Riksdagens delegation vid OSSE:s parlamentariska församling överlämnar bifogade redogörelse för verksamheten inom den parlamentariska församlingen under 2009.
Stockholm den 22 mars 2010
På delegationens vägnar
Walburga Habsburg Douglas
Ann-Sofi Lindenbaum
Sammanfattning1
Innehållsförteckning2
Verksamheten inom OSSE:s parlamentariska församling 20083
1 Framväxten av Organisationen för säkerhet och samarbete i Europa (OSSE)3
2 Den parlamentariska dimensionen inom OSSE4
2.1 Församlingens verksamhet och organisation4
2.1.1 Plenarsessioner och vintermöten4
2.1.2 Presidiet (byrån)4
2.1.3 Det ständiga utskottet5
2.1.4 Sekretariatet5
2.2 Partigrupper5
3 Den svenska delegationen6
4 Verksamheten under 20097
4.1 Möten under året7
4.2 Utskottsarbetet7
4.2.1 Utskott I Politik och säkerhet8
4.2.2 Resolutioner antagna av utskott I8
4.2.3 Utskott II Ekonomi och miljö8
4.2.4 Resolutioner antagna av utskott II9
4.2.5 Utskott III Demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter9
4.2.6 Resolutioner antagna av utskott III9
5 Församlingens budget11
6 Församlingens bidrag till demokratisk utveckling12
6.1 Församlingens ad hoc-arbetsgrupper12
7 Särskilda representanter13
7.1 Genus och jämställdhet13
7.2 Södra Kaukasien och Nagorno-Karabach14
8 Valövervakning15
9 Samarbete inom och utom församlingen17
9.1 Samarbetet i Medelhavsregionen17
9.2 Samarbete med andra parlamentariska församlingar17
OSSE:s medlemsstater19
Partnerstater20
Bilaga21
Organisationen för säkerhet och samarbete i Europa (OSSE) har sitt ursprung i den europeiska säkerhetskonferensen (ESK). ESK etablerades 1975 som ett forum för pågående politiska förhandlingar mellan öst och väst. År 1993 fick ESK ställning som regional organisation i FN enligt FN-stadgans kapitel VIII. År 1995 bytte konferensen namn till Organisationen för säkerhet och samarbete i Europa (OSSE).
OSSE omfattar i dag 56 stater och utgör en effektiv organisation i det internationella säkerhetspolitiska samarbetet. Organisationen har en vid medlemskrets, från Vladivostok till Vancouver, en flexibel struktur och en bred syn på säkerhet. Dess verksamhet omfattar tre dimensioner: den militärpolitiska, den mänskliga (demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter) samt dimensionen för ekonomi och miljö.
Tyngdpunkten inom OSSE:s verksamhet försköts under 1990-talet från långsiktiga förhandlingar om normbyggande och militära förtroendeskapande åtgärder till konfliktförebyggande och återuppbyggnad. OSSE är en i hög grad operativ organisation och dess flexibla organisation gör snabba förebyggande insatser möjliga, ofta i nära samarbete med andra internationella organ. Den har för närvarande fältkontor i 16 länder, och den övervägande delen av budgeten går till konkreta fältinsatser. Fältmissionernas arbete är inriktat på att stärka respekten för mänskliga rättigheter och rättsstatens principer, bygga upp demokratiska institutioner och stödja förtroendeskapande åtgärder mellan olika befolkningsgrupper
Organisationen har kapacitet att verka i olika skeden av en konflikt: förvarning, förebyggande, konflikthantering samt återuppbyggnad respektive utveckling av demokrati och rättsstatens principer. Organisationen har också i allt större utsträckning tagit sig an frågor som sträcker sig över samtliga tre dimensioner, såsom frågorna om människohandel, terrorism och gränsövervakning.
Samarbete med länder utanför det egna geografiska området regleras genom partnerskapsavtal.
Den parlamentariska församlingen i OSSE (OSSE PF) etablerades 1990 i samband med att OSSE fick en fastare institutionell struktur.
OSSE:s parlamentariska församling ska genom dialog bidra till att utveckla och främja konfliktlösningar, bidra till en demokratisk samhällsutveckling, värna rättsstatens principer och stödja demokratiska institutioner i medlemsländerna. Församlingen ska också granska huruvida medlemsländernas regeringar genomför de resolutioner och rekommendationer som församlingen ålägger dem. Målen för församlingens verksamhet anges i dess stadga.
Församlingen möts i en årlig plenarsession och i ett vintermöte då de nationella delegationerna från OSSE:s 56 medlemsländer samlas. Församlingen har 320 ledamöter och lika många ersättare. Antalet medlemmar i de nationella delegationerna är fastlagt i församlingens stadga. Under sessionerna följer församlingen upp hur OSSE:s mål efterlevs, diskuterar aktuella politiska frågor och har en dialog med OSSE:s organ på regeringsnivå, vilket är en viktig del av sessionerna. Beslut i församlingens plenum fattas med majoritet.
OSSE:s parlamentariska församling har tre fackutskott som motsvarar regeringssidans dimensioner och som sammanträder under vintermötet och sommarsessionen.
Vid sessionerna förekommer även regionala möten. Värdlandet Litauen inbjöd de övriga nordiska och de baltiska delegationerna till en lunch under sommarsessionen i Vilnius.
Församlingen leds av en president som väljs för ett verksamhetsår med möjlighet till omval en gång.
Församlingens presidium (byrå) består av presidenten och nio vicepresidenter som väljs för tre år med möjlighet till omval. En vicepresident kan ingå i presidiet i högst sex år.
Byrån samlas i utvidgad form i december och i april med deltagande av utskottens presidier för att förbereda rapporter och resolutionsutkast inför sommarsessionen.
Församlingens ständiga utskott utgörs av de nationella delegationernas ordförande, församlingens presidium och de tre utskottens presidier. Det ständiga utskottet föreslår dagordning för sessionen och tar ställning till aktuella politiska frågor mellan sessionerna. Det beslutar bl.a. vilka föreslagna tilläggsämnen som ska tas upp till debatt under sessionen och vilka fackutskott som ska bereda dessa. Beslut fattas enligt principen konsensus minus en.
OSSE PF:s sekretariat finns i Köpenhamn (14 personer) och har en filial i Wien (2 personer). Församlingens högste tjänsteman är generalsekreterare Spencer Oliver (USA). Han har lett sekretariatet sedan starten och fick 2005 fortsatt mandat på sex år.
OSSE PF har sex officiella språk: engelska, franska, italienska, ryska, spanska och tyska.
Inom församlingen verkar fem partigrupper: socialistgruppen, den konservativa gruppen, den liberala gruppen, vänstergruppen och den gröna gruppen. Grupperna har inga sekretariat. De får inte heller några finansiella bidrag från församlingen. Partigrupperna sammanträder endast i samband med de stadgeenliga mötena.
I riksdagens OSSE-delegation ingår åtta ledamöter och lika många ersättare. Dessa väljs av kammaren för en hel valperiod. Sedan november 2006, då delegationen utsågs, har vissa förändringar skett. Den 1 januari 2009 hade delegationen följande sammansättning.
Delegationens ordförande är Walburga Habsburg Douglas och vice ordförande är Tone Tingsgård.
Fördelningen i församlingens utskott:
Utskott I Politik och säkerhet: Håkan Juholt, Åsa Lindestam,
Göran Lennmarker
Utskott II Ekonomi och miljö: Fredrick Federley, Aleksander Gabelic
Utskott III Demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter:
Walburga Habsburg Douglas, Tone Tingsgård, Cecilia Wigström.
Svenska delegater har följande uppdrag inom församlingen:
Walburga Habsburg Douglas är ordförande i tredje kommittén och ingår i församlingens byrå. Hon utsågs i oktober av presidenten till ordförande i arbetsgruppen för Moldavien.
Tone Tingsgård har tidigare omvalts till vicepresident 20062009 och ingår därmed i församlingens presidium (byrå). Hon har ett uppdrag från församlingens president som särskild representant i genusfrågor.
Cecilia Wigström ingår i en arbetsgrupp för demokratiutveckling i Vitryssland.
Göran Lennmarker är sedan 2008 president emeritus i församlingen, vilken han lämnar 2010 då ny president väljs. År 2008 utsågs han till PF:s särskilda sändebud för situationen i Georgien, och han har kvar sitt tidigare uppdrag som särskild representant för konflikten Nagorno-Karabach.
Vintermötet hölls i Wien den 1920 februari. Utöver de sedvanliga förberedelserna för sommarsessionen arrangerades en temadebatt Ny europeisk säkerhetsarkitektur. Den svenska delegationen var aktiv i denna, och både Lindestam och Lennmarker gjorde inlägg.
Församlingens artonde session hölls i Vilnius den 29 juni3 juli på inbjudan av Litauen. Temat för sessionen var OSSE inför nya säkerhetsutmaningar (Addressing New Security Challenges). Arbetet i utskotten med huvudresolutionen och övriga resolutioner, föreslagna av medlemmarna, bearbetades i respektive utskott och antogs sedan i plenum. Samtliga resolutioner finns samlade i den s.k. Vilniusdeklarationen, vilken biläggs. Församlingens president Joao Soares, Portugal, ledde debatten i plenum. Detta var den första OSSE-sessionen för ett baltiskt land, vilket framhölls av både landets president och talman i respektive inledningsanförande. I plenum rapporterade Tone Tingsgård från sitt genusuppdrag. I sommarsessionens avslutande debatt deltog Fredrick Federley som framhöll alla likas rättigheter oavsett kön och sexuell läggning och hänvisade till ett omstritt aktuellt lagförslag i Litauens parlament. Göran Lennmarker talade om PF:s viktiga roll i arbetet med en ny europeisk säkerhetsarkitektur.
Två resolutioner antogs i plenum: Stärkandet av OSSE och Valobservation.
I slutet av sessionen omvaldes Joao Soares, Portugal, till president för församlingen för ett år t.o.m. den årliga sessionen i Oslo 2010.
Höstmötet hölls i Aten 912 oktober där flera debatter arrangerades inom huvudtemat Energy Security and the Environment. Göran Lennmarker ledde ett kort informellt möte med länderna i södra Kaukasien angående kommande möten i regionen.
En konferens med ekonomi som tema arrangeras vartannat år, och Irland inbjöd till 2009 års ekonomiska konferens över temat The World Financial Crisis i Dublin 2729 maj. Walburga Habsburg Douglas var ordförande för sessionen rörande de sociala konsekvenserna av finanskrisen.
Permanenta kommittén möttes den 19 februari, 5 juli och den 11 oktober.
Byrån möttes den 19 april i Köpenhamn och den 30 november i Aten.
Riksdagens OSSE-delegation hade fyra sammanträden under året.
Under vintermötet presenterade de tre rapportörerna utkast till sin respektive rapport och resolution att läggas fram vid sommarsessionen och fick synpunkter från de närvarande parlamentarikerna på innehållet.
Vid sommarsessionen lade sedan varje utskotts rapportör fram en resolution baserad på sin rapport över det övergripande temat OSSE inför nya säkerhetsutmaningar. I tillägg till denna diskuterades i varje utskott ett antal resolutioner utöver årets tema, vilka föreslagits av parlamentarikerna.
I varje utskott rapporterade vice ordförande om den nationella uppföljningen av förutvarande års deklaration, den s.k. Astanadeklarationen, och man konstaterade att vissa framsteg gjorts men att frågan om OSSE PF:s status fortfarande var olöst, att genusbalansen inte var tillfredsställande, att man inte funnit någon lösning på de olösta konflikterna samt att intolerans och diskriminering liksom människohandel fortfarande var allvarliga problem.
Rapportören presenterade sin rapport som fokuserade på matsäkerhet, och kommittén konstaterade att tillgång till mat var en fundamental mänsklig rättighet. Huvudresolutionen uppmanar medlemsländerna att hantera frågan om matsäkerhet på samma sätt som organisationens traditionella områden.
Resolutionen om säkerhetssektorns stabilisering med iakttagande av FN:s svarta lista, som lagts fram av Åsa Lindestam, antogs utan ändringsförslag eller debatt. Den konstaterar att stabilitet och säkerhet är en förutsättning för en effektiv civil-militär samverkan i internationella operationer. Resolutionen om Afghanistan, som innebär fortsatt starkt stöd till landet, fick odelat stöd och engagerade många talare. Göran Lennmarker framhöll i debatten vikten av stöd till parlamentet i Afghanistan.
Samtliga sju resolutioner antogs efter vissa ändringar.
Huvudresolutionen om matsäkerhet
Resolution om Afghanistan
Resolution om säkerhetssektorns stabilisering med iakttagande
av FN:s svarta lista
Resolution om små och lätta vapen
Resolution om vapenkontroll och nedrustning i Europa
Resolution om OSSE:s roll rörande förstärkt säkerhet i medlemsländerna
Resolution om arbetsmigration i Centralasien
Huvudresolutionen behandlade den globala finansiella krisen med uppmaning till en starkare reglering av finansmarknaden men också undvikande av en förstärkt nationell protektionism. Vid debatten om resolutionen framkom farhågor om en förvärrad ekonomisk kris med en allt högre arbetslöshet som följd, vilket tenderar att i högre grad drabba kvinnor än män. Fredrick Federley uttryckte i ett inlägg motstånd till en reglering av marknaden.
Ett resolutionsförslag om Klimatförändringar fick starkt gensvar och stöd i en lång och livlig debatt.
Fredrick Federley gjorde ett inlägg vid behandlingen av ett resolutionsförslag om Yttrandefrihet på Internet där han underströk vikten för unga människor av att ha tillgång till ett öppet Internet. Han refererade till den svenska FRA-debatten och om Piratpartiets inval i Europaparlamentet.
En resolution om EU:s förbud mot sälprodukter som, mot bakgrund av levnadsvillkoren för den innuitiska befolkningen i Kanada, ville öppna för handel med sälprodukter. Meningarna var delade men resolutionen antogs efter omröstning.
Samtliga åtta resolutioner antogs efter diskussion.
Huvudresolutionen om den globala finanskrisen
Resolution om samarbete inom energisektorn
Resolution om energisäkerhet
Resolution om klimatförändringar
Resolution om skatteparadis
Resolution om vattenhantering i OSSE:s område
Resolution om frihandel i Medelhavsområdet
Resolution om yttrandefrihet på Internet
Rapportören presenterade sin rapport och resolution som fokuserade på familjen, kvinnors arbetslöshet och utsatthet samt barnens situation. Efter en diskussion om de 23 ändringsförslagen, varav de flesta antogs, kunde resolutionen antas under Walburga Habsburg Douglas ordförandeskap.
Resolutionen Ett delat Europa nu återförenat orsakade starka känslor i den ryska delegationen eftersom man i texten, enligt rysk tolkning, jämställde kommunism med nazism och att detta var en falsk historiebeskrivning.
Cecilia Wigström gjorde ett inlägg rörande resolutionen Mödradödlighet där hon framhöll betydelsen av sexuell reproduktiv hälsa och rättigheter och varnade för EU:s ökande motstånd mot familjeplanering.
Resolutionen Stärkande av OSSE:s engagemang i frågor rörande åsikts- och yttrandefrihet fick starkt stöd av Cecilia Wigström och ett stort antal andra ledamöter.
Samtliga sju resolutioner antogs av kommittén.
Huvudresolutionen om familjen, kvinnors utsatthet och barnens situation
Resolution om våld mot kvinnor
Resolution om skyddandet av barn och förhindrandet av barntiggeri
Resolution om ett återförenat Europa
Resolution om främjande av civila rättigheter i OSSE under 2000-talet
Resolution om moratorium på dödsstraff
Resolution om stärkande av OSSE:s engagemang i frågor rörande åsikts- och yttrandefrihet
Församlingen beslutar om sin egen verksamhet och budget. Verksamheten finansieras genom bidrag från medlemsländernas parlament och baseras på OSSE:s beräkningar för medlemsländerna. Församlingens budget 20092010 (budgetåret börjar den 1 oktober) uppgår till 2 855 985 euro. Den svenska delegationens bidrag utgör 92 534 euro, vilket motsvarar 3,240 %.
En viktig uppgift för OSSE PF är att bidra till en fredlig lösning av kriser och att förebygga konflikter. Olösta konflikter hotar stabiliteten, säkerheten och den ekonomiska utvecklingen i OSSE:s medlemskrets och närområden och utgör ett hot mot välståndet i hela regionen. Församlingens uppdrag är att bidra till breda diskussioner om säkerhetshot och att genom samtal och samarbete bistå i att lösa konflikter.
Församlingens president emeritus Göran Lennmarker besökte under året länderna i södra Kaukasien för att på plats få en bild av situationen och ha diskussioner med centrala parlamentariker och företrädare för ländernas regeringar.
Inom församlingen finns fem ad hoc-arbetsgrupper för frågor rörande Vitryssland, Moldavien och samarbetet med OSSE:s institutioner.
Ett sedan länge planerat seminarium Foreign Direct Investment genomfördes i Minsk i mars. Gruppen för Vitryssland höll ett möte i Minsk i december.
Församlingens president har rätt att utse församlingens medlemmar till särskild representant för en specifik fråga. De utvalda ska avrapportera sin verksamhet vid den årliga sessionen. Under 2008 hade församlingen tio särskilda representanter nämligen
Tone Tingsgård som genusrepresentant
Göran Lennmarker som representant för konflikten Nagorno-Karabach
Alcee L. Hastings (USA) som särskild representant för Medelhavs-frågor
Christopher Smith (USA) som representant för frågor om människohandel
Pétur Blöndal (Island) som representant för budgetfrågor inom OSSE
Roberto Battelli (Slovenien) som särskild representant för Öst- och Centraleuropa
Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland) som särskild representant för Centralasien.
Kathleen Ferrier (Nederländerna) som särskild representant för migrationsfrågor
Carlo Vizzini (Italien) som särskild representant i kampen mot organiserad brottslighet
Michael Voisin (Frankrike) som särskild representant för Afghanistan.
Som särskild representant för genusfrågor rapporterade Tone Tingsgård i plenum och redogjorde för arbetet inom området under det gångna året. Den årliga rapporten fokuserade på migration och konsekvenserna av den ekonomiska krisen för kvinnor. Vissa, om än små, framsteg kunde noteras vad gällde kvinnor på högre poster i OSSE och OSSE PF. Valet till församlingens byrå 2008 var en positiv förändring. Tone Tingsgård uppmanade sina kolleger att påverka sitt lands regering att föra fram kvinnor vid rekryteringen till höga poster inom OSSE och att sedan stödja dem under hela processen. Hon avslutade med att säga att den nuvarande situationen inte berodde på vare sig dålig kunskap eller brist på idéer utan helt enkelt på bristande politisk vilja.
Tone Tingsgård ledde den årliga arbetslunchen om genusfrågor. Ett ovanligt stort antal parlamentariker deltog i de diskussioner som följde på föredragningar av Litauens ombudsman och OSSE:s rådgivare i genusfrågor. Tingsgård framhöll att dessa årliga möten innebär en möjlighet att diskutera genusfrågor och att uppmuntra kvinnor att kandidera till poster inom församlingen.
Tone Tingsgårds förslag till den permanenta kommittén att ändra församlingens stadga för att främja genusfördelningen i de nationella delegationerna nådde inte målet. Ett tvång att öka andelen kvinnor accepterades inte utan resultatet blev en svagare skrivning. Avsikten var att församlingen skulle återkomma till frågan om ett par år. Tingsgård var trots allt nöjd med att frågan nu var på bordet och att den skulle tas upp längre fram.
Göran Lennmarker rapporterade vid vintermötet från sin resa till södra Kaukasien i februari där han haft möten med representanter för ländernas parlament och höga regeringsföreträdare för att på plats få en bild av situationen och föra diskussioner.
På samma sätt som vid vintermötet arrangerade Göran Lennmarker ett särskilt möte under sommarsessionen med delegater från länderna i södra Kaukasien för att diskutera situationen i regionen. Armenien, Azerbajdzjan och Georgien var representerade med flera parlamentariker, och under det långa mötet fördes under lugna former en diskussion om läget och framtida utveckling. På grund av rådande omständigheter hade det uppföljande mötet i Georgien, vilket Georgien inbjöd till i Wien, ännu inte kunnat genomföras.
Fria och rättvisa val är ett viktigt instrument för att uppnå demokrati och ett mycket viktigt inslag i församlingens arbete. Sedan församlingens tillkomst har man genomfört valövervakningar i samarbete med Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) samt ofta i samarbete också med Europarådets parlamentariska församling, Europaparlamentet och under senare år ibland även med Natos parlamentariska församling. Under 2009 har fem parlamentsval och ett presidentval övervakats av OSSE:s parlamentariska församling. Vid fem av dessa deltog medlemmar från riksdagens OSSE-delegation och vid två deltog ledamöter utanför OSSE-delegationen.
Övervakningen av presidentvalet i f.d. jugoslaviska republiken Makedonien den 22 mars leddes av Pia Christmas-Møller (Danmark) och samlade 18 OSSE PF-parlamentariker. Walburga Habsburg Douglas (m) deltog som enda parlamentariker från Sverige. Enligt observatörerna hade stora ansträngningar gjorts för att säkra en lugn valkampanj och öppna val, men genomförandet skedde inte helt i enlighet med internationella krav på demokratiska val.
Den 29 mars hölls parlamentsval i Montenegro med 29 parlamentariker från OSSE PF. Valobservationen leddes av Roberto Batelli (Slovenien). Från riksdagens OSSE-delegation deltog Håkan Juholt (s). Även om vissa framsteg noterades nådde inte valet inte upp till internationella normer under valprocessen.
I Moldavien hölls parlamentsval den 5 april. Övervakningen leddes av Petros Efthymiou (Grekland). I observationen deltog 75 parlamentariker från OSSE PF, varav sex svenska riksdagsledamöter. Annelie Enochson (kd), Fredrick Federley (c) och Marie Nordén (s) från OSSE-delegationen samt Margareta Cederfelt (m), Else-Marie Lindgren (kd) och Maria Lundqvist-Brömster (fp). Stora förbättringar noterades och valet genomfördes på många sätt enligt gällande normer för demokratiska val, men ytterligare förbättringar krävdes i valprocessen.
Den 28 juni arrangerades parlamentsval i Albanien. Övervakningen leddes av Wolfgang Grossruck (Österrike). 36 parlamentariker från OSSE PF deltog, och i delegationen ingick Tone Tingsgård (s), Cecilia Wigström (fp), Marie Nordén (s) och Mats Sander (m). Valet genomfördes inte enligt internationell standard. Förbättringar noterades men också allvarliga överträdelser under valkampanjen.
I Kirgizistan hölls parlamentsval den 23 juli. Från OSSE PF deltog 15 parlamentariker och övervakningen leddes av Pia Christmas-Møller (Danmark). Ingen svensk parlamentariker deltog. Valet nådde inte upp till internationell demokratisk standard även om framsteg kunde noteras.
Parlamentsval hölls för andra gången under året i Moldavien den 29 juli. Petros Efthymiou (Grekland) ledde åter OSSE PF:s delegation som bestod av 38 parlamentariker från skilda länder. Från riksdagen deltog Marie Nordén (s). Framsteg jämfört med förra valet noterades och i många avseenden nådde valet internationell standard.
Den parlamentariska församlingen har under åren antagit ett stort antal resolutioner om samarbetet i Medelhavsområdet. Den särskilda relation som OSSE har till grannländerna vid Medelhavet har då noterats och det ömsesidiga beroendet av säkerhet har betonats. Församlingen vill bidra till ett närmare samarbete inom Medelhavsområdet för att där främja OSSE:s normer och principer. Detta ska ske genom ökad politisk dialog, ekonomiskt samarbete och kulturutbyte samt genom starkare demokratiska institutioner och respekt för de mänskliga rättigheterna.
Vid höstmötet varje år arrangeras ett särskilt Medelhavsforum där församlingens alla delegationer kan delta i en årlig konferens över ett för regionen aktuellt tema. Det sjätte Medelhavsforum ägde rum i Aten i oktober där representanten för Medelhavsfrågor redogjorde för ett seminarium i Washington i juli där rekommendationer för nya arbetsformer mellan OSSE PF och regionen antagits. I övrigt diskuterades församlingens roll i detta samarbete, och man ansåg allmänt att församlingen hade en mycket viktig roll i dialogen med partnerländerna. Algeriet, Jordanien, Egypten och Israel deltog i debatten där betydelsen av säkerhet, ekonomisk utveckling och handel var återkommande tema.
Vid valobservationer sker ett nära samarbete inte bara mellan OSSE PF och ODIHR utan också med Europarådets och stundtals också med Natos parlamentariska församling samt Europaparlamentet.
Sveriges delegation till OSSE:s parlamentariska församling
Ordförande
Walburga Habsburg Douglas (m)
Vice ordförande
Tone Tingsgård (s)
Övriga ledamöter
Håkan Juholt (s)
Göran Lennmarker (m)
Åsa Lindestam (s)
Aleksander Gabelic (s)
Fredrick Federley (c)
Cecilia Wigström (fp)
Suppleanter
Peter Jeppsson (s)
Kent Olsson (m)
Peter Jonsson (s)
Anna König Jerlmyr (m)
Marie Nordén (s)
Vakant (s)
Eva Selin Lindgren (c)
Annelie Enochson (kd)
Albanien
Andorra
Armenien
Azerbajdzjan
Belgien
Bosnien och Hercegovina
Bulgarien
Cypern
Danmark
Estland
Finland
Frankrike
Förenta staterna
Georgien
Grekland
Irland
Island
Italien
Kanada
Kazakstan
Kirgizistan
Kroatien
Lettland
Liechtenstein
Litauen
Luxemburg
F.d. jugoslaviska republiken
Makedonien
Malta
Moldavien
Monaco
Montenegro
Nederländerna
Norge
Polen
Portugal
Rumänien
Ryska federationen
San Marino
Schweiz
Serbien
Slovakien
Slovenien
Spanien
Storbritannien
Sverige
Tadzjikistan
Tjeckien
Turkiet
Turkmenistan
Tyskland
Ukraina
Ungern
Uzbekistan
Vatikanstaten
Vitryssland
Österrike
Afghanistan
Algeriet
Egypten
Israel
Japan
Jordanien
Marocko
Sydkorea
Thailand
Tunisien
Bilaga
AS (09) D 1 E
VILNIUS DECLARATION
OF THE OSCE PARLIAMENTARY
ASSEMBLYANDRESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
AT THE EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION
VILNIUS, 29 JUNE to 3 JULY 2009
PREAMBLE
We, Parliamentarians of the OSCE participating States, have met in annual session in Vilnius on 29 June to 3 July 2009 as the Parliamentary dimension of the OSCE to assess developments and challenges relating to security and co-operation, in particular on Addressing New Security Challenges, and we offer the following views to the OSCE Ministers.
We wish every success to the next OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens on 1-2 December 2009 and bring to its attention the following declaration and recommendations.
RESOLUTION ON
STRENGTHENING THE OSCE
Noting the importance of parliamentary involvement in the OSCE as called for in the 1990 Charter of Paris and the 1999 Istanbul Summit Document,
Recalling previous recommendations by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly regarding the need for reform in the OSCE, particularly the resolutions adopted in St. Petersburg (1999), Paris (2001), Edinburgh (2004), Kyiv (2007) and Astana (2008),
Deeply concerned at the growing lack of political relevance of the OSCE due in part to the non-transparent decision-making process and the inability of the decision-making structures to reach agreements, including on key political issues,
Bearing in mind that the OSCEs credibility can only be maintained if its own structures are in line with democratic norms, and reiterating the added value of the OSCE PA as the democratic dimension of the OSCE,
Convinced that discussions on political topics should take place in an open and transparent forum in order to be relevant,
Regretting the Permanent Councils continued failure to have a meaningful discussion on most OSCE PA recommendations, particularly those related to the urgent need for reform of the Organisation,
Underlining the importance of access by OSCE PA representatives to all formal and informal OSCE meetings that are open to all national delegations,
Reiterating the Parliamentary Assemblys support for the OSCE Field Operations, where the most important work of the OSCE takes place,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Urges participating States to recommit to a genuine and transparent political dialogue on OSCE-related issues with the inclusion of the OSCE PA;
Calls on the OSCE Permanent Council to open its meetings to the press and the public;
Recommends that the OSCE modify the consensus rule for decision-making, at least for decisions concerning personnel, budget and administration, through, for example, implementing an approximate consensus of 90 per cent of both membership and financial contributions;
Encourages national PA delegations to urge their governments to respond, through follow-up at the national level, to recommendations adopted by the OSCE PA, demonstrating respect for the Assembly as the parliamentary dimension of the Organisation;
Requests the Permanent Council to recognise its accountability to the citizens of the OSCE participating States and their elected representatives through timely responses and reaction to OSCE PA recommendations;
Reiterates that parliamentarians provide unmatched credibility and visibility to OSCE election observation activities, and calls for the full implementation of the 1997 Cooperation Agreement;
Regrets the continued missed opportunities to employ women in high-level OSCE positions, thus preventing the OSCE from reflecting its own values;
Asks for a review of the failure of the Organisation effectively to implement the 2004 Ministerial Council Decision (MC.DEC/14/04) on the 2004 Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, and urges immediate steps to correct this;
Calls on participating States to provide OSCE Field Operations with relevant mandates and with sufficient financial and human resources;
Regrets the actual cut in the 2009 OSCE budget, which will weaken the Organisations ability to fulfil its operational mandate, following the non-official policy in previous years of zero nominal growth of the OSCE budget, which in reality has led to a reduction of OSCE resources as a result of inflation;
Emphasises the need for timely adoption of the OSCE budget, increased long-term programme and financial planning, including a time limit for each operation instead of renewable one-year mandates for the OSCE field missions, and full transparency in the financial process by updating the OSCE Financial Regulations;
Stresses the importance of transparency for the credibility of the Organisation and recommends the establishment of a regulatory framework applying to the extrabudgetary funding of programmes;
Recommends that reliance on secondments for staffing OSCE Field Operations be reduced, that more contracted positions be made available in the field, along with enhanced transparency regarding the recruitment process, and that OSCE professional staff term limits be eliminated in order to attract and keep highly qualified professional staff, while at the same time preserving the flexibility and effectiveness of OSCE operations in general;
Calls for the OSCE PA to be given an oversight role in relation to the OSCE budget and for confirmation by the Assembly of the OSCE Secretary General, once nominated, as called for in the 2005 Colloquium Report on the Future of the OSCE;
Urges the engagement of independent, external professional auditors to oversee the disbursement and expenditure of all funds within the OSCE, to report directly to the OSCE Chairmanship Troika and the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and to make their findings, observations, conclusions and recommendations available to participating States and the Parliamentary Assembly.
RESOLUTION ON
ELECTION OBSERVATION
Reiterating the commitment of all participating States to invite OSCE observers as stated in the Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE (1990),
Recalling that OSCE election observation missions, comprised of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and ODIHR, are a means of co-operation as well as an opportunity to learn from each others experiences,
Welcoming ODIHRs efforts to diversify the national composition of election observation and election assessment missions, and calling upon all participating States to provide experts for such missions,
Underlining that OSCE, including the Parliamentary Assembly and ODIHR, remains a leading organisation for the support and the observation of elections and has served as an example for many other organisations active in this field,
Reaffirming the value of the field-tested standards of the OSCE election observation methodology, developed by ODIHR and the Parliamentary Assembly, while also underlining the necessity to continuously improve and adapt these standards, particularly in view of new voting techniques,
Considering that voter registration is a particularly delicate field in the election process, which therefore calls for special attention in the preparation and conducting of election observation missions,
Stressing the importance of the expertise of both the Parliamentary Assembly and ODIHR in carrying out OSCE election observation missions, and the importance of their effective co-operation,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Reaffirms that election observation missions are part of the core competence of the OSCE;
Emphasises that the political expertise of parliamentarians lends unmatched credibility to election observation;
Calls upon the Parliamentary Assembly to continue providing political leadership to OSCE election observation missions, as called for in the 1997 Cooperation Agreement;
Urges participating States to honour fully their commitment to inviting the OSCE, including OSCE PA and ODIHR, to observe national elections, without placing undue restrictions on the operability of OSCE election observation missions;
Urges participating States to implement fully all provisions of the Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE (1990), and all other commitments for the conduct of democratic elections that have been freely entered into since and including the Helsinki Final Act as well as the 1997 Co-operation Agreement, as endorsed by the OSCE Ministerial Council in 2006;
Calls upon ODIHR to step up its efforts to prepare guidelines for the observation of electronic voting;
Calls upon ODIHR, in consultation with OSCE PA, to prepare a discussion paper on guidelines for the observation of voter registration, in accordance with the report on Common responsibility: Commitments and Implementation (2006);
Calls upon the Director of ODIHR to report to the Permanent Council and the Parliamentary Assembly on general trends with regard to the follow-up and implementation of recommendations of OSCE election observation missions.
THE OSCE: ADDRESSING NEW SECURITY CHALLENGES
CHAPTER I
POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND SECURITY
The Food Crisis and Security in the OSCE Area
1. Emphasising that one of the pillars of the Helsinki Final Act was, and remains, the notion of the indivisibility of security and that this principle means that security is an overarching issue, and that the security of any single State cannot be pursued to the detriment of another,
2. Noting that the concept of the indivisibility of security implies that shared values require a shared effort and a shared commitment to security that all OSCE participating States on an equal footing must abide by,
3. Recognising that indivisibility implies that we are all producers and consumers of security at the same time and in the same way and, as such, it is becoming increasingly necessary to think in terms not only of security in, but also the security of, the OSCE area,
4. Highlighting consequently that the indivisibility of security has to be conceived across two spectra, one pertaining to violations of international law and fundamental human rights by one State against another State and, the other, the fullyfledged cross-cutting challenges which globalisation is posing to every OSCE participating State without distinction,
5. Bearing in mind that the indivisibility of security today means a shared stance to counter large-scale organised crime (including illicit human trafficking), illegal activity in conflict zones, terrorism, cyber attacks, the production and illicit trafficking of drugs, as well as production and illicit transfer of arms and the financial crisis,
6. Noting that the current global financial crisis has also become an economic and social crisis helps us to better understand the new indivisible security challenges and the multipolar, inclusive and cross-dimensional approach that offers the best possible way of combating them,
7. Stressing that, whereas the right to food is explicitly mentioned in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one new and major challenge, also for the OSCE area, is that of food security, which implies food availability and accessibility through food production and stable food supply and the related political issues on a world scale,
8. Taking note that in 2008 a number of serious incidents broke out in many countries, including the Mediterranean area, Egypt and Tunisia, and that, primarily owing to the marked increase in grain prices, some Asian countries blocked rice exports, and some supermarkets limited purchases to four units per person to prevent hoarding,
9. Noting that alongside the dramatic issue of famine is the dangerous neocolonialist rationale that urges governments and banks to buy up millions of hectares of land to produce food abroad, thereby leading to a potential crisis for local food availability which would mean a serious risk of food insecurity for the national population, both rural and urban,
10. Stressing the fact that the great race to control foreign staple-food production has proven to be one of the latest trends in the global economy, and that some OSCE participating States have been targeted for such investments by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Japan and Saudi Arabia,
11. Noting the emerging difficulties caused by the competition between crops for food and crops for biofuels, and the use of food crops for biofuel production; by the progressive loss of arable soil due to degradation; by national disasters made worse by ongoing climate change; by the fact that rural populations are in sharp decline; and by the current exponential rise in demand for food in India and China, also due to changing diets,
12. Noting that the lack of food and water affects, most of all, the most vulnerable groups in poor societies, not only children but also women, who in the most difficult situations continue to deal with the burden of family care and are often left alone by the heads of the family, for reasons of work or due to wars,
13. Emphasising that conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of protracted conflicts on the basis of the appropriate principles of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act through dialogue between peoples and governments are also essential to ensure food security,
14. Welcoming the agreement reached at the first G8 Agricultural Ministers meeting, which took place in Italy, on 18-20 April 2009, and the overall consensus on strategies to fight famine and to support food security,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
15. Emphasises that one new and major challenge to security in Europe and in OSCE participating States is food self-sufficiency and the related political issue of world food security;
16. Emphasises that the issue of food security must therefore become a top priority on the OSCE agenda, embracing attention and commitment to all three areas traditionally falling within the remit of the Organisation (conflict prevention, economic environmental co-operation and human rights), since the right to food must be considered intrinsic to other fundamental human rights, including political rights;
17.Urges parliaments to adopt food security laws and policies which permit the establishment of adequate instruments, regulations and tools in order to prevent hunger and malnutrition among the population;
18. Urges parliaments to adopt fiscal measures and provide funding to improve living standards in rural areas in order to stem depopulation;
19. Notes that parliaments and governments of OSCE participating States, together with the common resources and structures of the OSCE, must also become active players to guarantee respect for the fundamental right to adequate and healthy food;
20. Urges participating States to take a co-ordinated and consistent approach, jointly with other international players, to attain an objective which must be given top priority by the whole of the international community;
21. Supports the work of the Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis which was established on 28 April 2008 by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban KiMoon, to make a single and unified response to the food crisis on the part of Member States;
22. Endorses the processes set in motion by the Rome World Food Security Conference organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization on 3-5 June 2008, attended by 181 States, and with the Madrid Declaration on Food Security For All adopted on 27 January 2009 by 126 countries;
23. Requests parliaments to commit themselves to take measures to help curb increases in the price of agricultural commodities, and maintain a certain degree of price regulation, bearing in mind that low food prices are good for consumers, but that higher prices are a prerequisite for necessary investment in the agricultural sector, particularly in developing countries;
24. Urges, in particular, that parliaments provide resources and adopt legislation to encourage balanced agricultural use of land to meet both food and energy demands, and support research centres and universities to face the most difficult emergencies of the planet;
25. Urges that direct action be taken to reduce political instability caused by the infringement of the fundamental right to food, which leads to the radicalisation of conflict and unacceptable inequalities;
26. Draws attention to the need to consistently pursue the Millennium Development Goals according to the provisions of the 1996 Rome Declaration on Food Security, which was designed to halve the malnourished population by 2015, a goal which is still far from being reached;
27. Urges parliaments to adopt measures which, while respecting fundamental economic freedoms, discourage massive investments that ultimately lead to rural depopulation and undermine food sovereignty;
28. Endorses public finance policies consistent with the commitment entered into in the Millennium Development Goals according to which each government undertook to devote 0.7% of GDP to combating poverty by 2015, and urges parliaments to work in the same direction;
29. Agrees that it is appropriate to encourage the establishment of a world network of food and agriculture experts to co-operate in the common pursuit of improved food security levels, primarily in those countries where the minimum acceptable limit is still a distant prospect;
30. Recommends the adoption of an international strategy for reviving the cultivation of agricultural crops in the steppe regions and supports the development of the agricultural potential of the appropriate OSCE participating States with a view to helping to ensure food security in the OSCE area;
31.Undertakes to participate in the work of the Special Summit which FAO will be organising in Rome in the autumn of 2009, in which 189 governments are expected to participate.
CHAPTER II
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
32.Deeply concerned about the devastating effects the current global financial crisis is having in the OSCE area, including the fall of several governments, as well as creating social unrest which in some cases has led to violence,
Noting that the current financial crisis has led to world recession and was generated by the financial system itself, caused by an overstretch of financial speculation and a lack of financial regulations as well as lax governmental oversight of financial markets,
Stressing that the financial crisis has a greater impact on poorer countries, which are already victims of high oil and food prices and lack adequate mechanisms for overseeing their economic systems,
Calling upon international financial institutions and industrialised countries to renew their adherence to the Millennium Development Goals in support of poorer countries,
Reaffirming that the current financial crisis affects all three dimensions of security as described in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975,
Recalling the OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension adopted by the Ministerial Council of the OSCE at its meeting in Maastricht in December 2003,
Recalling the OSCE Parliamentary Assemblys Astana Declaration, which noted that without economic growth there can be no peace or stability,
Noting the consensus achieved at the G-20 Summit held in London on 2 April 2009 to address the financial crisis in synergy and coordination towards a new way of running the world economy,
Recalling the OSCE Parliamentary Assemblys Economic Conference on the World Financial Crisis held in Dublin, Ireland, from 27 to 29 May 2009,
Emphasising the historical link between economic difficulties and political extremism, xenophobia, nationalism, political instability and international turmoil,
Noting that, despite indications of a gradual and modest easing of the recession, the fragility of the financial sector remains a major obstacle to growth,
Stressing the need for strengthened oversight and regulation of the financial system, at both the national and the international levels, to ensure greater transparency and accountability,
Condemning the attempts of some governments to introduce protectionist and economic nationalist measures in response to the crisis,
Recalling that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that Everyone has the right to work and protection against unemployment,
Acknowledging that democracy, the rule of law and human rights are ultimately linked to open markets and open economies,
Taking into consideration the negative impact of closed borders within the OSCE area on overcoming the financial and economic crisis,
Recognising that the current economic crisis disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of society, including immigrants, forced settlers and refugees, persons belonging to minorities, women and young people,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Calls for greater co-ordination among OSCE participating States in the development of a coherent response to the crisis;
Supports the recommendations of the United Nations Stiglitz Commission calling for a global economic co-ordination council at the level of the General Assembly or the Security Council and a new global reserve system;
Supports the initiative of the World Bank to establish a vulnerability fund to help developing countries, focusing on safety net programmes, investments in infrastructure and support for small and medium-sized enterprises;
Supports the initiative of the Group of Twenty (G-20) to create a Financial Stability Forum to globally co-ordinate regulation, and a stronger role for the International Monetary Fund in lending to distressed countries;
Supports the fight against tax evasion, financial crime and money laundering and invites participating States to introduce binding rules for offshore banking centres so as to ensure their cooperation and the transparency of their activities;
Calls for better regulation of banks equity and, in particular, the constitution of additional reserves;
Encourages banks to keep on their balance sheets at least 10 per cent of the debts that they issue and sell on, in accordance with the securitisation technique;
Invites participating States to draft common principles for the remuneration of market players and, in particular, mechanisms to avoid remuneration being linked to excessive risk taking;
Calls for participating States to refrain from protectionist and economic nationalist measures, rescind those that have been implemented and take measures to enlarge developing countries markets;
Calls on OSCE participating States to refrain from economic coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the exercise by another participating State of its sovereign rights, to secure advantages of any kind;
Emphasises that economic recovery initiatives should not only incorporate efforts to promote environmental sustainability, but also be used as an opportunity to adopt new economic practices that respect the environment, to curb climate change;
Encourages participating States to invest in and support environmentally friendly industries, including the development of energy efficiency and renewable energies, and supports further development of the energy security dialogue in the OSCE;
Invites the international community and international financial institutions to consider holding a conference to establish the bases for a new global financial infrastructure that includes the reform of the IMF and the establishment of more efficient global financial rules;
Welcomes the conclusions of the Seventeenth Annual OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum on Migration management and its linkages with economic, social and environmental policies to the benefit of stability and security in the OSCE region;
Urges participating States to adopt a comprehensive and balanced approach to migration, including strengthening the international dialogue on migration; developing real partnerships between countries of origin, transit and destination; exploring the management of migration and the promotion of development; and working to prevent manifestations of xenophobia and other forms of intolerance at country border entry areas by formulating and implementing training programmes for law enforcement, immigration and border officials, prosecutors and service providers;
Stresses that policy proposals must include a gender perspective in solutions to the global crisis and welcomes the decision of the Commission for the Status of Women (CSW) to address the emerging issue Gender Perspectives of the Financial Crisis at its 53rd Session held in New York in March 2009;
Calls upon the Kazakh Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2010 and the Office of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Co-ordinator to address the consequences of the current financial and economic crisis in the OSCE area at the Eighteenth Annual OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum and its preparatory conferences in 2010;
Encourages national parliaments to ensure that national budgets continue to enable parliamentarians to engage in international activities by providing the necessary funds for them to attend, participate in and contribute to the work of international parliamentary assemblies and other relevant international parliamentary events.
CHAPTER III
DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN QUESTIONS
Recognising the devastating effect that the current global financial crisis is having on people across the world,
Recognising that accentuated socio-economic disparities between and within States resulting from the crisis threaten social cohesion and hence security, and hamper efforts towards sustained growth,
Underlining that vulnerable and marginalised sections of the population are affected disproportionately and are suffering particular hardship,
Noting that no part of the OSCE region is immune to the social and humanitarian consequences of the ongoing crisis,
Recalling previous OSCE PA declarations addressing the particular challenges of vulnerable groups such as women, children, persons belonging to national minorities, and migrants,
Acknowledging that persons with disabilities and elderly persons represent economically vulnerable groups and require special attention in times of crisis, and urging participating States to take the necessary steps to ensure adequate social protection and empowerment of the elderly and persons with disabilities so as to minimise the risk of economic dependency,
Convinced that urgent action is needed to safeguard against further marginalisation of at-risk groups,
Recalling the provision of the Document of the 1991 Cracow Symposium on the Cultural Heritage acknowledging the important contribution of religious faiths, institutions and organisations to cultural heritage, and the commitment of the participating States to cooperate closely with them to preserve cultural heritage and give due attention to monuments and objects of religious origin whose original communities no longer use them or no longer exist in the particular region,
Noting the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols as well as those of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, the 1995 Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, and other international instruments,
Recalling United Nations Security Council resolution 1325, which specifically notes the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women, and recognises the undervalued and under-utilised contributions of women to conflict prevention, peace-keeping, conflict resolution and peace-building,
Concerned at the continued sexual abuse and exploitation of children and calling attention to the need for enhanced action by participating States to prevent such abuse and exploitation, prosecute the perpetrators, and provide appropriate care to child victims and their families,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Notes that at-risk groups are typically the first to suffer from economic difficulties, and the last ones to recover;
Encourages participating States to promote policies to increase inclusiveness in the workforce including adopting and implementing legislation that addresses discrimination in employment, and working with the private sector to adopt preventive initiatives such as programmes that facilitate vulnerable groups entry into the labour market and combat discriminatory practices in the workplace;
Calls on participating States to develop national systems of data collection to measure equal opportunity and non-discrimination and to guide the formulation of policies and actions to eradicate discrimination in the workplace and other sectors of society, while upholding rights to privacy and self-identification;
Affirms the importance of equitable access to education for all children and young people to facilitate their quick entry into the labour market;
Is deeply concerned that womens economic dependency on men, particularly in times of economic difficulty, makes women easy targets for oppression and abuse, as well as potential victims of prostitution and human trafficking;
Urges the OSCE, its field missions and participating States to redouble efforts to combat trafficking in human beings through preventive programmes and increase public awareness;
Recognises the crucial role that the family and traditional social networks play in assisting at-risk individuals and groups, and encourages participating States to increase support for such networks as well as enhanced co-operation and coordination of the OSCE with other competent organisations at the global and regional levels to this end;
Calls upon parliamentarians to be particularly vigilant in fighting intolerance against persons belonging to national minorities and other vulnerable groups, who are often made scapegoats during times of financial difficulty;
Recognises that participating States improvement of democratic institutions, including ensuring that their political and legal systems reflect the multicultural diversity of their societies, assists in combating intolerance and discrimination, and urges parliamentarians to initiate and support inclusive measures in their particular parties;
Urges participating States to vigorously combat child labour, particularly through:
comprehensive legislation outlawing all exploitative child labour,
special training for law enforcement personnel on methods to identify victims of child labour,
mechanisms protecting victims of this crime,
support programmes to assist victims entry into schools;
Calls upon participating States to redouble efforts aimed at fighting paedophilia and other forms of sexual exploitation of children, child poverty and the involvement of children in crime, including partnership programmes with mass media aimed at placing greater focus on these crimes;
Urges those participating States that have not done so to establish national telephone hotlines for reporting sexually abused, exploited or missing children, including children sexually abused and exploited by sex tourism, prostitution, trafficking and pornography;
Calls upon parliamentarians from participating States to introduce and promote the adoption of comprehensive legislation aimed at preventing the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, which should provide for the creation of comprehensive registers of persons convicted of child sex abuse or exploitation, severe penalties for the perpetrators of such abuse and exploitation, and appropriate care for child victims and their families;
Requests the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit to assist the law enforcement agencies of participating States to develop strategies for combating sexual abuse and exploitation of children;
Urges participating States to strengthen the mutual co-operation between their law enforcement and prosecuting agencies in efforts to combat the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, including by providing notice to the appropriate officials of another State when a known sex offender travels to that State and, for that purpose, to ensure that convicted child sex offenders are required to notify the appropriate domestic officials before travelling to another State, and penalise failure to comply;
Requests participating States to increase efforts aimed at establishing bilateral cooperation agreements on child adoption issues, ensuring that the best interests of children are always maintained;
Notes the difficulties faced by children after a divorce between parents who are of different nationalities, and urges that every effort, including legislation, be aimed at ensuring that the best interests of the children are protected in custody arrangements;
Further urges OSCE parliamentarians to actively facilitate international exchange of best practices in addressing the particular needs of vulnerable social groups;
Calls upon all participating States to meet their OSCE commitments and international obligations to ensure the preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites, including churches, chapels and monasteries, as well as monuments and objects of religious origin; to prevent the theft, clandestine excavation and illicit export, import or transfer of ownership of cultural property; to enhance their co-operation in efforts to prevent the illicit international trafficking in objects of religious origin and other cultural property and to facilitate the restitution of illicitly exported cultural property;
Reminds participating States that during conflicts particular care must be taken to protect the human rights of civilians;
Urges participating States to work with NGOs and civil society to protect vulnerable groups and notes the current precarious situation, including declining financial support, of human rights defenders, which undermines efforts adequately to address xenophobia and other forms of intolerance;
Recognises the positive role that the right to freedom of expression and the freedom to seek, receive and impart information can play in combating xenophobia and other forms of intolerance, in line with the relevant provisions of international human rights law.
RESOLUTION ON
SECURITY SECTOR STABILISATION AND
COMPLIANCE WITH UN BLACKLISTS
Reaffirming that, given that failed States and areas suffering from military conflicts are an international curse that requires effective international measures preventing terrorists from going unpunished, organised crime getting established and environmental hazards expanding, stabilisation of the civilian security sectors has to be conducted simultaneously with peace-enforcing and peacekeeping operations by means which respect human rights and the rule of law,
Considering that international bodies such as the European Union, the OSCE and the United Nations ought to establish a co-ordinated regulatory body for this purpose in each participating State, in view of the lofty goals laid down in their founding instruments and the credibility they need in order to attain those goals,
Recalling United Nations Security Council resolution 1325, which was passed unanimously on 31 October 2000, the first resolution ever passed by the Security Council that specifically addressed the impact of war on women and womens contributions to conflict resolution and sustainable peace,
Taking into account United Nations Security Council resolution 1325, and recognising that a co-ordinated process, addressing both military operations and security sector stabilising measures, is of the utmost importance in attaining both political and military objectives,
Noting at the same time that this process has a direct impact on individual human rights such as personal liberty and the protection of property,
Recognising furthermore that co-ordinated, procedural and substantive planning standards must also be guaranteed from the very beginning to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the combined military and civilian security stabilising operations,
Recognising once again that a stabilised security sector is the foundation for future reforms and this will ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the combined military and civilian operations,
Stressing that minimum substantive standards require a sufficiently clear and coordinated identification of civilian and military players in any operation,
Realising that targeted sanctions against individuals or specific groups (blacklists) imposed by the United Nations Security Council are, in principle, preferable to general sanctions imposed on States, because general sanctions often have dire consequences for vulnerable population groups in the countries concerned, though generally not for their leadership, whilst targeted sanctions hurt only those found personally responsible for certain wrongdoings,
Recognising at the same time that targeted sanctions, such as travel restrictions and freezing of assets, have a direct impact on individual human rights such as personal liberty and the protection of property and that, whilst it is not entirely clear and still being debated whether such sanctions have a criminal, administrative or civil character, their imposition must, under the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UNCCPR), respect certain minimum standards of procedural and legal certainty,
Recalling furthermore that procedural and substantive standards must also be guaranteed to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the instrument of targeted sanctions,
Noting that the minimum procedural standards under the rule of law are:
a.the right to be notified and adequately informed of the charges held against oneself, and of the decision taken,
b.the fundamental right to be heard and to be able to adequately defend oneself against these charges,
c.the right to be able to have the decision affecting ones rights speedily reviewed by an independent, impartial body with a view to modifying or annulling it,
Stressing that minimum substantive standards require a sufficiently clear definition of grounds for the imposition of sanctions and applicable evidential requirements,
Emphasising that necessary steps must be taken to overhaul the procedural and substantive rules governing targeted sanctions, to comply with the requirements presented above,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Calls upon those participating States that are permanent or non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to use their influence in the OSCE and the Security Council to uphold the values embodied in the UNCCPR, both by ensuring the necessary improvements in procedural and substantive rules and through the positions they take on individual cases;
Invites participating States to establish appropriate national procedures to implement the above mentioned principles imposed by the United Nations Security Council on their nationals or legal residents, in order to remedy the shortcomings of the procedures at the level of the United Nations as long as these shortcomings persist.
RESOLUTION ON
AFGHANISTAN
Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to challenges facing the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
Reaffirming support for the Government and people of Afghanistan,
Stressing the contribution that Afghanistans involvement as a Partner for Cooperation makes to the security of the OSCE region,
Convinced of the contribution that Pakistans involvement as a Partner for Cooperation could also make to the security of the OSCE region,
Concerned about Taliban efforts to take control in Pakistans Swat Valley, as well as the dire humanitarian situation resulting from the displacement of almost 2.5 million people who have had to flee fighting there, and the potentially destabilising effect on the region,
Supporting the goals of the Afghanistan Compact, agreed to at the London Conference on Afghanistan in 2006,
Taking note of United Nations Security Council resolution 1868 (2009), which underscores the importance of the upcoming presidential and provincial council elections to Afghanistans democratic development and which calls for every effort to be made to ensure the credibility, safety and security of the elections and for members of the international community to provide the necessary assistance,
Taking note of the invitation to the OSCE from Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, to support the 20 August presidential and provincial council elections in Afghanistan,
Taking note of the OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 891 on sending an Election Support Team to Afghanistan (PC.DEC/891), which authorises the sending of an expert team of up to fifty persons to analyse the 2009 election process and provide recommendations for enhancing the conduct of future elections,
Welcoming the decision on OSCE Engagement with Afghanistan (MC.DEC/4/07/Corr.1) adopted by the OSCE Ministerial Council in Madrid on 30 November 2007 in response to the request by Afghanistan for the OSCE to provide assistance in the fields of border security, police training and combating drug trafficking,
Recognising the Government of Afghanistans commitment to building the rule of law and protecting human rights,
Welcoming the increasingly effective role of the parliament of Afghanistan in policymaking and oversight,
Recognising the continued importance of the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking,
Concerned that opium poppy cultivation reached an all-time high in 2007 and that opium production increased by over one third with most of it being converted into heroin or morphine inside Afghanistan,
Taking note of the increase in the number of poppy-free provinces from 13 in 2007 to 18 in 2008,
Concerned that corruption and mismanagement continue to hinder reconstruction efforts and the fight against drug trafficking, and that corruption and poor governance undermine public trust in Afghanistans Government and institutions,
Remaining concerned that women still face significant discrimination in Afghanistan, including new legislation aimed at regulating family life in Afghanistans Shiite community which could legalise rape within marriage,
Condemning in the strongest terms all attacks, including suicide attacks and abductions targeting civilians, Afghan and international forces, and the use of civilians as human shields by the Taliban and other extremists,
Concerned that such attacks undermine Afghan and international reconstruction and development efforts,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Will continue to promote Afghanistans increasing participation in the activities of the OSCE;
Encourages Pakistan to actively consider and request Partner for Co-operation status so that it can also participate in activities of the OSCE;
Supports the mission of the International Security Assistance Force and the Afghan Security Forces;
Supports the role of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan;
Urges the international community to step up co-ordination to ensure a more effective use of resources and targeting of assistance and avoid duplication;
Urges that all international efforts be guided by the principle of Afghan leadership and ownership of reconstruction and reform efforts;
Stresses the need to ensure that promotion of human rights is a priority in international strategies to assist Afghanistan;
Urges the Government of Afghanistan to make every effort to ensure free and fair elections;
Calls for a greater emphasis to be laid by the Afghan Government and the international community on the development of the Afghan judicial system and the promotion of good governance at all levels;
Urges the Government of Afghanistan, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the OSCE to redouble efforts to promote the role of women and equal opportunities for women in Afghan society, and welcomes President Karzais commitment to re-examine the law regulating family life in the Shiite community;
Urges international assistance efforts to support greater development of the legitimate Afghan agricultural sector and food production capability, and increased job development;
Urges the International Security Assistance Force to do everything possible to minimise civilian casualties;
Supports OSCE efforts to assist Afghanistan with border management training.
RESOLUTION ON
SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS
Reaffirming the importance of the multidimensional concept of common, global, cooperative and indivisible security of the OSCE, according to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris and other relevant OSCE documents,
Calling to mind that the basic document of the OSCE on small arms and light weapons (SALW) of 24 November 2000 emphasises that the problem of small arms forms an integral part of the holistic work carried out by the OSCE on early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation,
Regretting the continuation of the devastating effect on human security of the illegal and uncontrolled spread of SALW and ammunition in many parts of the world,
Reaffirming that illegal trafficking, including that of SALW, is a criminal or terrorist activity that may constitute a threat to stability and security inside and outside the OSCE area,
Emphasising that very often SALW and ammunition used in armed conflicts outside the territory of the OSCE come from within the territory of the OSCE,
Calling to mind the 2005 Resolution of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and its 2006, 2007 and 2008 Resolutions on the illegal transport of SALW by air,
Welcoming the progress made within the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), in particular the adoption on 5 November 2008 of FSC Decision 11/08 introducing a guide to good practice to prevent destabilising shipments by air of SALW and the associated questionnaire, as well as the adoption on 7 May 2008 of FSC Decision 4/08 on the contact points on SALW and the stocks of conventional ammunition establishing, in particular, an OSCE directory of national contact points on SALW,
Welcoming the adoption on 5 December 2008 of the OSCE Ministerial Decision on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Stocks of Conventional Ammunition, which calls in particular for an OSCE meeting to be arranged in 2009 on SALW to examine the OSCE basic document on SALW (FSC.DOC/1/00) of 24 November 2000 and its additional decisions, with a view to exploring possible future actions,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Calls on participating States to work to give concrete, substantive follow-up to the ministerial decision on SALW of 5 December 2008 at a meeting of the FSC in September 2009, by actively seeking a consensus on the fields where it would be appropriate to increase the legal instruments available to the OSCE, in the light of its implementation, and the work of the United Nations and other international organisations and institutions, such as:
formulating a series of criteria for export controls on SALW;
preparing a normative framework for the management of stocks of SALW and their ammunition;
preparing a normative framework for the marking and tracing of SALW;
making efforts towards the standardisation of SALW end-user certificates within the OSCE area;
Calls on participating States to implement FSC Decision 11/08 on the guide to good practice to prevent destabilising shipments by air of SALW, and to respond to the associated questionnaire;
Calls on participating States to implement FSC Decision 4/08 on the contact points on SALW and on the stocks of conventional ammunition, by providing the information required about their national contact points for the OSCE Directory created by that decision, and ensuring close co-ordination between their respective authorities in charge of SALW;
Calls on participating States to support and implement national, regional and international regulations on the arms trade, granting of export and arms dealing licences;
Calls on participating States, the OSCE and all the Partners for Co-operation of the OSCE to participate in and contribute actively to the fourth Biennial Meeting on the Action Programme of the United Nations on SALW (RBE IV) in New York in 2010, which aims to improve and extend the programmes implementation, in order to guarantee its success;
Calls on participating States and OSCEs Partners for Cooperation to discuss the problem of illegal trafficking of SALW, including in the appropriate regional assembles in Africa and Asia of which they are also members, and encourages them to co-operate to create better conditions to combat the illegal trafficking of SALW.
RESOLUTION ON
RENEWED DISCUSSION ON ARMS CONTROL AND
DISARMAMENT IN EUROPE
Confirming the continuing validity of the comprehensive concept of security as initiated in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, which is based on the multidimensional concept of security,
Remaining convinced that security is indivisible, and that the security of each of the participating States is inseparably linked to the security of all others,
Wishing to continue to build upon the OSCE strategy to address threats to security and stability in the twenty-first century,
Worried about the danger of a new arms race of conventional weapons and of the potential misuse of conventional weapons for nuclear purposes,
Underlining the importance of the 1990 Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) as the only covenant on arms control and disarmament in Europe, and its role as a cornerstone for European and transatlantic security,
Recalling the unique acquis of the Treaty and its principles of transparency, verification and reduction of holdings of treaty-limited equipment,
Reaffirming the need to continue the implementation of all arms control documents that are coherent and complementary and that are concerned by the erosion of the CFE Treaty,
Welcoming the various discussions and initiatives to renew and improve the system of governance for international security,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Underlines the necessity of intensifying the dialogue on European and transatlantic security;
Supports the idea of linking the discussions on a renewal of the CFE Treaty with the issue of non-proliferation and with the widely discussed initiatives on a new security governance in Europe;
Calls upon participating States to act in the spirit of the CFE Treaty, to set aside differences and to increase their efforts to reach a new consensus on collective security topics.
RESOLUTION ON
THE ROLE OF THE OSCE IN STRENGTHENING
SECURITY IN ITS REGION
Reaffirming that the OSCE, as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, as a primary organisation for the peaceful settlement of disputes within its region and as a key instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, continues to play an important role in building a secure and stable OSCE community from Vancouver to Vladivostok,
Acknowledging that the OSCE is the inclusive and comprehensive organisation for consultation, decision-making and co-operation in its region,
Actively supporting the OSCEs concept of common, comprehensive and indivisible security, which addresses the human, economic, political and military dimensions of security as an integral whole,
Stressing that the Helsinki Final Act, the Paris Charter and subsequent jointly agreed OSCE documents reflect the shared values and commitments of the 56 participating States of the OSCE and should remain the foundation for their work,
Underlining the importance of applying the OSCE principles in a consistent manner and in keeping with international law,
Recognising the indispensable contribution of the OSCE to the establishment of unique arms control and confidence-building regimes in its region,
Noting with concern the persistence of unresolved conflicts on the territories of OSCE participating States, which threaten the observance of the OSCE principles and have an impact on regional and international peace and stability,
Convinced that overcoming mistrust and improving overall security in the OSCE area can be possible only through dialogue and equal concern for the interests of all participating States,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Urges participating States to implement fully and in good faith all of their OSCE commitments in all three dimensions, without prioritising one set of issues at the expense of another, which is crucial for the sustainability of co-operative security from Vancouver to Vladivostok;
Undertakes to intensify its efforts to promote the climate of confidence, trust and cooperation among the OSCE participating States with a view to upholding OSCE commitments, strengthening comprehensive and indivisible security and contributing toward conflict settlement;
Supports all efforts to achieve a comprehensive political settlement of unresolved conflicts, on the basis of the strict observance of the norms and principles of international law;
Calls on participating States to take action to safeguard the full implementation of the arms control and confidence-building regimes negotiated within the OSCE framework.
RESOLUTION ON
LABOUR MIGRATION IN CENTRAL ASIA
Stressing the importance of regional co-operation on issues like migration management in the OSCE,
Noting the commitments made by States in this field within the framework of the OSCE,
Welcoming the role of parliamentarians from Central Asia in ensuring regional cooperation in the field of migration,
Reaffirming the important contribution labour migrants make to host societies,
Stressing the importance of ensuring that the rights of migrants in OSCE participating States are reflected in national efforts to combat illegal migration and terrorism,
Noting the impact of the financial crisis on the region, including on remittance levels and levels of social stability and on migratory flows in many regions of the OSCE, and in particular in Central Asia,
Regretting the incidents of hate crime in OSCE participating States hosting large numbers of labour migrants,
Acknowledging the existing OSCE border management projects in the region and the contributions being made to support national efforts in this field,
Noting the OSCE PA regional parliamentary seminar held in April 2009 on labour migration in Central Asia, hosted by the Parliament of Tajikistan,
Recognising the important work done by the OSCE field missions in Central Asia in assisting participating States in meeting their OSCE commitments,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Undertakes to further promote regional co-operation through the participation of parliaments in Central Asia in the activities of the OSCE;
Encourages participating States to co-operate with the relevant OSCE institutions, and other international organisations in the field of labour migration, ensuring respect for human rights in managing migration flows in the region;
Encourages continued legislative reform and harmonisation in Central Asia to ensure coordinated regional policies in this field;
Supports the contribution the OSCE and other international organisations are making in helping national governments in the region to establish good border management practices;
Calls on participating States to continue co-operation in the area of information exchange and policy co-ordination in the field of labour migration;
Recommends that participating States work to improve the public image of labour migrants and the contributions they make to host societies, in the national media;
Calls on participating States to actively combat trafficking in human beings in migration flows;
Recommends that participating States continue regional legislative efforts to improve the free movement of people across national borders.
RESOLUTION ON
ENERGY SECURITY
Recognising mutual interdependence in the field of energy and the need for common actions enhancing security of energy supply and responding to potential crises,
Emphasising the importance to energy security of diversification of energy supply sources, markets and transit routes,
Underlining the importance of coping with the challenges related to climate change on a global level,
Acknowledging that renewable energy is a key element in the supply of sustainable energy and has major implications for the fight against climate change and the reduction of carbon emissions,
Stressing the need for common rules in the field of international energy cooperation,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Emphasises the need for strengthening co-operation and balancing the interests of energy producers, consumers and transit countries with the aim of promoting market-based principles in the global energy dialogue;
Underlines that international energy dialogue should be based on the principles of transparency, mutual confidence, reciprocity, non-discrimination and freedom of access to transit routes as provided in the Energy Charter Treaty;
Urges participating States to participate fully in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative;
Stresses the importance of developing new energy supply corridors with the aim of diversifying energy security sources thus enhancing competition in the OSCE area and increasing the reliability of energy supply and demand;
Emphasises the need to develop liquefied natural gas technologies with the aim of moving towards an international gas market;
Underlines that energy infrastructure projects should be implemented according to the requirements of the 1991 Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context and other related international conventions, taking into consideration all environmental risks;
Calls for an increase in the share in the energy mix of climate friendly energy, including nuclear energy, renewables and energy efficiency, with the aim of reducing global energy security risks, fighting climate change and diminishing dependency on depleting fossil fuels;
Urges OSCE participating States to participate fully in the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009, with a view to establishing effective international standards which significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
Stresses the necessity of sharing experience in the field of modern energy technologies and best practices in developing renewable energy and energy efficiency, including co-operation in research and development;
Emphasises the importance of further development of peaceful nuclear energy in accordance with established international nuclear safety standards and in line with provisions of international conventions on nuclear safety, security, safeguards and verification.
RESOLUTION ON
ENERGY CO-OPERATION
Reaffirming the 2008 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Astana Declaration on the importance of energy efficiency, renewable energies and energy savings,
Recalling that the Parliamentary Assembly in Astana called on participating States to commit themselves to a global energy transformation,
Reaffirming the 2007 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Kyiv Declaration, which stressed the need to further promote renewable energy sources,
Recalling that the Parliamentary Assembly in Kyiv urged participating States, among other things, to develop measures aimed at increasing energy saving and efficiency in households, industry, transport and services,
Reaffirming the 2006 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Brussels Declaration which urged participating States to foster co-operation on energy,
Recalling the special significance and the special potential of co-operation with civil society in the OSCE,
Recalling that NGOs and other civil society stakeholders play a central role on the path to renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy savings, and that without an active civil society a global energy transformation will not be possible,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Calls upon participating States to create fora for the activities of independent civil society in the energy sector;
Calls upon participating States to develop measures and initiatives, in cooperation with civil society, to inform and educate people about renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy saving;
Recommends that the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the OSCE field missions carry out activities which promote a change of culture in the OSCE towards a global energy transformation and which support the work carried out by civil society and the independent media in this area;
Recommends that an OSCE conference be held, bringing together participating States and civil society stakeholders to assess progress and challenges on the path to an energy transformation and to compile best practices on the provision of information and education about renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy saving.
RESOLUTION ON
CLIMATE CHANGE
Recognising that unless climate change is prevented it may lead to problems related to the rise of water levels, natural disasters, food production, water supply and migration,
Noting that investment in renewable energy and in energy-efficient technology not only contributes to solving climate issues, but may also be a security gain since diversifying energy sources and decreasing dependence on fossil fuels contribute to energy security,
Realising that climate change is a common security problem that requires global cooperation to be solved,
4.Recognising that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) plays the leading role with respect to international climate change and taking note of the upcoming Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) to UNFCCC to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
5.Stresses that the climate challenge should not be given a lower priority in a long-term perspective owing to the financial crisis than other challenges that may seem more urgent on a short-term basis;
6.Encourages rich countries, which so far have contributed the greatest proportion of CO2 emissions, to accept the greater part of the responsibility and cover the expenses resulting from reducing emissions, both by reducing their own emissions and by contributing additional funding to developing countries as agreed at the COP 13 in Bali;
7.Urges countries experiencing great economic growth, which are likely to contribute to a great deal of total CO2 emissions in the future, to ensure that this growth takes place in a sustainable and climate-friendly manner;
8.Calls on all OSCE participating States that have not yet signed the Kyoto Protocol to sign and ratify the protocol as soon as possible and to start engaging in the reduction of CO2 emissions before 2012;
9.Urges all OSCE participating States that have already signed the Kyoto Protocol to maintain their ambition and work to reach the agreed reductions of CO2 emissions before 2012;
10.Further calls on all countries and governments to work specifically to reach an ambitious international agreement on climate in Copenhagen at the COP 15, and calls for the agreement to contain binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases in the short and long term to ensure that the global increase of temperature stays below 2˚ Celsius.
RESOLUTION ON
TAX HAVENS
Recalling the damage caused by tax havens to the economies of participating States including:
the loss of tax revenues due to fraud and tax evasion;
the increased risk of destabilising the world financial system caused by flaws in regulation;
the opportunities for financial crime, money laundering and the financing of terrorism,
Welcoming the proposals on tax havens in the text adopted by the European Union Member States at the European Council on 19 and 20 March 2009 with a view to the G-20 Summit in London,
Noting with satisfaction the publication by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) of a List of Unco-operative Tax Havens,
Praising the declaration issued by the G-20 Summit in London on 2 April 2009 concerning tax havens and unco-operative jurisdictions,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Supports the measures recommended in the declaration issued by the G-20 in April 2009;
Underlines the need to strengthen co-operation between participating States and the international financial institutions on this question;
Encourages improved co-operation between the OECD, the Financial Action Task Force and the Financial Stability Forum in order to avoid regulatory loopholes;
Urges participating States to establish common criteria for defining an uncooperative jurisdiction;
Recommends that participating States establish measures aimed at obtaining complete transparency in unco-operative jurisdictions and the eventual abolition of tax havens;
Suggests that it be made compulsory to declare any financial transaction with an uncooperative jurisdiction;
Recommends that the repatriation of assets and incomes from uncooperative jurisdictions be authorised, without penalty but without a tax amnesty;
Suggests that a specific tax be introduced on transactions involving unco-operative jurisdictions.
RESOLUTION ON
MEDITERRANEAN FREE TRADE
Reiterating the fundamental importance of the economic dimension of the OSCEs comprehensive approach to security, which acknowledges the relationship between economic growth and peace or stability,
Recalling the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, in which OSCE participating States expressed their intention to encourage with the non-participating Mediterranean States the development of mutually beneficial co-operation in the various fields of economic activity and to contribute to a diversified development of the economies of the non-participating Mediterranean countries,
Recalling the Helsinki Final Act, in which OSCE participating States recognised the importance of bilateral and multilateral intergovernmental and other agreements for the long-term development of trade and undertook to reduce or progressively eliminate all kinds of obstacles to the development of trade,
Recalling the importance that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly accords to the development of international trade, as underlined by the Assemblys seventh economic conference on the theme of The World Financial Crisis, held in Dublin, Ireland in May 2009,
Expressing support for the Barcelona Declaration of 1995 regarding the establishment of a free trade area between the Member States of the European Union and all Mediterranean States by 2010,
Recalling the OSCE PAs 2008 Astana Declaration and the resolution it adopted on Mediterranean free trade,
Concerned at the slow pace of economic development in the Middle East, especially in the agriculture sector and the knowledge-based economy, where two thirds of the population is under the age of 35,
Further concerned about the impact of the current global financial crisis on the economies of the Mediterranean area, whereby commodity prices have fallen significantly, export demands have weakened, finances have been strained, and tourism to the region has declined,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Asserts that the creation of a free trade area will, inter alia, contribute significantly to the efforts to achieve peace in the Mediterranean region;
Expresses its support for the European Unions Mediterranean Union Initiative and the declaration of July 2008 adopted at the Paris Summit which set out, among others, such priorities as Alternative Energies and a Mediterranean Solar Plan, a EuroMediterranean University, and the Mediterranean Business Development Initiative;
Welcomes the initiatives of other participating States and their support for the promotion of free trade and investment in the Mediterranean area, including, as reported in the Astana Follow-Up Report, the United Kingdom, the American Middle East Free Trade Area Initiative (MEFTA) launched in 2003, Canadas recently concluded negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Canadas exploratory discussions with Morocco towards a possible Free Trade Agreement;
Reiterates its recommendation contained in the 2008 Astana Declaration that a Mediterranean Economic Commission be established with the aim of quickly reducing trade barriers and facilitating the transition to a knowledge-based economy in the countries of the region;
Also reiterates its recommendation contained in the 2008 Astana Declaration that a Mediterranean Agricultural Marketing Board be established with the aim of creating jobs in the agriculture sector for young people in the region;
Encourages participating States and Partner States for Co-operation to intensify their efforts under the Barcelona Process in order to expedite the establishment of a free-trade area among all Mediterranean countries.
RESOLUTION ON
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ON THE INTERNET
Affirming the fundamental human right, recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to freedom of expression, including the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, through any media,
Reaffirming the words agreed by participating States in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act regarding the importance of the dissemination of information from the other participating States and the aim thereby undertaken to facilitate the freer and wider dissemination of information of all kinds and to encourage co-operation in the field of information and the exchange of information with other countries,
Reaffirming the commitment made by the participating States in the 1989 Vienna Concluding Document that they would ensure that individuals can freely choose their sources of information and would take every opportunity offered by modern means of communication to increase the freer and wider dissemination of information of all kinds,
Reaffirming the Charter for European Security, adopted in Istanbul in 1999, according to which participating States committed themselves to taking all necessary steps to ensure the basic conditions for unimpeded transborder and intra-State flow of information,
Aware of the determination of repressive States to censor, block and surveil the free flow of information on the Internet, including information and communications originating in participating States,
Further aware that information and communications technology companies have cooperated with repressive States in Internet censorship, blocking and surveillance by selling and servicing information and communications technology and know-how that enables repressive States to censor and block the Internet and transform it into a tool for surveillance,
Further aware that information on Internet users provided to repressive States by information and communications technology companies has enabled repressive States to identify and persecute individuals for the peaceful expression of political, religious and ideological opinion and belief,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Urges participating States to promote the right of every individual to freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas relating to political, religious, or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet, without interference and regardless of frontiers;
Urges participating States to use appropriate policy instruments to promote values, principles and practices that promote the free flow of information and ideas relating to political, religious or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet;
Calls on participating States to adopt measures to deter information and communications technology companies from directly and materially co-operating with repressive States in censoring, blocking or surveilling the free flow of information and ideas relating to political, religious or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet;
Calls on participating States to communicate to repressive States, including participating States, their concerns about government actions aimed at censoring, blocking or surveilling the free flow of information and ideas relating to political, religious or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet;
Requests that the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media monitor the policies and practices of participating States regarding the free flow of information and ideas relating to political, religious or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet, including Internet censorship, blocking and surveillance;
Requests that the OSCE Chair-in-Office draw additional attention to the issue of Internet censorship, blocking and surveillance by convening a Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting or similar meeting focused on these and related issues.
RESOLUTION ON
WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE OSCE AREA
Reaffirming the OSCEs comprehensive approach to security that includes the politico-military, economic, environmental and human dimensions,
Recalling the OSCEs role in encouraging sustainable environmental policies that promote peace and stability, specifically the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the 1990 Concluding Document of the CSCE Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe (Bonn Document), the 1999 Charter for European Security adopted at the Istanbul Summit, the 2003 OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension (Maastricht Strategy), other OSCE relevant documents and decisions regarding environmental issues, and the outcome of all previous Economic and Environmental Fora, which have established a basis for the OSCEs work in the area of environment and security,
Recognising that water is of vital importance to human life and that it is an element of the human right to life and dignity,
Alarmed by the fact that almost one billion people in the world lack access to safe drinking water, and that two out of every five people live without basic sanitation services, contributing to more than 2 million deaths every year,
Recalling that the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 7 (Ensure Environmental Sustainability), Target 3, calls on the nations of the world to work towards halving, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation,
Noting the ongoing severity of water management issues and the scarcity of water resources faced by many States in the OSCE region, affected in particular by unregulated social and economic activities, including urban development, industry, and agriculture, and which continue to have an impact on human health, the environment, the sustainability of biodiversity and aquatic and land-based eco-systems, and affect political and socio-economic development,
Concerned at the ongoing situation whereby certain areas and people in the panEuropean and North American region of the OSCE area lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation,
Recalling the OSCEs Madrid Declaration on Environment and Security adopted at the 2007 Ministerial Council, which draws attention to water management as an environmental risk which may have a substantial impact on security in the OSCE region and which might be more effectively addressed within the framework of multilateral cooperation,
Hailing the work of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum in raising awareness of water management issues and promoting regional co-operation throughout the OSCE area, including in South-Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia,
Hailing the achievements of the OSCE project on South Caucasus River Monitoring, which concluded in February 2009 after six years during which it introduced new parameters for water quality monitoring, harmonised sampling and testing methodologies, trained local staff and established data sharing systems accessible to all partners via the Internet in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia,
Recalling the OSCE PAs 2008 Astana Declaration and the resolution it adopted on water management,
Hailing the follow-up report on the 2008 Astana Declaration which highlighted initiatives undertaken by Belarus, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America to improve water management practices,
Hailing the numerous national and international reports and scientific studies on water management that generate knowledge and inform sound policy development,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Calls on participating States to address the question of sustainable access to clean water and sanitation globally, in particular given that sustainable access to clean water and sanitation are effective deterrents to infectious diseases;
Calls on participating States to undertake sound water management to support sustainable environmental policies and to apply the measures necessary to implement the 2007 Madrid Declaration on Environment and Security;
Expresses support for the ongoing work and commitment of the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in raising awareness of water management challenges and promoting opportunities for participating States to exchange best practices, including its projects in Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan;
Encourages the decision-making bodies of the OSCE to continue to set a direction on water management challenges and support the activities of the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and OSCE field presences that raise awareness of water management challenges in the OSCE area and identify environmentally sustainable solutions;
Expresses support for the Environment and Security Initiative, which brings together the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environmental Programme, the OSCE, NATO, the United Nations Economic Commission in Europe, and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe, to assess environmental challenges, including those relating to water resource management, and to implement projects that raise awareness of these challenges, build capacities and strengthen institutions in order to address them;
Encourages OSCE participating States to continue their work with other regional and international institutions and organisations with respect to water management solutions;
Supports the establishment of regional and crossborder cooperative activities between scientists and specialists who work to share technologies and best practices, develop countryspecific water strategies and expertise, mitigate shared water challenges, foster international co-operation and defuse cross-border tensions.
RESOLUTION ON
EUROPEAN UNION SEAL PRODUCTS BAN
Reaffirming the OSCEs comprehensive approach to security, which includes the politico-military, economic, environmental and human dimensions, and which has been documented in, inter alia, the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the 1989 Vienna Document, the 1990 Copenhagen Document and the1992 Helsinki Document,
Reaffirming the importance of trade for economic growth, political stability and international peace,
Recalling the commitments made by the participating States at the Maastricht Ministerial Council in December 2003 regarding the liberalisation of trade and the elimination of barriers limiting market access,
Recalling the importance that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly accords to the development of international trade as underlined by the Assemblys Fifth Economic Conference on the theme of Strengthening Stability and Co-operation through International Trade held in Andorra in May 2007 and its concern for the social and humanitarian consequences of economic disruptions which leave many vulnerable populations with limited options for economic gain as raised at the Assemblys Sixth Economic Conference on the theme of The World Financial Crisis held in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2009,
Noting the importance the OSCE and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities place on the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in promoting economic prosperity and sustaining economic opportunities as evident in its activities and those of OSCE field operations in enhancing the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and generating opportunities for vulnerable population groups,
Concerned at the persistence of trade barriers among participating States, which limit opportunities for greater economic growth and human development, harming in particular small and medium-sized enterprises,
Reiterating in particular the commitments made by the participating States at the G20 London Summit of 2009 regarding protectionism and the promotion of global trade and investment,
Concerned that raising new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services or implementing measures inconsistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules will hinder the global economic recovery efforts,
Reaffirming that a comprehensive approach to security and the promotion of trade liberalisation are central to strengthening the potential of, and overcoming the economic challenges facing, inhabitants of remote coastal communities who depend on sealing for economic gain,
Recalling the 1999 Charter for European Security, which confirms the OSCE as an inclusive and comprehensive organisation for consultation, decision-making and co-operation in its region,
Stressing the wide range of values shared by the United Nations and the OSCE including human rights and minority rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and the rule of law,
Recalling the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which affirms the right to an adequate standard of living,
Welcoming national-level commitments and standards that respect the traditional lifestyles of aboriginal peoples,
Also welcoming national-level commitments and standards that respect animal welfare,
Hailing the work of the international community in supporting the development of animal welfare standards in sealing,
Taking note of the principles espoused by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to facilitate the conservation of the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that the use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable, making the best decisions based on good science and involving all types of people and organisations,
Noting that both the Independent Veterinarians Working Group, sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, and the European Food Safety Authority, the organisation commissioned by the European Commission to study animal welfare aspects of sealing, have concluded that sealing can be undertaken both safely and humanely,
Concerned that unilateral attempts to regulate this issue undermine international cooperation, and present additional challenges for the people of remote coastal communities in sealing nations in their daily lives, who are vulnerable owing to limited options for economic prosperity,
Welcoming the commitment of sealing nations to work together to develop international standards for animal welfare in sealing,
Paying tribute to Inuit people in the defence of their traditions and the efforts made to build their communities and economic sustainability in challenging commercial conditions,
Noting that the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recognises the harm that the recent decision of the European Parliament regarding the seal product import ban may cause Inuit in the Arctic and calls upon the European Union to rescind this import ban and, failing that, to enter into direct and meaningful dialogue with the Inuit,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Calls on the governments of participating States to meet their full commitment with respect to international declarations and obligations, regarding trade liberalisation, promotion of economic development and the respect for rights of minorities, including those of the United Nations, the OSCE, the World Trade Organization and the G-20 London Summit;
Vigorously supports the fight against protectionism and barriers to trade and encourages continued cooperation among participating States;
Welcomes and supports active dialogue for identifying and pursuing elements of possible agreement, mutual interest and concession whenever divisions occur, in order to strengthen the principle of consultation and mutual respect as the foundation of relations among nations;
Calls on the European Union and the Governments of the individual Member States to co-operate with the governments of sealing nations and recognise the humane standards employed in sealing already established through rigorous scientific advice and government regulation;
Calls on the Member States of the European Union to enter into direct and meaningful dialogue with the Inuit to discuss issues pertaining to sealing and the difficulties posed by restrictions on trade in seal products;
Encourages participating States to pursue additional efforts to support the development of international standards for sealing;
Encourages the national parliaments of participating States to impress upon their governments the need to co-operate internationally to educate people in humane standards for sealing;
Offers its unconditional support to the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission in its efforts to research and define best practices in the hunting of seals;
Recommends that the OSCEs Economic and Environmental Forum study, in the manner it deems appropriate, including parliamentary exchanges, the terms and conditions for an intensification of co-operation between interested parties in support of the sealing industry around the world.
RESOLUTION ON
PROTECTING UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AND
COMBATING THE PHENOMENON OF CHILD BEGGING
Emphasising that one of the pillars of the Helsinki Final Act of the Paris Charter is the protection of human rights, an issue that has always been at the heart of the Parliamentary Assemblys work,
Recognising that such rights need to be guaranteed first and foremost for the most vulnerable members of society, who are more easily subjected to violence and deprivation,
Considering that children, who are unable to defend themselves, are amongst the most vulnerable subjects,
Recalling that 2009 marks the twentieth anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the fifteenth anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and that such occasions provide an opportunity for OSCE participating States to renew their commitment to protecting childrens rights,
Welcoming United Nations General Assembly resolution 63/241 on the rights of the child,
Noting that in many European countries illegal migration is almost always managed by organised crime,
Acknowledging that such migration affects all age brackets and involves men, women and children,
Recognising that it is often difficult to identify illegal migrants, given that they seldom have a passport,
Condemning the practice as a whole, particularly as it almost always stems from situations of suffering and leads to exploitation,
Noting that illegal migration is all the more unacceptable when it involves children who especially if unidentified become shadow children who are not registered and thus evade all checks which would safeguard their social and educational development,
Considering that in many European countries no population register exists, and that this constitutes yet another potential source of abuse and exploitation,
Considering that the phenomenon of the number of foreign unaccompanied minors is constantly growing; that they are a particularly vulnerable group; and that specific attention should be focused on the risks they run of being exploited or even of going missing,
Recognising that there are daily news reports of children, including the very young, being exploited as part of begging rackets, and aware that this is a lucrative activity operated by national and international criminal organisations,
Noting that there are many international instruments in place, primarily the United Nations New York Convention of 1989 that requires governments to implement the necessary initiatives to register a child immediately after birth, after which the child has the right to a name (art. 7); to allow for the physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development of the child, who must have the appropriate standards of living for development (art. 27); and to protect the child from all forms of economic and sexual exploitation (art. 32 and 34),
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Considers the protection of minors to be an OSCE priority;
Reiterates the commitment to safeguard the human rights of the child as enshrined in the New York Convention of 1989;
Urges participating States to ratify as soon as possible the United Nations Conventions and optional Protocols and the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings signed in Warsaw on 16 May 2005;
Recognises the importance of holding regular hearings with NGOs and international organisations involved in the protection of human rights, including Save the Children, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the Red Cross, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in order to be constantly kept up to date with events in the European and international sphere;
Believes that an OSCE representative with observer status should be present at all international fora dealing with protecting the rights of children and adolescents, a topic which underpins the protection of human rights;
Believes it is necessary for governments to examine the possibility of creating a European guarantor for the rights of the child, which exists in some but not all European countries, given that the exploitation of children has now transcended national boundaries;
Calls on participating States to introduce the legislation necessary to ensure the protection of unaccompanied minors and to combat the phenomenon of child begging.
RESOLUTION ON
DIVIDED EUROPE REUNITED:
PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
IN THE OSCE REGION IN THE 21st CENTURY
Recalling the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Helsinki Final Act and the European Charter of Fundamental Rights,
Taking into account the developments that have taken place in the OSCE area in the 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain,
Noting that in the twentieth century European countries experienced two major totalitarian regimes, Nazi and Stalinist, which brought about genocide, violations of human rights and freedoms, war crimes and crimes against humanity,
Acknowledging the uniqueness of the Holocaust, reminding participating States of its impact and the continued acts of anti-Semitism occurring throughout the 56-nation OSCE region, and strongly encouraging the vigorous implementation of the resolutions on anti-Semitism adopted unanimously by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly since the 2002 Annual Session in Berlin,
Reminding the OSCE participating States of their commitment to clearly and unequivocally condemn totalitarianism (1990 Copenhagen Document),
Recalling that awareness of history helps to prevent the recurrence of similar crimes in the future, and that an honest and thorough debate on history will facilitate reconciliation based on truth and remembrance,
Aware that the transition from communist dictatorships to democracy cannot take place in one day, and that it also has to take into account the historical and cultural backgrounds of the countries concerned,
Emphasising, however, that it is the obligation of governments and all sectors of society to strive tirelessly towards achieving a truly democratic system that fully respects human rights, without making differences in political culture and tradition a pretext for the non-implementation of commitments,
Deploring that in many countries, including some with long-standing democratic traditions, civil liberties are in renewed danger, often because of measures taken to counter so-called new threats,
Recalling the initiative of the European Parliament to proclaim 23 August, when the RibbentropMolotov Pact was signed 70 years ago, as a Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism, in order to preserve the memory of the victims of mass deportations and exterminations,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Reconfirms its united stand against all totalitarian rule from whatever ideological background;
Calls on participating States to honour and implement all commitments undertaken in good faith;
Urges the participating States:
to continue research into and raise public awareness of the totalitarian legacy;
to develop and improve educational tools, programmes and activities, most notably for younger generations, on totalitarian history, human dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms, pluralism, democracy and tolerance;
to promote and support activities of NGOs which are engaged in areas of research and raising public awareness about crimes committed by totalitarian regimes;
Requests governments and parliaments of participating States to ensure that any governmental structures and patterns of behaviour that resist full democratisation or perpetuate, or embellish, or seek a return to, or extend into the future, totalitarian rule are fully dismantled;
Further requests governments and parliaments of participating States to fully dismantle all structures and patterns of behaviour that have their roots in abusing human rights;
Reiterates its call upon all participating States to open their historical and political archives;
Expresses deep concern at the glorification of the totalitarian regimes, including the holding of public demonstrations glorifying the Nazi or Stalinist past, as well as the possible spread and strengthening of various extremist movements and groups, including neo-Nazis and skinheads;
Calls upon participating States to pursue policies against xenophobia and aggressive nationalism and take more effective measures to combat these phenomena;
Asks for a greater respect in all participating States for human rights and civil liberties, even in difficult times of terrorist threats, economic crisis, ecological disasters and mass migration.
RESOLUTION ON
A MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY
AND TOWARDS ITS ABOLITION
Recalling the Resolution on Abolition of the Death Penalty adopted in Paris at the Tenth Annual Session in July 2001,
Recalling the Resolution on The Prisoners Detained by the United States at the Guantánamo Base adopted in Rotterdam at the Twelfth Annual Session in July 2003, which underlining the importance of the defence of democratic rights, not least confronted with terrorism and other undemocratic methods, urged the United States of America to refrain from the use of the death penalty,
Recalling the Resolution on Strengthening Effective Parliamentary Oversight of Security and Intelligence Agencies, adopted in Brussels at the Fifteenth Annual Session in July 2006, which expressed alarm at certain practices which violate most fundamental human rights and freedoms and are contrary to international human rights treaties, which form the cornerstone of post-World War II human rights protection including extradition to countries likely to apply the death penalty or use torture or ill-treatment, and detention and harassment on the grounds of political or religious activity,
Recalling the Resolution on the implementation of OSCE commitments adopted in Kyiv at the Sixteenth Annual Session in July 2007, which reaffirms the value of human life and calls for the abolition in the participating States of the death penalty, replacing it with more just and humane means of delivering justice,
Noting that, on 18 December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the historic resolution 62/149 calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty, which was adopted by an overwhelming majority, with 104 United Nations member States in favour, 54 countries against and 29 countries abstaining,
Noting that resolution 63/168 on the implementation of the 2007 General Assembly resolution 62/149 was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 2008, with 106 votes in favour, 46 against and 34 abstentions,
Recalling the inclusion of the issue of capital punishment in the catalogue of OSCE human dimension commitments by the 1989 Vienna Concluding Document and the 1990 Copenhagen Document,
Recalling paragraph 100 of the St. Petersburg Declaration of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly of 1999 and paragraph 119 of the Bucharest Declaration of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly of 2000,
Noting that the death penalty is an inhuman and degrading punishment, an act of torture unacceptable to States respecting human rights,
Noting that the death penalty is a discriminatory and arbitrary punishment and that its application has no effect on trends in violent crime,
Noting that, in view of the fallibility of human justice, recourse to the death penalty inevitably carries a risk that innocent people may be killed,
Recalling the provisions of Protocol No. 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which prohibits Council of Europe Member States from applying the death penalty,
Recalling the provisions of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1989, and the World Conference on Capital Punishment held in Strasbourg in 2001 as well as the Additional Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms aiming at the universal abolition of the death penalty,
Noting that the 1998 Rome Statute excludes the death penalty, even though the International Criminal Court, along with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Special Panels for Serious Crimes in Dili, Timor-Leste, and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, have jurisdiction over crimes against humanity, genocide and war crimes,
Noting that in October 2008 the European Union and the Council of Europe, in a joint declaration, established a European Day against the Death Penalty,
Recalling that at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meetings in Warsaw, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, several civil society organisations, including Hands Off Cain, Amnesty International, Penal Reform International, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, expressed their support for the Resolutions on a global moratorium on the death penalty presented to the United Nations General Assembly,
Noting that 138 States in the world have abolished the death penalty de jure or de facto; of which 92 States abolished it for any offence, 10 keep it only for exceptional crimes such as those committed in wartime, and 36 have not carried out executions for at least 10 years or are committed to implementing a moratorium,
Welcoming Georgias constitutional amendment regarding the complete abolition of the death penalty, signed on 27 December 2006,
Welcoming the abolition of the death penalty in Kyrgyzstan, as established by the new article 14 of the Constitution, approved on 15 January 2007,
Welcoming the abolition of the death penalty in Uzbekistan, with effect since 1 January 2008,
Noting that in some OSCE participating States the death penalty is retained in law, but that there is a moratorium on executions in Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan, while executions may be carried out during wartime in Latvia,
Noting that an amendment of 21 May 2007 to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan abolished the death penalty in all cases save for acts of terrorism entailing loss of life and for especially grave crimes committed in wartime,
Noting that within the OSCE only two of the 56 participating States nevertheless continue to apply the death penalty,
Deeply concerned about the fact that people are still being sentenced to death and executions carried out in Belarus and in the United States of America,
Noting that, according to the report published by Amnesty International in March 2009, Ending executions in Europe Towards abolition of the death penalty in Belarus, in Belarus there is credible evidence that torture and ill-treatment are used to extract confessions; condemned prisoners may not have access to effective appeal mechanisms; and the inherently cruel, inhuman and degrading nature of the death penalty is compounded for death row prisoners and their relatives by the secrecy surrounding the death penalty. Neither prisoners nor their families are told the execution date in advance and prisoners must live with the fear that every time their cell door opens they may be taken for execution,
Noting that both the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Union have repeatedly urged Belarus to abolish the death penalty,
Noting that details about the death penalty in Belarus are secret and that, according to the Criminal Executive Code, the death penalty is carried out in private by means of shooting, the administration of the detention facility informs the judge about the executions and the judge informs the relatives; the body of an executed person is not given for burial to his or her relatives and the place of burial is not communicated,
Noting that in Belarus capital punishment, under the Constitution, is an exceptional and provisional measure to be taken only in extreme cases, and that Belarus has taken substantial steps to limit the handing down of death sentences by halving the number of articles in the Criminal Code that provide for imposition of the death penalty,
Noting that, on 11 March 2004, the Constitutional Court stated that the abolition of the death penalty, or as a first step, the introduction of a moratorium, could be enacted by the head of state and by parliament,
Noting that Belarus has failed to publish comprehensive statistics about the number of death sentences passed and executions carried out, in contravention of its commitment as a participating State of the OSCE to make available to the public information regarding the use of the death penalty as stated in the Document approved at the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the CSCE, on 29 June 1990,
Noting that, of the 50 states which make up the United States of America, 38 have the death penalty, while four of them have not held executions since 1976, and federal law provides for 42 offences which may be punished by death,
Noting that in the United States of America the number of executions and death sentences has significantly dropped in recent years and many states are considering adopting a moratorium or its abolition, which reflects decreasing public support for the death penalty,
Welcoming the fact that some states, including Montana, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina have moved against the death penalty through measures including a moratorium on executions or its abolition,
Noting that the United States Supreme Court has recently issued landmark judgements that have put more safeguards in place and take into account evolving standards of justice,
Welcoming the decision by the Governor of New Mexico in March 2009 to ban capital punishment in his state, as inconsistent with basic American principles of justice, liberty and equality,
Noting that, on 19 March 2009, a United States Senator introduced a Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act to abolish the death penalty at the federal level,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Condemns all executions wherever they take place;
Calls upon participating States applying the death penalty to declare an immediate moratorium on executions;
Encourages the participating States that have not abolished the death penalty to respect safeguards protecting the rights of those facing the death penalty as laid down in the United Nations Economic and Social Council Safeguards;
Calls on Belarus to take immediate steps towards abolition of the death penalty by promptly establishing a moratorium on all death sentences and executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty as provided by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 62/149, adopted on 18 December 2007, and resolution 63/168, adopted on 18 December 2008;
Calls upon the Government of the United States of America to adopt a moratorium on executions leading to the complete abolition of the death penalty in federal legislation and to withdraw its reservation to Article 6(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
Calls upon the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a view to the complete abolition of the death penalty, to amend its Criminal Code in accordance with its constitutional amendment of 21 May 2007;
Calls upon Latvia to amend its Criminal Code in order to abolish the death penalty for murder with aggravating circumstances if committed during wartime;
Calls upon the retentionist participating States to encourage ODIHR and OSCE Missions, in co-operation with the Council of Europe, to conduct awareness-raising activities against recourse to the death penalty, particularly with the media, law enforcement officials, policy-makers and the general public;
Further encourages the activities of NGOs working for the abolition of the death penalty.
RESOLUTION ON
MATERNAL MORTALITY
Recognising that the World Health Organizations Constitution notes that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being,
Aware that there has been no significant progress in achieving the fifth goal of the Millennium Declaration of 2000 calling for a 75 per cent reduction in global maternal mortality by 2015, which may negatively affect efforts to promote peace and sustainable democracy, empower women and advance economic development globally,
Noting that a mothers death has a severe impact upon the lives and futures of children, including daughters withdrawn from school to assume family responsibilities; detracts from family income; and collectively weakens communities and perpetuates poverty while undermining the right of women to full and equal participation and involvement in civil society,
Acknowledging the statement of July 2008 by the G-8 nations expressing support for a comprehensive approach to reducing maternal and newborn mortality through investments to improve access to quality medical care and to skilled birth attendants, backed by access to emergency obstetric care, and to improving the health workforce, health facilities and culturally appropriate referral systems and tools,
Recognising the accompanying call by the G-8 in the Toyako Framework for Action that, in order to make real and substantial progress towards improving maternal, reproductive and child health, additional resources from both domestic and international sources are needed if the health-related Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved,
Aware that in September 2008 the United Nations announced the creation of a Task Force, cochaired by the British Prime Minister and the President of the World Bank, to study ways to strengthen health systems in an effort to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth, and which is due to present its recommendations, on financing to strengthen health systems and pay for health care workers to potentially save the lives of 10 million women and children by 2015, at the 2009 G-8 meeting in Italy,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Calls upon the participating States to make stronger and more consistent efforts to reduce maternal mortality both at home and abroad through greater financial investment and participation in global initiatives, particularly those geared toward regions where mortality is highest, and encourages the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to remain seized of the matter.
RESOLUTION ON
GUIDELINES ON AID AND ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES
Given that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the international body responsible for providing protection and material assistance to refugees throughout the world at international level in co-operation with affected States,
Considering that the UNHCR has a network of headquarters in many countries, each charged with participating alongside host country authorities in procedures to determine refugee status, from which stem the relevant safeguards guaranteed by international law,
Emphasising that all players on the international stage must work within the United Nations to provide assistance to refugees in the aftermath of natural disasters, armed conflict, civil war and persecution, promptly establishing areas for food and health services on the ground,
Believing that the main priority for refugees in the aftermath of natural disasters, armed conflict, civil war and persecution is to resume their own lives in their own countries, at the heart of their own cultural and social contexts, as soon as possible, once all danger has subsided,
Noting that all too often requests for refugee status abroad, far from ones own country of origin, are used improperly as an excuse to cover illegal immigration, and as a means to delay identification and expulsion procedures, thus debasing this tool and penalising those subject to genuine persecution,
Highlighting the extreme difficulty of identifying people and the concrete threats they face once they have left their country of origin,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Invites participating States to take the necessary action in order to lend economic and material support to United Nations intervention to promptly provide aid to refugees in areas of armed conflict, civil war, natural disasters or persecution;
To fast-track, wherever possible, the recognition of refugee status and the provision of aid and assistance as close as possible to the refugees country of origin, both to ensure the recognition of their rights and to allow them to return to their place of origin and their traditional way of life once the emergency has subsided.
RESOLUTION ON
CO-OPERATION FOR THE ENFORCEMENT
OF CRIMINAL SENTENCES
Acknowledging that the Council of Europe Convention of 21 March 1983 on the transfer of sentenced persons, ratified by European Union Member States, provides for transfer to serve the remainder of a sentence only towards the sentenced persons own State of nationality, and only following the consent of the said State and States parties,
Acknowledging that the additional protocol to this Convention, of 18 December 1997, that provides for the transfer of the sentenced person without their consent, subject to certain conditions, has not been ratified by all European Union Member States,
Acknowledging that neither of these measures contains any absolute obligation to accept sentenced persons for the purpose of the enforcement of a sentence,
Welcoming the Hague Programme on Strengthening Freedom, Justice and Security in the European Union, which provides for Member States to complete the programme of measures, particularly those regarding the enforcement of final sentences of imprisonment,
Recalling the Council of Europe Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA of 27 November 2008 on the application of the principle of mutual recognition to judgements in criminal matters imposing custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation of personal freedom, for the purpose of their enforcement in the European Union,
Emphasising that the enforcement of criminal sentences should further develop cooperation between OSCE participating States, particularly in cases where citizens from participating States have received a criminal sentence leading to a custodial sentence or measures involving deprivation of personal freedom in another participating State,
Recognising that relations between OSCE participating States are based on mutual trust in their respective legal systems that allow the enforcing State to recognise decisions made by the sentencing State,
Considering that, while respecting the need to provide adequate guarantees for the sentenced person, that persons consent to serve their sentence in his or her country of origin no longer constitutes a necessary pre-condition for this to go ahead,
Bearing in mind that the co-operation of participating States does not prevent them from applying their own regulations regarding a fair trial, freedom of association, freedom of the press and freedom of expression in other means of communication,
Emphasising that the enforcement of a sentence in the country of origin should serve to facilitate the sentenced persons social integration, the competent authority in the sentencing State should bear in mind aspects such as, for example, the persons attachment to his or her country of origin and whether the said person considers this country to be where he or she maintains family, linguistic, cultural, social, economic or other ties,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Invites participating States to co-operate in order to take the necessary positive action to accommodate principles of mutual recognition of criminal sentences and the enforcement of a sentence in the country of origin by drafting and ratifying specific treaties or by implementing supranational regulations;
Urges the OSCE Council of Ministers to introduce all the necessary measures, in the abovementioned spirit of co-operation, in order to effectively implement the regulations of already existing treaties between one or more OSCE participating States relating to extradition for the purpose of serving custodial sentences or measures involving deprivation of personal freedom applied to a participating States citizen in his or her country of origin.
RESOLUTION ON
ANTI-SEMITISM
Reaffirming the commitments made by the participating States at previous OSCE conferences in Vienna (2003), Berlin (2004), Brussels (2004) and Cordoba (2005) regarding legal, political and educational efforts to fight anti-Semitism,
Reaffirming, in particular, especially the 2002 Porto Ministerial Decision condemning anti-Semitic incidents in the OSCE area, recognising the role that the existence of anti-Semitism has played throughout history as a major threat to freedom,
Recalling the 2005 OSCE PA Washington Declaration, the 2006 OSCE PA Brussels Declaration, the 2007 OSCE PA Kyiv Declaration and the 2008 OSCE PA Astana Declaration, and the resolutions adopted on combating anti-Semitism,
Saluting the commitment and activities of past and present Personal Representatives to the Chairman-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism,
Welcoming the efforts of the parliaments of participating States to combat anti-Semitism as highlighted in the Follow-Up Report to the Astana Declaration,
Hailing the work of the Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism, held in London, United Kingdom, from 15 to 17 February 2009,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Remains greatly concerned at the increase in xenophobia and other forms of intolerance directed towards vulnerable groups during the economic crisis, including an increase in anti-Semitism characterised by claims that Jews were responsible for the economic crisis;
Endorses the declaration of the London Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism, and reaffirms in particular:
concern for the dramatic increase in recorded anti-Semitic hate crimes and attacks targeting Jewish persons and property, and Jewish religious, educational and communal institutions and the incidents of governmentbacked anti-Semitism in general, and state-backed genocidal antiSemitism, in particular;
the role parliamentarians, governments, the United Nations and regional organisations should play in combating anti-Semitism in all its forms, including denial of the Holocaust, and in reaffirming the principles of tolerance and mutual respect;
its call upon national governments, parliaments, international institutions, political and civic leaders, NGOs and civil society to affirm democratic and human values, build societies based on respect and citizenship and combat any manifestations of anti-Semitism and discrimination;
that the participating States of the OSCE must fulfil their commitments under the 2004 Berlin Declaration and fully utilise programmes to combat antiSemitism including the Law Enforcement programme;
that appropriate and necessary action should be taken by governments to develop strategies to address television broadcasts and other uses of the media and Internet that promote anti-Semitism, while ensuring that such strategies and any related legislation fully respect the freedoms of expression, assembly and association, and are not used to repress peaceful activities of civil society, of political or religious groups, or of individuals;
that, with the support of the OSCE, measures must be adopted to assess the effectiveness of existing policies and mechanisms in countering antiSemitism, including the establishment of publicly accessible incident reporting systems, and the collection of statistics on anti-Semitism;
the importance of education, awareness and training throughout the judicial and school systems in countering anti-Semitism;
the importance of engagement with civil society institutions and leading NGOs to create partnerships that bring about change locally, domestically and globally, and support efforts that encourage Holocaust education, inter-religious dialogue and cultural exchange;
that the OSCE should seek ways to co-ordinate the response of participating States to combat the use of the Internet to promote incitement to hatred; and,
the establishment of an international task force of Internet specialists comprised of parliamentarians and experts in order to create common metrics to measure anti-Semitism and other manifestations of hate online and to develop policy recommendations and practical instruments for governments and international frameworks to tackle these problems;
Applauds the extensive work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to combat manifestations of antiSemitism and other forms of intolerance, including: the publication of an Annual Hate Crimes Report that monitors manifestations of anti-Semitism; development of Holocaust Remembrance and Hate Crimes Legislation guidelines and other educational materials to combat anti-Semitism; and training of government and civil society members to monitor, report on and prevent manifestations of antiSemitism.
RESOLUTION ON
STRENGTHENING OSCE ENGAGEMENT ON
FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION
Recalling and reaffirming that freedom of expression is a fundamental and internationally recognised human right and a basic component of a democratic society, and that free, independent and pluralistic media are essential for a free and open society and accountable systems of government as stipulated in the 1997 Copenhagen Document,
Recalling that the commitments undertaken in the field of the human dimension are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned, as stipulated in the 1991 Moscow Document and entered into by all participating States,
Reaffirming that the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms is one of the basic responsibilities of States, and the recognition of and respect for these rights and freedoms constitutes the foundation of freedom, justice and peace,
Recalling Human Rights Resolution 2005/38 on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression adopted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on 19 April 2005, which reaffirms the rights contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) regarding the right of everyone to hold opinions without interference, as well as the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art or through any other media of their choice, and the intrinsically linked rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, peaceful assembly and association and the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs and the responsibilities of participating States to promote and protect the rights of individuals under the ICCPR,
Recalling that in agreeing on the mandate of and pledging to co-operate fully with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the participating States reaffirm the principles and commitments they have adhered to in the field of free media (Copenhagen 1997),
Deploring that in a number of OSCE participating States, journalists have been murdered, assaulted and subjected to harassment,
Recalling and reaffirming that in Budapest in 1994 participating States condemned all attacks on and harassment of journalists and made a commitment to endeavour to hold those directly responsible for such attacks and harassment accountable,
Recalling that in his address to the Permanent Council on 2 April 2009 the Representative on Freedom of the Media warned that violence against the media, if unpunished, becomes the foremost obstacle to uninhibited journalism,
Reaffirming the agreement reached in Istanbul in 1999 on the importance of the free flow of information and the public's access to information,
Expressing concern that, in a number of participating States, there is an ongoing discussion about introducing new legislation to regulate the Internet, which, as the Representative on the Freedom of the Media told the Permanent Council on 2 April 2009, must be non-restrictive and limited to areas where it is unavoidable if it is to comply with OSCE commitments,
Recalling that participating States are committed to ensuring that law and public policy work to permit political campaigning to be conducted in a fair and free atmosphere in which administrative action, violence and intimidation do not bar the parties and candidates from freely presenting their views and qualifications, or prevent the voters from learning of and discussing them (Copenhagen 1990),
Reaffirming that participating States will ensure that no legal or administrative obstacle stands in the way of unimpeded access to the media on a non-discriminatory basis for all political groupings and individuals wishing to participate in the electoral process (Copenhagen 1990),
Reaffirming that persons belonging to national minorities or regional cultures on their territories can disseminate, have access to and exchange information in their mother tongue (Vienna 1989),
Recalling that participating States have agreed that everyone will have the right to peaceful assembly and demonstration, the right of association, and the right to form and freely join a trade union, and that any restrictions which may be placed on the exercise of these rights will be prescribed by law and be consistent with international standards (Copenhagen 1990),
Recalling that participating States will respect the right of individuals and groups to establish, in full freedom, their own political parties or other political organisations (Copenhagen 1990),
Recalling that participating States have expressed their commitment to permitting the right to form, join and participate effectively in NGOs, which seek the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms (Copenhagen 1990),
Reaffirming participating States' commitment to ensure freedom of conscience and religion and to foster a climate of mutual tolerance and respect between believers of different communities as well as between believers and non-believers (Budapest 1994),
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Recognises that human rights and fundamental freedoms are most likely to be secured when citizens, either individually or collectively, are able to hold their government to account, and notes the particular importance of respect for the freedoms of association and peaceful assembly as they are intrinsic to the exercise by citizens of their right to express their opinions and to raise publicly issues of concern, and their ability to contribute to their resolution;
Urges participating States to address the remaining challenges, the lack of progress and even set-backs in respect of the implementation of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly, under threat from a range of excessively restrictive laws and policies that negatively affect the working environment of journalists, media and related personnel;
Urges participating States to co-operate fully with and assist the Representative on Freedom of the Media in the performance of his tasks, to provide all necessary information requested by him, and to consider favourably his requests for visits and for implementing his recommendations;
Urges participating States to take all necessary measures to put an end to violations of the implementation of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly and to create conditions to prevent such violations, including ensuring that the relevant national legislation complies with their international human rights obligations and is effectively implemented;
Urges participating States to ensure that victims of violations of these rights have an effective remedy, to investigate effectively threats and acts of violence, including terrorist acts, against journalists, including in situations of armed conflict, and to bring those responsible to justice;
23.Urges participating States to fully investigate criminal activities against journalists, particularly those aimed at intimidating journalists independently reporting, and to fully prosecute those responsible for those criminal activities;
Urges participating States to refrain from imposing restrictions that are incompatible with OSCE principles on the free flow of information and ideas and access to or use of information and communication technologies, including radio, television and the Internet, and from practices such as the banning or closing of publications or other media and the abuse of administrative measures and censorship;
Urges participating States to review their procedures, practices and legislation, as necessary, to ensure that any limitations on the right to freedom of opinion and expression are only such as are provided by law and are necessary for respect of the rights and reputations of others, public order, the protection of national security, public health, or morals;
Urges participating States to refrain from imposing restrictions that are incompatible with OSCE principles on the discussion of government policies and political debate; on reporting on human rights, government activities and corruption in government; on engaging in election campaigns, peaceful demonstrations or political activities, including for peace or democracy; and on expression of opinion and dissent, religion or belief, including by persons belonging to minorities or vulnerable groups;
Commends the OSCE/ODIHR for its continued assistance to participating States in this respect, particularly by reviewing legislation linked to human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Recognises the role that parliamentarians play in their respective States in this regard and reaffirms the commitment to honour and promote the implementation of existing commitments within their national assemblies;
Emphasises the importance of providing adequate funding to the OSCE, including the Representative on the Freedom of the Media, and ODIHR, to support their activities;
Underlines the crucial role of the OSCE field operations in assisting participating States with the development of the media, and encourages the field operations to further undertake projects aimed at capacity building and training for the media and promoting dialogue between the media and the government, in particular on the legislative process.
RESOLUTION ON
ARRESTS IN IRAN
Stressing the Parliamentary Assemblys interest in and dedication to the highest standards of democratic elections and human rights,
Recognising that the ultimate legitimacy of the electoral process in Iran lies with the Iranian people,
Emphasising the determination of the Parliamentary Assembly not to infringe upon the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
Deploring the violence perpetrated against those exercising their civil liberties and demonstrating peacefully, and
Taking note of the following statement of European Union foreign ministers in Corfu: Harassment or intimidation of foreign or Iranian staff working in embassies will be met with a strong and collective EU response,
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:
Condemns the arrests of Iranian employees working at the British Embassy in Tehran;
Deplores the arrests and intimidation of foreign and domestic journalists working in Iran;
Expresses its grave concern about the continuing violence in Iran; and
Supports the statement of European Union foreign ministers in Corfu concerning harassment or intimidation of diplomatic staff.
Elanders, Vällingby 2010