A roundtable discussion on the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan took place in Astana on 15 July 2016.

Some 60 representatives of the Aarhus Centres, regional and central government entities, environmental non-governmental organizations and private sector discussed the ways to improve Kazakhstan’s compliance with its obligations under the Aarhus Convention.

They reviewed the ongoing activities in promoting its principles in the regions as well as new amendments to the national environmental legislation. They also examined the draft Aarhus Convention implementation report for 2014-2016 and exchanged opinions on its further enhancement.

The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the Energy Ministry’s Information and Analytical Centre of Environment Protection.

The 1998 Aarhus Convention consists of three pillars: access to information, public participation in environmental decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters. Aarhus Centres provide platforms to engage citizens, governments and the private sector in a dialogue on environmental challenges.

Related Stories

• OSCE supports water co-operation in southern Kazakhstan
• OSCE promotes Central Asian Leadership Program for young environmental leaders
• OSCE concludes series of training seminars on implementing the National Preventive Mechanism in Kazakhstan

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana concluded a series of two-day training seminars for some 100 members of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) against Torture on 2 August 2016 in Aktobe, Western Kazakhstan.

From May to August 2016, participants were trained in Pavlodar, Almaty, Astana and Aktobe on practical aspects of the NPM’s implementation.

The training seminars aimed at increasing the transparency and effectiveness of the Mechanism in monitoring, reporting and conducting preventive visits at detention facilities. National experts discussed with the NPM members the working procedures and methodology, challenges in fulfilling human rights obligations and ethical aspects in line with national and international anti-torture standards. Special emphasis was placed on the necessary co-operation between NPM and the law-enforcement sector.

The set of seminars was organized in partnership with the Ombudsman’s Office of Kazakhstan and the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and is part of the Office’s long-standing commitment to reinforce the NPM and promote the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.

Related Stories

• OSCE promotes ‘green’ women’s entrepreneurship in rural areas of Kazakhstan
• OSCE supports water co-operation in southern Kazakhstan
• OSCE Programme Office concludes series of training seminars on National Preventive Mechanism Implementation in Kazakhstan

A roundtable discussion on the implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan took place in Astana on 15 July 2016.

Some 60 representatives of the Aarhus Centres, regional and central government entities, environmental non-governmental organizations and private sector discussed the ways to improve Kazakhstan’s compliance with its obligations under the Aarhus Convention.

They reviewed the ongoing activities in promoting its principles in the regions as well as new amendments to the national environmental legislation. They also examined the draft Aarhus Convention implementation report for 2014-2016 and exchanged opinions on its further enhancement.

The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the Energy Ministry’s Information and Analytical Centre of Environment Protection.

The 1998 Aarhus Convention consists of three pillars: access to information, public participation in environmental decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters. Aarhus Centres provide platforms to engage citizens, governments and the private sector in a dialogue on environmental challenges.

Related Stories

• OSCE supports water co-operation in southern Kazakhstan
• OSCE promotes ‘green’ women’s entrepreneurship in rural areas of Kazakhstan
• OSCE launches series of anti-trafficking seminars for law-enforcement officers and social workers across Kazakhstan

ASTANA, 4 July 2016 – A two-day OSCE-supported training seminar on the practical aspects of implementing the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) for preventing torture began today in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Some 20 NPM members participated in the third in a series of four events aimed at building the capacities of the NPM in the context of monitoring, reporting and preventive visits to places of detention.

“You represent a reliable ‘pulse’ of the interaction between citizens and law-enforcement authorities and your reaching out to various places of detention provides us with some ‘measurement’ in that sense,” said Ambassador Gyorgy Szabo, Head of the Programme Office in Astana. “Such training events are productive for developing a common methodology and approach and for increasing the potential to prevent abuses of power and cruel and degrading treatment.”

The training addressed working procedures and methodology, key challenges in fulfilling human rights monitoring obligations at detention facilities and ethical matters. Both national and international anti-torture standards were taken into consideration.

Particular attention was paid to the co-operation between NPM and law-enforcement departments, prosecutors, prison administrations, healthcare institutions and media representatives.

The seminar was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Kazakhstan and the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The series of training events is part of the Office’s long-term assistance to the NPM and work in promoting the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture in the host country.

Related Stories

• OSCE concludes series of training seminars on implementing the National Preventive Mechanism in Kazakhstan
• OSCE Programme Office supports training for defence lawyers in Kazakhstan on the new criminal procedure legislation
• OSCE supports plea bargain training in Kazakhstan

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana concluded a series of two-day training seminars for some 100 members of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) against Torture on 2 August 2016 in Aktobe, Western Kazakhstan.

From May to August 2016, participants were trained in Pavlodar, Almaty, Astana and Aktobe on practical aspects of the NPM’s implementation.

The training seminars aimed at increasing the transparency and effectiveness of the Mechanism in monitoring, reporting and conducting preventive visits at detention facilities. National experts discussed with the NPM members the working procedures and methodology, challenges in fulfilling human rights obligations and ethical aspects in line with national and international anti-torture standards. Special emphasis was placed on the necessary co-operation between NPM and the law-enforcement sector.

The set of seminars was organized in partnership with the Ombudsman’s Office of Kazakhstan and the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and is part of the Office’s long-standing commitment to reinforce the NPM and promote the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture.

Related Stories

• OSCE launches series of training seminars on National Preventive Mechanism in Kazakhstan
• OSCE supports training seminar on torture prevention in Kazakhstan
• OSCE Programme Office supports training for defence lawyers in Kazakhstan on the new criminal procedure legislation

VIENNA, 16 June 2016 – Accountability is crucial to preventing future crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, said President of the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi as she addressed the 823d meeting of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) on Wednesday in Vienna.

Fernandez emphasized that the current security challenges are staggering in their numbers and complexity.

“The world is facing destabilizing conflicts around the globe which include not only deliberate acts of violence against the physical security and well-being of civilians, but also deliberate attacks against their cultures and identities,” she said. “This demands a multi-faceted response from the international community to stop violence in the short-term, but also sustainable conflict resolution in the long-term.”

Fernandez stressed the importance of justice in preventing future crimes and the necessity of building the capacity of national jurisdictions. The ICC can exercise jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide but it is complementary and not intended to replace national systems, she noted.

“Capacity building of national jurisdictions is essential. The OSCE has played a role - especially in the former Yugoslavia - and can also make contributions through supporting the rule of law and democratic institutions,” Fernandez said.

Ambassador Adam Bugajski of Poland, the OSCE participating State currently chairing the FSC, said: “In paragraph 30 of the Code of Conduct we committed ourselves, inter alia, to ensure that armed forces personnel are aware they are individually accountable under national and international law for their actions."

Related Stories

• OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation: Modernizing the Vienna Document and strong CSBMs are key responses to security challenges
• Gender equality in the military enhances security for all, say participants of joint OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation-Permanent Council meeting
• Mongolia hosts OSCE conference on the role of armed and security forces in democratic societies

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

VIENNA, 14 June 2016 – Preventing and responding to the terrorist radicalization of youth north and south of the Mediterranean was in focus of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group meeting held today in Vienna.

“We need to step up efforts to prevent radicalization amongst youth”, said the Chairperson of the Contact Group, Permanent Representative of Austria to the OSCE Christian Strohal. “Ensuring the participation of youth, socially, economically and politically, is very important in this regard.”

Fadwa Al Ahmadi, a youth activist from Tunisia, stressed the need to create spaces for youth to express themselves: “Youth empowerment is crucial in preventing violent extremism in North Africa. We must help them to be heard.”

Véronique Roger-Lacan, the Permanent Representative of France to the OSCE, said: “We support wholeheartedly the efficient work carried out by the UnitedCVE team, in their relationship with the youth of the OSCE’s 57 participating States. We call on civil society to maintain its engagement against the radicalization of youth. We continue to co-operate in the fight against recruiters and terrorists.”

French filmmaker Fabienne Servan Schreiber, who works on creating counter-narratives to radicalization in film, stressed the importance of working with parents affected by violent extremism and sharing their stories: “Parents are on the frontlines and must be at the centre of the fight against violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism.”

“We must help parents to help their children,” said Valérie de Boisrolin, President of the French Association Syrie-Prevention-Famille, whose daughter left to Syria in 2013. “There is such ignorance about religion among young people who leave to fight in Syria. We also need to make youth aware of the reality of terrorism on the ground, violence and abuse. We must unite and do all we can to work with young people who come back from the hands of ‘Daesh’.” 

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier launched in 2015 the organization-wide campaign ‘OSCE United in Countering Violent Extremism’ (#UnitedCVE) to underscore that the OSCE stands together as one in countering violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism.

Related Stories

• Winners of OSCE design contest challenge violent extremism with creative cartoons
• #LetsDoodle: challenging violent extremism with cartoons
• OSCE organizes field study in sustainable energy for the OSCE Mediterranean Partner Countries.

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

Posted by Apple Product Security via Fulldisclosure on Oct 28

LOS ANGELES - French video game titan Ubisoft on Monday unveiled a new subscription service and a Brexit-tinged title as it taps into the industry trend toward streaming games.

Science Shock: U.K. Met Office is “Inventing” Temperature Data from 100 Non-Existent Stations by Chris Morrison Shocking evidence has emerged that points to the U.K. Met Office inventing temperature data from over 100 non-existent weather stations. The explosive allegations have been made by citizen journalist Ray Sanders and sent to the new Labour Science Minister Peter Kyle MP. […]

Maxwell: The convention meeting market is shrinking. But Orange County continues to spend money to expand its money-losing center

The Theme Park Rangers say goodbye to Poseidon’s Fury at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and celebrate Animal Kingdom’s birthday.

The robot’s debut next month does not signal the AI takeover just yet, convention center leaders say.

Gatorland plans Gatorpalooza event for May, including Florida Man Challenge

Veterans Day is Nov. 11 and many Central Florida businesses are honoring former and current service members with deals and specials.

New holiday festivities join traditional lineup for events and Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios

UF linebacker Ventrell Miller of Lakeland is staying close to home after the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him No. 121 overall during the NFL draft.

Here’s what you need to know about Stanford WR-TE Elijah Higgins, the sixth-round pick for the Miami Dolphins, and Michigan OT Ryan Hayes, the seventh-round pick.

Ivey went to the Bengals with pick No. 246.

Resolution 94 - (Hammamet, 2016) - Standardization work in the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector for cloud-based event data technology

Quality measurement in major events

FSTP-VS-ECSR - Requirements for event centre server in video surveillance systems

Donald Trump has yet to take office as president for a second time, but vulnerable groups of Americans are already responding to his election victory.

As mental health appointments have surged in the wake of the 2024 presidential election, so have cries for help from LGBTQ+ youth. The day after the election, the Trevor Project, a nonprofit suicide prevention program for LGBTQ+ youth, saw a 700% increase in requests for its crisis services, according to data shared with Fast Company. (The Trevor Project also created a guide for LGBTQ+ youth to find and build community after the election.)

“The increases in volume that we have experienced across our lines indicate that this election is taking a toll on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people in a major way,” said Becca Nordeen, the group’s SVP of crisis intervention. “It’s clear that this is a challenging moment for many LGBTQ+ young people. But, we want to remind everyone that no matter what they are feeling right now, we can – and we will – get through this together.”

As Fast Company reported last week, the election also sparked a surge in appointments for mental healthcare services, according to data from Zocdoc.

Comments

Lifetimo Platform Launches Annual Black Friday Technology Marketplace Event  Newsfile

AI’s math problem: FrontierMath benchmark shows how far technology still has to go  VentureBeat

The company will use some of the funding to advance its wildfire suppression project, which uses autonomous drones and acoustic waves.

Read more: Dryad Networks raises €6.3m to drive wildfire prevention tech

The network of more than 70 investors represent more than €90bn in assets.

Read more: EU partners with venture capital to scale European deep tech

Atlas General Contractors in Illinois turned to Atlas Roofing products to help reroof and improve ventilation for a century-old church.

Those who register for the International Roofing Expo's Virtual Event will gain access to a wealth of knowledge from its on-demand sessions and seminars.

View the schedule of events taking place during Day Two of the International Roofing Expo's Virtual Edition.

The final day of the International Roofing Expo's Virtual Edition is packed with plenty of information and entertainment for attendees. View the schedule here!

The EEOC has published “Promising Practices for Preventing Harassment in the Construction Industry,” a guideline recommending committed leadership, accountability, comprehensive policies, accessible complaint procedures, and tailored training to ensure a harassment-free workplace. 

IPS Roofing Products' SmartVent features a shingle over design that makes roofing jobs quicker, easier and much more profitable.

In addition to its partnerships with Tradepost LLC and Stonecutter Ventures, Feazel is now offering GAF Energy's Timberline Solar Shingle.

With the Biden administrating pledging to aggressively enforce workplace regulations, now is the time to make sure employers are in compliance with wage and hour practices.

Patented Tubos pipe extensions are now available in 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-inch diameters to accommodate most common vent stack sizes, saving time on the roof.

GAF has introduced the EverGuard Self-Adhered TPO Vent Boot, enhancing contractor efficiency on single-ply TPO systems by eliminating welding; the product is also eligible for 20-year coverage under specific conditions. 

If you couldn't be there in person, you can feel like you were part of the fun during this year's Western Roofing Expo in Las Vegas. Enjoy the slideshow.

Registration is now open for the 2024 IIBEC Convention in Phoenix, featuring awards, educational sessions, and networking opportunities. 

Solar panels have shown remarkable resilience in severe weather, but falling debris or installation issues can sometimes cause damage; Panasonic offers some steps to prepare and protect solar panels from severe storms.

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association announced its annual Accident Prevention Contest winners, recognizing more than 60 asphalt roofing manufacturing facilities throughout North America for their workplace safety records, particularly their low incident rates among workers.

This year’s event saw the largest turnout since it started in 2018, and had the support of over 20 different vendors, partners and sponsors, along with the entire BluSky executive team in attendance.

NanoTech Materials Inc.’s Insulative Ceramic Particle technology has been named to TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2024.