Publications

This Assessment is a baseline document for planning future steps in the complex digitalization process of the courts in North Macedonia. The courts' digitalization, intersectoral connectivity and interoperability of the courts with other judicial institutions and state organs is in line with judicial efficiency and transparency improvement, emphasizing quick, cost effective and qualitative access to justice. The Assessment is consisted of four main chapters: International standards and comparative experiences- focusing on the advantages and challenges in usage of electronic platforms and conducting on-line or hybrid hearings; Analysis of the current situation in utilization of ICT tools in all courts in North Macedonia and existence of adequate human and technical resources; Current national legislation and necessary legislative amendments to enable utilization of new ICT tools in court operations and protect the rights of the participants in court procedures; and Recommendations for future steps in regards to court digitalization.

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The OSCE Mission to Montenegro supported the Office of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms of Montenegro in preparing an analysis of court verdicts for misdemeanors of domestic violence and violence against women in 2019, and during the COVID-19 pandemic for March- July 2020. The document analyzed 184 verdicts from the following courts: Misdemeanor court in Bijelo Polje (divisions in Pljevlja, Berane and Rožaje), Misdemeanor court in Budva (divisions in Ulcinj, Bar, Kotor and Herceg Novi) and Misdemeanor court in Podgorica (divisions in Nikšić, Cetinje and Danilovgrad). Some of the main conclusions of the Analysis are that vast majority of the victims of domestic violence are women, that the victims are often not aware of the possibility to initiate misdemeanor proceedings themselves and that the penalty policy is mild. The Analysis provides a good basis to integrate the principles of gender equality into courts’ procedures and practices in cases of domestic violence and violence against women.

This report examines police reform in Montenegro between 2011 and 2019, focused on progress made in good governance in policing. This is the fourth assessment of police reform conducted by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro. Previous reports can be found here: “Police Reform in Montenegro 2006-2011: Assess¬ment and Recommendations”; 2001 and 2006. The research for the report was conducted in late summer and autumn of 2019 and as such, does not include developments in 2020, marked by protests, the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 parliamentary elections which resulted in the first change of the governing majority in three decades. These events continue to have a strong impact on policing in Montenegro. The findings of the report are based on extensive desk research and interviews with 78 individuals from the Police Directorate and other Montenegrin authorities, as well as from civil society, media, and international organisations. The report notes significant developments in policing, identifies gaps and challenges and provides concrete recommendations for the Ministry of Interior, Police Directorate and other government institutions and the international community, which should form the basis for future constructive discussions.

The OSCE Secretary General’s Annual Report gives an overview of the Organization's activities and its co-operation with partner states and other organizations.

This easy-to-understand version was produced as part of the ODIHR project "Strengthening Inclusive and Accountable Democratic Institutions in the OSCE Region".

This Occasional Paper is based on findings from a multi-method research project, including surveys, expert interviews, and expert group meetings carried out with participants from more than half of the OSCE’s participating States. By bringing together the voices of survivors, anti-trafficking experts, service providers, and law enforcement, this paper offers a comprehensive account of gender aspects in trafficking in human beings. It also provides a basis for discussion about possible ways to apply gender-sensitive approaches. The report, therefore, explores a range of gender aspects that are often not addressed in existing prevention, protection, and prosecution strategies.

The summary includes a brief overview of technical reports on the outcomes of review of the current state of selected industrial waste storage facilities in the Siverskyi Donets river basin in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, conducted in 2020. It complements the efforts to analyze the state of