by the Peacebuilding Fund. 

Related Stories

• OSCE/ODIHR final report on early parliamentary elections in Serbia recommends comprehensive review of legislation and ensuring the level playing field for contestants
• OSCE workshop in Kosovo focuses on improving the recording of hate crimes
• OSCE/ODIHR Director Link welcomes Kyrgyzstan’s review of Askarov’s case, calls on Kyrgyz authorities to implement UN Human Rights Committee decision

VIENNA, 12 July 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about the decision of Federal Financial Monitoring Service in Russia to publish an updated “list of terrorists and extremists” which includes members of the media.

“Publishing this list could put the journalists at risk and jeopardize their safety,” Mijatović said. “It’s the government’s responsibility to ensure journalists’ safety; it should not put them in harm’s way based on state prosecutors’ suspicions under an anti-extremism law.”

On 12 July, the Federal Financial Monitoring Service, tasked with monitoring legal entities’ and individuals’ compliance with Russia's terrorist and extremist financing legislation, published a searchable list of some six thousand individuals on its website.

Previously held confidential, the list includes Crimean journalists Nikolay Semena from the Krym-realii online media, and Anna Andrievskaya from the Centre for Journalistic Investigations.

Mijatović noted that she and other intergovernmental bodies have repeatedly pointed to the shortcomings of anti-extremism legislation in Russia and voiced their concerns regarding its application, including past verdicts in relation to journalists and warnings to media entities.

“I call on the relevant authorities to take down the list with the names of the journalists and review the policy which puts those exercising their freedom of expression in danger,” Mijatović said. “Labeling journalists as terrorists because of their critical voices and critical reporting cannot be justified.”

Mijatović also pointed to a previous public statement in which she criticized amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation that increased criminal liability for online calls for extremist activity to up to five years in prison (available atwww.osce.org/fom/120175).

In 2014, The Representative issued a communiqué on the impact of laws countering extremism on freedom of expression and freedom of the media (available at http://www.osce.org/fom/125186).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom. 

Related Stories

• OSCE Representative welcomes revision of Law of War manual in USA improving protection for journalists
• Democratic governments must ensure media freedom and journalists’ safety, OSCE Representative urges Turkey
• OSCE Representative condemns murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet in Ukraine