Preamble1st Committee Resolution: Political Affairs and Security2nd Committee Resolution: Economic Affairs, Science,Technology and the Environment3rd Committee Resolution: Democracy, Human Rights andHumanitarian QuestionsResolution on Enhancing Trust, Transparency and Accountabilitywithin the OSCE InstitutionsResolution on Trafficking Victim Watchfulness: Planes, TrainsBuses, and HotelsResolution on the Humanitarian Crisis in SyriaResolution on Intercountry AdoptionsResolution on Freedom of the MediaResolution on the Role of Local and Regional Authorities inPost-Conflict Rehabilitation ScenariosResolution on Enlarging the Partnership with Non-Member MediterraneanStates to include the Palestinian National AuthorityResolution on Transdniestrian Settlement ProcessResolution on Cyber SecurityResolution on the ArcticResolution on GuantanamoResolution on the Situation in the Middle East and its Effect on the OSCE AreaResolution on Water Management as a Priority for the OSCE CiO in 2014Resolution on Promoting Energy Saving and Energy Efficiencyin the OSCE regionResolution on Environmental Dimension of Energy SecurityResolution on Strengthening Security in the Border Areas of the OSCE RegionResolution on Gender Aspects of Labour MigrationResolution on Ensuring that Children have the Right to be ProtectedFrom Economic ExploitationResolution on Co-operation on the Transition to a Green Economy in theContext of Sustainable DevelopmentResolution on Strengthening Civil Society Institutions in the OSCE RegionResolution on BelarusResolution on Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief in the OSCE RegionResolution on Strengthening the Role of Education in Combating Racism,Xenophobia and Other Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination117121820232527293133353940414344475052545760626668

CHAPTER I

POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND SECURITY

1.Reaffirming the commitment to the vision of a free, democratic, common and indivisibleEuro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community stretching from Vancouver toVladivostok,Commemorating the adoption of the 1999 Charter for European Security at the IstanbulSummit, which made important progress on confidence- and security-building measuresand arms control,Recalling the Helsinki +40 process established in the OSCE Ministerial Council Decisionin Dublin and welcoming this opportunity for renewed dialogue on important aspects ofthe future of the OSCE,Considering the Helsinki +40 process to be an opportunity for the OSCE to reaffirm, atthe highest level, the relevance of its founding principles pertaining to international lawand the UN Charter and to more actively ensure participating States’ full and equalimplementation of these principles,Underlining the need to proceed with the ongoing discussions and negotiations in order toupdate and modernize the 1999 Vienna Document,Regretting the lack of progress in settling unresolved conflicts in the OSCE area,

Stressing the lack of progress in fully implementing OSCE, Council of Europe (CoE) andUN documents,Stressing that the settlement of protracted conflicts in the OSCE area and the need to stepup efforts in this regard in accordance with international law and OSCE principlesconstitutes an essential condition for achieving a security community as called for by theAstana Commemorative Declaration,Expressing concern about the possible implications for the security situation in CentralAsia of the forthcoming withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)from Afghanistan,Stressing that the Helsinki +40 process must be reinvigorated by making steady, year-by-year progress towards achieving its fundamental goals of building security in the OSCEregion, in particular:i.resolving conflicts,ii.preventing conflictsiii.securing long-term arms reduction andiv.curtailing provocative or threatening military actions,Welcoming, however, the role played by Central Asian participating States throughenhanced co-operation, in particular through the Istanbul Process for a secure and stableAfghanistan, whose latest conference was held in April 2013 in Almaty, Kazakhstan,Convinced that the OSCE can play a vital role thanks to its expertise, especially after theISAF withdrawal, in helping to strengthen the rule of law, security and development andin combating corruption,Concerned about the vulnerability of women in conflicts and post-conflict situations tohuman trafficking because they are likely to be affected by statelessness and reducedeconomic opportunities,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:14.Calls for clarification of the goals and purpose of the Helsinki +40 process by the OSCEChairmanship, in co-operation with the next two chairmanships, whilst informing thepublic about the process to increase the level of interest and transparency;Urges participating States to make use of the Helsinki +40 process to rebuild mutual trustand to combine informal diplomatic dialogue with political engagement from capitals toachieve an agreement on essential updates for the OSCE, and calls upon OSCEparticipating States to take advantage of this process at the political level to reachconcrete decisions on an action plan to achieve an indivisible Euro-Atlantic and Eurasiansecurity community stretching from Vancouver to Vladivostok in line with theDeclaration on Principles Guiding Relations between participating States of the HelsinkiFinal Act of 1975;

In this connection, recommends that participating States incorporate ideas about reformof OSCE decision-making bodies, especially the ones listed in the OSCE PA 2005Colloquium Report, in order to be better able to take the necessary decisions for action;Reiterates the obligation of participating States to provide for democratic oversight oftheir armed, internal, paramilitary and intelligence forces as well as the police, toensure that their armed forces remain politically neutral and to guarantee thatinternational humanitarian law (the Geneva Conventions) is respected;Calls upon OSCE participating States to recognize the importance of democratic controlof armed and security forces and to implement better and develop further the Code ofConduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, a landmark document in security sectorgovernance;Calls on participating States to incorporate ideas about reform of OSCE institutions andinstruments in order to guarantee full implementation of all OSCE documents;Urges the OSCE Secretary General to fulfil the 2004 OSCE Gender Action Plan forthe Promotion of Gender Equality, which includes increased representation of womenas heads and deputy heads of OSCE field missions as well as in the leadership ofOSCE institutions;Calls on the OSCE Permanent Council to incorporate the Assembly’s input and ideas intothe Helsinki +40 process and to consider the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as the mostdirect link to the people of the OSCE region, as a partner in the process;Calls on participating States to continue to monitor their implementation of OSCEcommitments, in all three OSCE security dimensions, including political and militarysecurity and economic and environmental co-operation, and democracy and human rights,and stresses the important role of parliaments in this respect;Welcomes the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty,which seeks to bring transparency to the arms industry and thus ensure respect forinternational humanitarian law, and calls upon parliaments of OSCE participating Statesto take measures necessary to ratify the Treaty so that it can enter into force;Stresses the OSCE role in supporting global efforts to prevent the proliferation ofweapons of mass destruction and related materials and, in particular, its contribution tofacilitating the implementation in the OSCE area of UN Security Council resolution 1540(2004) in close co-ordination with relevant UN structures;Reiterates the need for further updating the Vienna Document in order to increasetransparency and predictability, including lowering the thresholds at which States are

obliged to inform each other of their military exercises, increasing opportunities forverification activity, modernizing and updating the exchange of military information,strengthening risk reduction mechanisms and enlarging the scope of confidence- andsecurity-building measures;26.Supports the OSCE FSC decisions to provide assistance with collection and destructionand improving stockpile management and security, and encourages participating States tofurther request OSCE assistance on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) andammunition;Stresses the importance of the OSCE Documents on Small Arms and Light Weapons andStockpiles of Conventional Ammunition, and of FSC Decision 15/02 committingparticipating States to ensure effective controls of SALW and ammunition;Calls for renewed negotiations on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, andurges all States parties to the Treaty to honour their CFE obligations;Urges OSCE participating States that are parties to the Open Skies Treaty to investigateways of asset sharing in order to allow sufficient financial means for certificationprocesses, training and aerial observation in order to contribute to the furtherdevelopment and strengthening of peace, stability and co-operative security;Recalls that the Open Skies Treaty is a unique measure of confidence, openness andtransparency, and urges OSCE participating States that are parties to this Treaty toovercome as soon as possible the crisis concerning the work of the Open SkiesConsultative Commission, which is detrimental to the functioning of this agreement;Welcomes the Open-Ended Working Group established by the United Nations GeneralAssembly to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations, and thedecision of the Inter- Parliamentary Union to focus in 2013-2014 on “Towards anuclear-weapons-free world: The contribution of parliaments”, and calls on OSCEparticipating States and OSCE parliamentarians to make use of these two opportunitiesto advance multilateral negotiations to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free world;Stresses the need for the rigorous implementation of Vilnius Ministerial Council Decision3/11, Elements of the Conflict Cycle, which would allow the OSCE to enhance itscapabilities in early warning, early action, dialogue facilitation, mediation support andpost-conflict rehabilitation;Calls for intensified political efforts towards generating a peaceful and viable solution tothe unresolved conflicts, urges the OSCE Chairmanship and parties to the conflicts toredouble efforts to find solutions to the tragic protracted conflicts in the Caucasus and theRepublic of Moldova, calls on participating parties to ensure the beginning of the processof de-occupation of the territories of Georgia and recommends agreeing on mechanismsfor the safe and dignified return of all internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Abkhaziaand the Tskhinvali region;

Recalls United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Securityand urges participating States to continue promoting the active participation of womenduring all phases of the conflict cycle;In this connection, reiterates its recommendation to re-establish a meaningful OSCEpresence in Georgia, to maintain the OSCE Office in Baku and to strengthen the OSCEOffice in Yerevan and the OSCE Mission in the Republic of Moldova;Stresses in general the important role of OSCE field operations in areas related to allthree OSCE dimensions, calls for this to be reflected in the political mandates of OSCEfield operations and, in this regard, reiterates the need for the re-establishment of theOSCE presence in Belarus;Calls on the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to continue their engagement with Armeniaand Azerbaijan to seek solutions to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh;Supports the Geneva International Discussions for finding solutions to the consequencesof the 2008 war in Georgia, welcomes the decrease of security-related incidents and thework of the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, encourages theresumption of the activities of the Gali Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism andurges the OSCE to continue its work on confidence- and security-building measures inGeorgia, including through increased engagement with civil society;Supports the principles of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-violability ofinternationally recognized borders of participating States;Urges an immediate implementation of the 2010 OSCE PA Oslo and 2012 OSCE PAMonaco Declarations with regard to fully implementing the EU-brokered ceasefire, aswell as facilitating the voluntary return in safety and dignity of all refugees and internallydisplaced persons (IDPs) from the 2008 war in Georgia;Welcomes the engagement of the Ukrainian Chairmanship and the progress made in theTransdniestrian settlement process, and strongly urges the parties involved in the conflict,as well as outside mediators, to work to maintain momentum and continue direct contactsbetween leaders from Chisinau and Tiraspol;Urges the OSCE to pay close attention to the security situation in Central Asia in the lead-up to the withdrawal of ISAF from Afghanistan and to form a plan to deal with any spill-over effect within field operations, the Conflict Prevention Centre and the TransnationalThreats Department;Urges the OSCE to co-operate closely with other regional and international organizationsin assisting the mitigation of possible security implications of ISAF withdrawal for theCentral Asian region;

Encourages the OSCE to increase its co-operation with participating States in CentralAsia and the Partner for Co-operation Afghanistan, in particular in terms of combatingdrug trafficking and organized crime, which are contributing to instability in the region,but also by supporting key democratic institutions;Urges that any resolution to the protracted conflicts in the OSCE region include thepromotion of the economic rights and empowerment of women;Calls on the OSCE to increase efforts to train border guards and law enforcement agentsin Central Asia to secure borders and prevent terrorism, drug trafficking and extremism,and recommends that the OSCE give greater attention to cross-border co-operation ingeneral as a tool in the conflict cycle;Recalls the OSCE PA 2012 Resolution on the development of OSCE Co-operation withAfghanistan by 2014 and Beyond and the Vilnius Ministerial Council Decision 04/11 of2011 and again invites the OSCE to intensify contact and co-operation with Afghanistanand to help strengthen ties between Afghanistan and the Central Asian States in order toaddress security challenges;Strongly urges participating States and partner States to increase their contributions to co-operation projects in Afghanistan and to support field operations in Central Asia, both intheir work in the three dimensions and in the promotion of OSCE values, standards andcommitments;Reaffirms the need to ensure free and fair presidential elections, continue co-operationbetween ODIHR and Afghanistan and encourage the efforts of independent electoralinstitutions;Stresses that the security of the OSCE area is linked to that of the Mediterranean, requeststhat the OSCE increase engagement with its Mediterranean partners, including byenvisaging the possibility of extending the partnership to those Mediterranean countrieswhich observe its principles, considers that the Parliamentary Assembly should play amore prominent role in this area, and insists on the need to renew and strengthen theMediterranean Forum;Strongly condemns the April terrorist attack in Boston at a sports event which served tobring people together in peace, and calls upon OSCE participating States to unite andincrease international co-operation to fight terrorism in all its forms.

CHAPTER II

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THE

ENVIRONMENT

52.Welcoming the OSCE’s Helsinki +40 process as an opportunity to reflect upon theenduring relevance of the Helsinki Final Act, to take inspiration from the spirit ofco-operation that infused those negotiations 40 years ago, and to reinforce as well asupdate OSCE commitments, particularly in the economic and environmental dimension,Reiterating the central importance attached to the Second Dimension in the Helsinki FinalAct and pointing out that through trade, industry, science and technology, real co-operation manifests itself concretely and pragmatically throughout the OSCE area everyday,Recognizing that there are issues of vital concern today that the original drafters of theHelsinki Final Act could not have anticipated, including the need to develop a common,multi-stakeholder approach to cyber security and Internet freedom, as well as bordersecurity and migration, and economic and environmental activities in the OSCE area,Reiterating the Helsinki Final Act’s recognition that “the protection and improvement ofthe environment” is a task “of major importance to the well-being of peoples and theeconomic development of all countries” and that many environmental problems “can besolved effectively only through close international co-operation”,Recognizing that environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, ocean acidification,air pollution and climate change require world leaders to make compromises at aninternational level, and that in this regard the Helsinki +40 process can serve as apowerful reminder of the spirit of co-operation that brought together East and West in thecontext of the Cold War,Mindful of the 10th anniversary of the adoption by the Ministerial Council in Maastrichtin 2003 of the OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and EnvironmentalDimension and its important role in strengthening the economic and environmentaldimension of the OSCE,Bearing in mind that 2012 was one of the warmest years on record and that, at the globallevel, world leaders face the challenge of advancing a common international plan ofaction to address climate change within the UNFCCC process,Alarmed at the persisting economic recession in Europe and the rapidly risingunemployment, in particular among young people,Drawing attention to the problem of glaciers, which are an important source of freshwater and an indispensable element of nature,7

Troubled that the ongoing economic and financial crisis and the austerity-driven spendingcuts taken as a remedy for this crisis have not had the anticipated positive impact on theoverall economic recovery and have negatively affected, in particular, economicallyvulnerable populations such as women, minorities and migrants,Concerned at the increasing migration and brain drain of highly-skilled young people, inparticular, from the countries of southern Europe, and at the negative impact that adverseeconomic environment factors have on efforts to develop a comprehensive and long-termmigration management strategy,Disturbed that the effects of reckless and non-regulated financial speculation by banksand hedge funds are fuelling food price rises which have disproportionate impact on theglobal poor, and when combined with stagnant wages can be destabilizing to societiesand even deadly,Welcoming innovative approaches to tackle environmental challenges while promotingeconomic growth, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment’s Green Growth Strategy, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and theGlobal Green Growth Institute,Reiterating the OSCE PA’s call in the Monaco Declaration to encourage increasedinvestment in the green economy, the development of energy-saving technologies andrenewable sources of energy, as well as the incorporation of environmentally-friendlymethods of economic activity to assist economic recovery,Welcoming the holding of the OSCE’s second annual Economic and EnvironmentalDimension Implementation Meeting on 16 and 17 October 2012,Commending the work of the OSCE field presences in the areas of energy supplies,energy efficiency, water management and other pressing environmental concerns,Reiterating that water is essential for life and that a suitable supply of high-quality wateris a prerequisite for economic and social progress,Recalling that a study commissioned by the OSCE in 2010 described possible securityimplications of climate change, including the likelihood that it will alter thesocio-economic foundations of society,Stressing that since large cities are responsible for two thirds of global energyconsumption and 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, city governments are wellpositioned to bring about policies that can most swiftly bring about changes that affectmillions of people,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:71.Invites the OSCE and the OSCE participating States to give thorough consideration toissues relating to the economic and environmental dimension within the framework of theHelsinki +40 process in order to further strengthen close and mutually beneficialco-operation aimed at building a genuine Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian securitycommunity;Supports the work of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, recognizing thatincreased urbanization in our region demands effective community planning and masstransit investments which are imperative to address global climate change and ensurefuture quality of life for the majority of our citizens;Welcomes the establishment of the Global Green Growth Institute as a fully-fledgedinternational organization and commends OSCE participating States Denmark, Norwayand the United Kingdom for their leadership in founding this organization and furtherwelcomes the EXPO 2017 in Astana, entitled “Future Energy”;Urges the OSCE and all participating States to consider joining the Global Green GrowthInstitute;Stresses the high potential of the green economy as a major driving force for energyefficiency and security, sustainable economic growth and job creation, poverty reductionand the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals;Urges OSCE parliamentarians and other policymakers to utilize the OECD’s GreenGrowth Strategy, including its Study Papers, which provide concrete recommendationsand measurement tools for achieving economic growth and development, while at thesame time ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the ecosystem services onwhich our well-being relies;Stresses the urgent need to introduce measures for effective growth, with particular focuson small- and medium-sized enterprises as the driving force of the European economy,through incentive-based policies that promote entrepreneurship and innovation, facilitateSME networking and access to global markets, reduce regulatory burdens and red tapeand stimulate employment;Stresses that, at a time when the crisis is causing great difficulties, in particular with therise in unemployment in many countries, all instruments of economic policy aimed atpromoting growth and employment must be used in parallel with the OECD GreenGrowth Strategy;Stresses that green growth strategies should not lead to unequal conditions for economicdevelopment and trade;

Concerned by the risks posed by austerity policies on social peace and security, stressesthat fiscal consolidation must go hand in hand with a sound strategy for growth andemployment;Emphasizes the importance of seeking new paths to economic growth particularly bytaking meaningful measures to combat corruption, improve governance, increaseco-ordination of fiscal policies, and strengthen education and training in the widestpossible range of areas, and promote social cohesion while safeguarding the social,economic and cultural rights of the most vulnerable members of society;Recommends that OSCE participating States introduce financial transaction taxes onstock trading and other financial purchases such as high-frequency trade to help to makeshort-term speculation more expensive and generate significant revenue for individualStates, which is urgently needed to carry out forward-looking projects, promote growthand build a fair economy, and could be used for these purposes;Calls upon OSCE participating States to improve people’s living conditions, and inparticular to include minorities, in order to avoid migration driven by impoverishment inthe OSCE area and beyond and thus ensure that tensions do not arise betweenparticipating States;Recalls the benefits of promoting women’s economic autonomy for the prosperity of theirfamilies and countries, which is achieved by facilitating access to education, training,childcare, credit and financing and legal services, as well as by initiating andimplementing legislation and programmes related to pay equity and employment,particularly in non-traditional sectors;Urges the governments in the OSCE area to ensure, through transnational co-operation,the protection and sustainable use of water, and to fight against land degradation and soilcontamination;Encourages participating States to protect and preserve water resources and glaciers bypreventing the impact of industry and other factors;Calls upon OSCE participating States, in the spirit of Helsinki, to find the necessarypolitical will to make the 19th Conference of the Parties (COP 19) of the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change, taking place in Warsaw on 11-22 November2013, a fruitful meeting that leads to concrete action to address climate change andbinding limits on greenhouse gas emissions;Calls upon the OSCE participating States and the OSCE executive structures to takefurther action to mobilize the provision of financial resources, technology transfer,technical assistance, capacity-building and the advancement of environmentally soundenergy technologies;

Calls for OSCE field operations to receive all the funding they need in order to carry outtheir vital work in the economic and environmental dimension;Points to the need for the OSCE to utilize the Helsinki +40 process in order to furtherstrengthen co-operation with the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, especially inthe economic and environmental dimension, by acting as a dynamic mediator in supportof their efforts to promote growth and attract investment, in line with their appeal at theDublin Ministerial Council;Supports the Ukrainian Chairmanship’s prioritizing of energy efficiency and renewableenergy and environmental aspects of energy security as issues that unite OSCEparticipating States;Invites the OSCE participating States to co-operate closely in establishing technicalknow-how on the use of technologies for new and renewable energy sources;Encourages the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and EnvironmentalActivities and other OSCE executive structures to continue to facilitate a global energytransformation in the OSCE region and to raise awareness of the importance of energy forsustainable development, including the need for the promotion of new and renewablesources of energy and the increased role they can play in energy supplies;Encourages the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and EnvironmentalActivities to publicize the findings of future Economic and Environmental DimensionImplementation Meetings by publishing summaries of the meetings on the Internet;Urges the OSCE to develop confidence-building measures to reduce the risk of cyberconflicts and to promote a culture of cyber security while taking into accountparticipating States’ views on transnational information and communication technology;Endorses an inclusive, transparent, multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governanceissues such as cyber security and cyber crime, online freedom of expression and privacy;Draws attention to the Joint Communication of the Commission and the HighRepresentative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 7 February 2013(“Cybersecurity Strategy of the European Union – An Open, Safe and SecureCyberspace”), as well as the Decision of the Council of Heads of CIS Governments of28 September 2012 “On the strategy of co-operation of the CIS member States inbuilding and developing the information society and the Action Plan for itsimplementation up to 2015;Calls upon OSCE permanent representatives to consider the new challenges of cybersecurity, Internet freedom, border security, migration and climate change in theirdeliberations on the Helsinki +40 process.

CHAPTER III

DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN QUESTIONS

99.Recalling that the 1975 Helsinki Final Act indicates that the participating States recognizethe universal significance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for whichis an essential factor for the peace, justice and well-being necessary to ensure thedevelopment of friendly relations and mutual co-operation among all States,Alarmed at the increasing numbers of refugees, forcibly displaced persons and asylumseekers worldwide, mainly as a result of conflicts and human rights abuses, but also dueto other interconnected negative factors, such as economic hardship, climate change,population growth and food shortages, which are also on the rise,Concerned about the regression of human rights and fundamental freedoms in someOSCE regions, and the continuing non-compliance of some participating States with theirhuman dimension commitments,Recalling that in the 2010 OSCE Astana Declaration the OSCE Heads of State andGovernment emphasized the important role of civil society and the media and agreed thatcommitments in the human dimension need to be fully implemented,Welcoming the Ukrainian Chairmanship’s pledge in connection with Helsinki +40 tocontinue promoting media freedom, reinforcing co-operation with civil society,promoting youth education on human rights issues and combating trafficking in humanbeings,Noting the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly resolution entitled “Implementation of theUnited Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons” adopted at theBelgrade Annual Session in 2011,Recalling the 2012 OSCE PA Monaco Declaration’s call for the OSCE and the OSCE PAto create a civil society board, comprised of representatives of leading NGOs working onOSCE issues,Welcoming the adoption by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe inOctober 2012 of a resolution confirming the definition of political prisoners,Recalling the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly resolutions entitled “Improving ElectionObservation in OSCE participating States” and “Freedom of Movement in the OSCERegion” adopted at the Monaco Annual Session in 2012,Recalling the affirmation in the Monaco Declaration that there should not be any politicalprisoners, retribution on political opponents or selective justice in the OSCE area,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:109.Reiterates its call on all the OSCE participating States to comply fully with theircommitments regarding human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule oflaw;Stresses the universality, indivisibility and interdependence of human rights, which alsomeans that human rights and fundamental freedoms must carry equal weight whendealing with human rights violations resulting from intra- or inter-State conflicts or newor protracted conflicts in the OSCE area;Welcomes the recent constitutional amendments and ongoing judicial reforms in Georgiato ensure a better balance between the executive and legislative branches and strengthenthe independence of the judicial system;Emphasizes that the OSCE relies on the consensus rule but has also adopted tools such asthe Moscow Mechanism, which should be used in response to clear, gross anduncorrected human rights violations as mentioned in the Prague Document on FurtherDevelopment of CSCE Institutions and Structures (30 and 31 January 1992);Stresses that all OSCE activities, including in the the area of the Human Dimension, mustbe carried out in full conformity with the principle of sovereign equality of the OSCEparticipating States and other fundamental principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Actof 1975;Reiterates the important role that parliamentarians play in leading OSCE electionobservation missions and calls on ODIHR to support the leadership of the ParliamentaryAssembly in election observation missions, as called for in the 1997 Co-operationAgreement;Welcomes the decision by the Ukrainian Chairmanship to conduct a comparative analysisof electoral legislations in all OSCE participating States in 2013 and calls upon theOSCE/ODIHR and the OSCE PA to continue this process;Reiterates its call for countries that hold the Chairmanship to fully respect theircommitments regarding human rights and to provide a model example to the OSCEregion;Stresses the urgent need to uphold freedom of the media in the OSCE area and to promotesound interaction between the political system and media representatives so as toencourage good governance and combat corruption through appropriate legislation thatwill ensure journalists’ fundamental human rights and the unimpeded performance oftheir duties, as well as through the fostering of a culture of international standards andethics for journalists;

Calls upon the OSCE to monitor human rights in participating States and to act swiftlywhen States do not comply with their commitments in that regard;Encourages the Ukrainian Chairmanship to continue efforts to reform the HumanDimension and to increase participation of civil society, the public and the media in keymeetings and in the decision-making process;Calls on the Ukrainian Chairmanship to remind all OSCE participating States of theirobligation to promote, and not impede, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freeelections and free NGO activity, and to combat, and not promote, hate speech,persecution and mistreatment of imprisoned persons;Strongly encourages participating States to benefit from the Helsinki +40 process topromote the Human Dimension values at the core of the Helsinki Final Act;Stresses the utmost relevance of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education andTraining as a valuable tool for OSCE field activities at all stages of the Conflict Cycle,and calls upon participating States to enhance efforts in this domain, in accordance withthe relevant OSCE guidelines,inter alia,through appropriate human rights educationpolicies that will guarantee citizens’ rights to information and knowledge and theireffective participation in democratic societies;Urges the OSCE participating States to adopt the programmes, agendas and dates ofhuman dimension events in an efficient and timely manner so that serious substantivepreparations and adequate participation are made possible;Strongly urges participating States to co-operate with international institutions such as theOSCE in allowing delegations to visit political prisoners, as well as to release andexonerate all political prisoners;Regrets the escalation of decisions directly or indirectly relating to the Magnitsky affair,which are overshadowing the human rights issue and have been the subject of recentparliamentary debates in Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom, demands that theresponsibilities and unknown facts surrounding the case be determined once and for alland requests parliaments to continue to follow up the case;Calls for enhanced international co-operation on increasing humanitarian assistance torefugees and internally displaced persons and effectively addressing the many humanrights challenges associated with migration and the protection of the most vulnerablegroups in particular, in accordance with relevant OSCE Human Dimensionrecommendations;Calls on parliamentarians to promote the ratification of the 2000 Protocol to Prevent,Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, as well asthe United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the 2005Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings;

Recalls the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons adopted in 2010and calls upon the OSCE executive structures and participating States to contribute to itssuccessful implementation;Invites all participating States to take action regarding education and raising awareness ofthe issue of human trafficking and to co-operate fully with the OSCE SpecialRepresentative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings andrelevant OSCE structures and Institutions, including Field Operations;Invites all participating States to develop and implement a national action plan to helpcombat human trafficking through the co-ordination of policies and actions byGovernment and Non-Government bodies and through education and raising awarenessof the issue of human trafficking;Calls on all participating States to establish special anti-trafficking units (comprising bothmen and women) with advanced training in investigating offences involving sexualexploitation, forced labour, child trafficking, and/or trafficking for the purpose of theorgan trade, in order to ensure that the response of participating States to the trafficking inhuman beings is effective and equates to the scale and scope of the problem in a givenparticipating State;Strongly encourages participating States to implement a counter-trafficking databasewithin each anti-trafficking unit which would allow each participating State to collect andanalyse data on the causes, processes, trends and consequences of trafficking within agiven participating State, as well as to establish a national rapporteur or a similar nationalmonitoring and reporting mechanism to ensure data collection, analysis and public debateon the efficiency of anti-trafficking measures;Reiterates the need to include civil society, the public and the media in HumanDimension events;Calls upon the OSCE PA and the OSCE PA delegations to include human rights NGOs,think tanks and academic institutes in their efforts to better monitor the implementation ofOSCE commitments in the fields of human rights, democracy and rule of law;Urges the Governments of the participating States to meet their commitments in full withregard to freedom of movement and the promotion of human contacts and to furtherstrengthen co-operation between the relevant bodies and institutions with a view topromoting greater freedom of movement of persons across borders and ultimatelyabolishing visa regimes throughout the OSCE region;Opposes attempts to downgrade or eliminate OSCE field operations by host Governmentsthat continue to violate their OSCE commitments in significant ways and are in clearneed of field operations based on existing mandates;

Expects that Parliamentarians will adopt measures to protect workers’ rights to avoid aworsening situation for the rights of women, migrants (both women and men) andchildren and to prevent human trafficking for labour exploitation, and calls on diplomatsand parliamentarians to set an example by ensuring the respect of these rights whenapplicable;Calls on the participating States to respect and implement the UN Convention on theRights of the Child, in particular, article 19 on oppression, abuse or other forms ofmaltreatment of children and, in order to protect our children, calls on the participatingStates to enforce a legal ban on hitting children, in line with regulations in force in11 European Union Member States;Calls for the creation of mechanisms to remedy the consequences of ethnic cleansingreferred to in OSCE, Council of Europe and UN documents and ODIHR assessments, andbetter instruments for the protection of internally displaced persons, refugees and personswith humanitarian status and, in this regard, calls for the implementation of all OSCEdocuments;Stresses the importance of encouraging a gender-balanced policy in participating Statesand the adoption of legal and implementation measures to ensure equality between menand women;Calls for an increase in funding and support for OSCE/ODIHR activities in the field offundamental freedoms, in particular in the area of democratic development, human rights,tolerance and non-discrimination and the rule of law, in accordance with the mandateprovided in the 1992 Helsinki Document;Reiterates its call to OSCE participating States to ensure access to justice and the right toa fair trial, as well as freedom of expression, including for journalists, bloggers and civilsociety activists;Calls upon the two remaining OSCE participating States still practising capitalpunishment, Belarus and the United States, to adopt a moratorium on all executions,leading to the complete abolition of the death penalty;Calls on participating States to ensure access to justice for all those detained, and toensure that people are not detained indefinitely, under arduous conditions and withoutadequate legal counsel;Calls on Ukraine to respect international standards for judicial independence, impartiality,transparency and justice, including in the case of former Prime MinisterYulia Tymoshenko, a target of selective justice, whose arrest was not only politicallymotivated but also illegal, as evidenced by the recent ruling of the European Court ofHuman Rights;

Regrets that some OSCE participating States, including Belarus, the Russian Federationand Ukraine, continue to abuse the Interpol system by seeking the arrest of opponents onpolitically motivated charges, including but not limited to the cases of Mr. Petr Silaev,Mr. William Browder, Mr. Ilya Katsnelson, Mr. Ales Michalevic and Mr. BohdanDanylyshyn;Calls on Interpol to continue reforms to improve its oversight mechanisms for detectingattempts to misuse its systems by OSCE participating States whose judicial systems donot meet international standards, and to enable individuals unjustly targeted by politicallymotivated charges to speedily expose and end this abuse of Interpol;Calls on participating States to adopt decisions stating that internationally recognizedfreedoms such as of expression (both offline and online), assembly, association andreligion do not change with new technologies and must be respected regardless of futuretechnological advances;Recognizes the growing opportunities for exercising freedom of expression andinformation on the Internet and the need to be attentive to any attempts by participatingStates to restrict it;Underlines the importance of the fundamental rights of minorities in Turkey andexpresses concern at the increasing intolerance regarding ethnicity, minority languagesand religions in the region;Reiterates its call for the Ministerial Council to adopt full, effective and long-termmandates for OSCE field operations;Recalls the principles enshrined in the Resolution on the Situation in Georgia adopted inMonaco in 2012, welcomes the first ever peaceful electoral change of power, stresses theimportance of the rule of law, calls upon the Government of Georgia to refrain from theapplication of selective justice and expresses concern at the pre-trial detention ofVano Merabishvili, former Prime Minister of Georgia and a likely presidential contender;Strongly urges the Permanent Council to reopen the field missions in Belarus andGeorgia, clearly prescribing the principle of the territorial integrity of participating States.

RESOLUTION ON

ENHANCING TRUST, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

WITHIN THE OSCE INSTITUTIONS

1.Considering that frequent contact and thorough dialogue between parliamentarians of theOSCE Participating States are essential to strengthen and propagate the Helsinki idealsand commitments throughout the OSCE area,Considering that enhancing trust between OSCE participating States also requiresincreased parliamentary dialogue within the OSCE area and more parliamentary oversightof OSCE institutions, policies, practices and achievements in order to increase theirtransparency and accountability,Recalling that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is the natural forum forinterparliamentary dialogue on OSCE issues, policies and practices within the OSCEarea,Regretting that the current status of the OSCE PA does not allow it to approve the budgetand the appointment of the Secretary General of the OSCE, nor to formally oversee itsSecretariat and its field presences,Observing that the current status of the OSCE PA results in a democratic deficit withinOSCE institutions,Recognizing that the consensus rule concerning the budget, personnel and generaladministrative issues often paralyzes or handicaps the smooth functioning of the OSCEand reduces its transparency,

Encourages the OSCE PA to, in particular, increase its oversight of OSCE field presences,in order to strengthen them;Recommends, generally speaking, that the OSCE PA be closely associated to OSCEdecision-shaping and decision-making processes to provide the decision making bodiesand the Secretariat with a larger variety of inputs, and to enhance its members’ capacitiesto report about OSCE issues and policies in their national Parliaments;Recommends in this regard that the OSCE PA actively participates in the Helsinki + 40process launched under the Ukrainian Presidency;Encourages the OSCE PA to increase its dialogue and co-operation with the PA of theCouncil of Europe, the European Parliament and the NATO PA on topics of commoninterest, especially in the economic and environmental dimensions, human rights andelection observations in the OSCE area;Strongly reiterates its proposal to the Ministerial Council to modify the consensus rulefor decisions related to personnel, budget and administration, and indeed repeats that, if aparticipating State wishes to block or hold up consensus, it should do so openly anddefend its position in public;Further calls on the OSCE to make the proceedings of the Permanent Council moretransparent to the public, including through live-streaming on the Internet.

RESOLUTION ON

TRAFFICKING VICTIM WATCHFULNESS: PLANES,

TRAINS, BUSES, AND HOTELS

1.Recalling the resolutions on human trafficking adopted by the OSCE ParliamentaryAssembly in St. Petersburg (1999), Oslo (2010), Belgrade (2011), and Monaco (2012), aswell as efforts by participating States to implement the OSCE Action Plan to CombatTrafficking in Human Beings (2003 and 2005) and all OSCE commitments related tocombating human trafficking,Recognizing that according to the International Labour Organization, nearly 21 millionpeople are enslaved at any given time, most of whom are women and children,Aware that some 600,000 to 800,000 trafficking victims are moved across internationalborders each year, often on commercial airplanes, trains and buses, where they come intocontact with transportation professionals,Commending non-governmental organizations, such as Airline Ambassadors andInnocents at Risk, which have developed trafficking victim identification training fortransportation professionals,Commending non-governmental organizations such as ECPAT and The Global BusinessCoalition Against Human Trafficking for developing anti-trafficking guidelines andproviding resources to businesses, including commercial carriers, hotels, and travelreservation companies to prevent the use of these businesses for human trafficking,Commending airlines such as Delta and American Airlines, British Airways and VirginAtlantic, as well as train service providers such as Amtrak, which have begun humantrafficking prevention activities,Noting United States government efforts to create airline-specific anti-trafficking training,including the Department of Homeland Security Blue Lightning program,Commending hotel chains and travel groups, such as Accor, Carlson, Hilton Worldwide,Hotelplan Suisse, Wyndham, Sabre Holdings Corporation, Kuoni Travel, and many othersthat have committed to prevent the use of their businesses for human trafficking,Welcoming the outcomes of the High-Level meeting of the United Nations GeneralAssembly on the review of the implementation of the United Nations Global Plan ofAction to Combat Trafficking in Persons held on 13 and 14 May 2013 atUN Headquarters, which has contributed to better co-ordination of international efforts inthe global fight against trafficking in human beings and protection of the victims,

Commending the efforts of the current OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office to implementcommercial carrier training in Ukraine and to host the Kyiv high-level conference in June2013 on “Strengthening the OSCE Response to Trafficking in Human Beings”,Recognizing that effective intervention in suspected human trafficking on airplanes,trains, and buses requires coordination between commercial carriers and law enforcementin order to develop a reporting protocol and rapid response,Recognizing that national trafficking hotlines facilitate the rescue and assistance oftrafficking victims and that regional anti-trafficking hotlines would be particularly usefulfor facilitating the rescue and assistance of trafficking victims travelling betweenparticipating States on regional commercial carriers,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:13.Urges OSCE participating States and invites other relevant international, regional andsubregional organizations to contribute within their respective mandates to the full andeffective implementation of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons,above all through better co-operation and improved co-ordination;Calls upon OSCE participating States to address the problem of demand, which drivestrafficking in persons for all forms of exploitation, with a view to eliminating suchdemand and, to that end, to enhance preventive measures, including of a legislativenature, to deter exploiters of the victims and ensure that they are held accountable;Calls on OSCE participating States to collaborate with commercial carriers, adoptinglegislation where necessary, in order to ensure that flight attendants, pilots, ground crew,train conductors, bus operators, and any other transportation professionals who may comeinto contact with a trafficking victim are trained to identify the victim and respondaccording to a protocol established with law enforcement;Calls on OSCE participating States to collaborate with hotel and travel industryprofessionals, adopting legislation where necessary, to ensure the use of best practices forthe prevention and identification of human trafficking in hotels and other travelaccommodations;Calls on OSCE participating States to facilitate appropriate law enforcementco-ordination with transportation, hotel, and travel industry professionals in order toensure appropriate intervention and referrals to care for suspected human traffickingvictims;Requests that the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit examine ways in which the OSCEcan assist participating States in combating the use of commercial carriers, hotels, andother travel accommodations for the transportation or exploitation of human traffickingvictims;

Calls on any OSCE participating State which has not already done so to sign theUN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, which requires“states to adopt legislative or other appropriate measures to prevent means of transportoperated by commercial carriers from being used in the commission of offences…”;Encourages the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator forCombating Trafficking in Human Beings, with input from the OSCE Strategic PoliceMatters Unit as appropriate, to guide participating States on best practices in victimidentification as well as protocols for law enforcement intervention and referral to care inhuman trafficking on commercial carriers and in hotels or other travel accommodation;Urges those participating States that have not done so to establish national traffickinghotlines and to consider regional trafficking hotlines for reporting potential traffickingvictims travelling on regional commercial carriers.

RESOLUTION ON

THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN SYRIA

1.Recalling the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, in which the participating States recognized theuniversal significance of human rights and fundamental freedoms as an essential factorfor the peace, justice and well-being necessary to ensure the development of friendlyrelations and co-operation among themselves as well as among all States,Bearing in mind its resolution of 2012 Fall Meetings in Tirana on the developments of theTurkish-Syrian Border,Appreciating the neighbouring countries for keeping their borders open and providinghumanitarian assistance to Syrians fleeing from the violence in their country,Highlighting that in the absence of a sustainable political transition in accordance withthe legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, extremism and radicalism would takedeeper root in the country,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:5.Urges the end to brute force against civilians and systematic violations of internationallaw, particularly the use of ballistic missiles and other heavy weaponry;Reminds the OSCE participating States of their responsibility to uphold human rights,fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law, and therefore urges participatingStates to unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms the crimes against humanitycommitted in Syria;Reaffirms the international community's commitment to a Syrian-led political transitionfor a democratic system based on constitutional equality where all citizens of Syria willenjoy the fundamental rights and freedoms regardless of their ethnic, religious orsectarian background;Underscores the urgent need to immediately stop cross-border aerial and artillery attackstargeting neighbouring countries of Syria;Urges the international community, and the UN Security Council in particular, to takedecisive and urgent action with a view to fulfilling its primary responsibilities in terms ofsafeguarding international and regional peace, security and stability;Urges the international community to provide urgent financial support to the hostcountries of refugees to enable them to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of theSyrians and affected communities in accordance with the principle of burden sharing;

Strongly encourages the participating States to increase their humanitarian assistance andto collaborate with relevant international institutions in order not only to alleviate thesufferings of the people of Syria, but also to share the burden of the neighbouring statesof Syria;Endorses the continued appeals of the UN Secretary General to the regime for unfetteredaccess to Syria for the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission without further delay andany pre-conditions to probe the alleged use of chemical weapons;Emphasizes that a credible and comprehensive inquiry requires full access to the siteswhere chemical weapons are reportedly used;Reaffirms its commitment to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence ofSyria;Reiterates the important role that parliamentarians can play in raising awareness anddeveloping tangible responses, in conformity with the scale and scope of thehumanitarian catastrophe taking place in Syria.

RESOLUTION ON

INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

1.Desirous that a child, for the full development of his or her personality, should grow up ina family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love, and understanding,Understanding the necessity to take appropriate measures to keep the child with his or herbirth family but, where that is not possible, to place the child with a substitute family inthe child’s country of origin for the purposes of upbringing,Acknowledging that intercountry adoption may offer the advantages of a permanentfamily to a child if a suitable family cannot be found for the child in his or her country oforigin,Affirming the sovereign prerogatives and responsibilities of participating States to permit,prohibit, restrict, or otherwise regulate the practice of intercountry adoptions consistentwith international norms and commitments,Concerned that the political volatility of intercountry adoptions can have a deterringeffect on the willingness of prospective adoptive parents to commit the substantialemotional and other resources required to pursue an intercountry adoption, thusincreasing the likelihood that more children will be deprived of the happiness, love, andunderstanding of a family,Sensitive to the fact that a child who is unable to grow up with his or her birth family hassuffered loss, rejection, abandonment, neglect, or abuse and that, in all matters relating tothe placement of a child outside the care of his or her own parents, the best interests ofthe child, particularly his or her need for affection and right to security and continuingcare, should be the paramount consideration and every effort should be made to spare thechild further disappointment and harm,Recognizing the bond that forms rapidly between a child and prospective adoptiveparents during the adoption process but before a legal parent-child relationship has beeneffected,Convinced that this bond forms the foundation of a nascent family and that such a familyis worthy of the recognition, respect, and protection of participating States,

Urges participating States to resolve differences, disputes, and controversies related tointercountry adoptions in a positive and humanitarian spirit with special attention beinggiven to avoid any general, indiscriminate disruption of intercountry adoptions already inprogress that could jeopardize the best interests of the child, harm the nascent family, ordeter prospective adoptive parents from pursuing an intercountry adoption;Requests the OSCE take the necessary steps in a Ministerial Council decision, possibly inthe context of existing human dimension commitments concerning family reunification,to clarify the issue of safeguarding, on a collective basis, the nascent family formedwhere an intercountry adoption is well-advanced.

RESOLUTION ON

FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA

1.Emphasizing that it is essential to promote freedom of thought and expression, andattaching great importance to freedom of the media, freedom to demonstrate,participation in democratic elections and the principles of justice,Recalling that freedom of the media is a prerequisite for democracy and a basic conditionfor the progress of society and the development of each individual person,Bearing in mind article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which statesthat “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includesfreedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impartinformation and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”,Bearing in mind article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which statesthat “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom tohold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference bypublic authority (…)”,Bearing in mind article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,which provides that the freedom and pluralism of the media must be respected,Bearing in mind the calls by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media toensure freedom of expression and freedom of the media,Denouncing the inadmissible situation in which numerous journalists are victims ofviolence, threats and imprisonment for no other reason than that they are exercising theirprofession,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:8.Reaffirms the crucial importance of freedom of speech, press and information in everysociety, because these freedoms are an indispensable tool for guaranteeing theeffectiveness and credibility of democracy in the OSCE participating States;Reaffirms its demand for the right freely to establish independent media, for guaranteesthat media professionals can exercise that right without fearing for their jobs or theirlives, and for measures to facilitate their activities;Urges the authorities in all OSCE participating States to make firm commitments toprevent the erosion of those freedoms and the climate of impunity that in some cases hasled to journalists being threatened or abducted;

RESOLUTION ON

THE ROLE OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

IN POST-CONFLICT REHABILITATION SCENARIOS

1.Recognizing the historic role played by the OSCE under Chapter VIII of the UnitedNations Charter in the peaceful settlement of conflicts and in the promotion of security inits area of influence,Considering the OSCE’s vast experience in prevention, analysis, early warning, reaction,promotion of dialogue, support of mediation, establishment of a security environment,post-conflict rehabilitation, stabilization, confidence-building and reconstruction, namely,in all stages of a crisis cycle,Recalling successive documents which have shaped the OSCE’s analysis in the field ofpost-conflict rehabilitation, from the Budapest Document of December 1994, up to andincluding the OSCE’s Strategy to Address Threats to Security and Stability in theTwenty-First Century of 2003,Also recalling United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace andSecurity and the need to promote the active participation of women during all phasesof the conflict cycle,Fully aware of the OSCE’s already comprehensive range of activities in post-conflictperiods, such as the restoration of institutionality, judicial and electoral reforms, humanrights empowerment, handling of inter-ethnic conflicts, educational reforms, protection ofthe rights of national minorities and economic recovery,Considering the framework of Decision No 3/11 by the Ministerial Council, Elements ofthe Conflict Cycle, adopted in Vilnius, and the tasking of the Secretary General to draft aproposal on how to make better use of the possible contributions of the OSCEParliamentary Assembly in developing a more effective response to emerging crisis andconflict situations,Acknowledging the essential and specialized role played in this respect by the ConflictPrevention Centre, both in practical terms and in the reflection on these matters, by itselfand together with interested participating States,Also considering the experience of the Non-Military Confidence-Building Measures(CBMs), despite being aware of their limitations,Considering likewise the Resolution adopted at the OSCE PA’s Annual Session of 2012in Monaco on “Enhancing Cross-border Co-operation Policies in Post-ConflictScenarios”,

Bearing in mind the adoption by all regional integration international systems of thepolitical paradigms of the principle of subsidiarity and multilevel governance,Acknowledging that local and regional authorities of all States represent at the same timethe interests of their electors and the presence of the relevant State in their territories; thatthey enjoy political legitimacy, as well as being close to the problems of their towns andgeographical areas; that they enjoy a well-deserved moral authority over their neighboursand civil society in their constituencies; that they play a growing role as economic anddevelopment agents; and that they have a practical and day-to-day knowledge on thefeelings and opinions of their administered subjects,Considering that all these special features of local and regional authorities represent anenormous heritage of legitimacy and efficiency with a view to a peaceful resolution ofconflict situations and to the implementation of rehabilitation post-conflict policies,without detriment to State competences in foreign affairs,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:13.Recommends that participating States assess the role that can be played by local and/orregional authorities in the realistic and on-the-ground enforcement of the high-levelinternational or bilateral agreements for the stabilisation and normalisation of the lives ofpeoples in the areas having suffered recent conflicts;Recommends that participating States engage local and/or regional authorities in thedesign, implementation and follow-up to the confidence-building and post-conflictrehabilitation measures affecting their territories, so that their authority contributes toreinforcing the social legitimacy of such measures in a context in which the populationmay be reluctant in cases of recent conflicts;Recommends that, in their engagement with local authorities, participating States andrelevant OSCE structures encourage women’s full and active participation in post-conflict rehabilitation and take steps to ensure that the opinions, needs andcontributions of women and girls are taken into account;Recommends to participating States that the involvement of local and/or regionalauthorities be especially taken into account in conflicts related to borders or those thathave a border component, so that the aforementioned authorities, under the supervision ofthe national ones, can co-operate with those of a neighbouring country in the setting up ofeconomic and human bonds, thus reducing the possibility of new conflicts;Recommends that participating States and relevant centralized and decentralized OSCEstructures resort to the expertise obtained thanks to the involvement in post-conflictrehabilitation of the local and/or regional authorities, that they spread this expertise andincorporate it in their analysis tools with a view to its eventual implementation indifferent geographical areas.

RESOLUTION ON

ENLARGING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH NON-MEMBER

MEDITERRANEAN STATES TO INCLUDE

THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY

1.Bearing in mind that at the UN General Assembly of Thursday 29 November 2012, thePresident of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, obtained recognitionof the State of Palestine as a non-member observer State,Bearing in mind that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe granted thePalestinian National Council “Partner for Democracy” status on 4 October 2011,Recalling that UNESCO recognized the Palestinian National Authority on 31 October2011,Noting the ongoing political upheaval in the Middle East region and acknowledging theimportance of reinforcing the OSCE partnership with neighbouring Mediterraneancountries in a context of respect for the rule of law and human rights,Emphasizing the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s interest in relations with theMediterranean region, as shown by the Parliamentary Assembly Conference on theMediterranean (Madrid, 2002) and the subsequent Mediterranean Forums,Recalling the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (1990), which aims to “promotefavourable conditions for a harmonious development and diversification of relations withthe non-participating Mediterranean States”,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:7.Calls upon the OSCE to grant the status of Mediterranean Partner for Co-operation to theState of Palestine, following the Palestinian Authority’s request of November 2004;Calls on the Standing Committee of the OSCE PA, with a view to subsequent referralto the OSCE Ministerial Council, to define and grant an appropriate status to theLegislative Council of Palestine so that its representatives may participate in the workof the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly;Stresses the importance of building two independent, viable and stable States within aframework of mutual recognition by all actors that guarantees the safety of thepopulation of both States;

Urges the OSCE participating States and the six Mediterranean Partners for Co-operationto initiate a constructive dialogue on peace in the Middle East within the framework ofthe OSCE;Stresses the substantial input that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly can have inachieving a greater outreach for the OSCE in the Middle East and recognizes in thisrespect the need to upgrade the work of its Mediterranean Forum, including throughinitiatives which aim at facilitating contacts and dialogue between Israeli andPalestinian parliamentarians, with their mutual consent and in synergy with otherparliamentary organizations active in this field.

RESOLUTION ON

TRANSDNIESTRIAN SETTLEMENT PROCESS

1.Recalling the previous resolutions of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly addressing theissue of Transdniestrian settlement, adopted during earlier Annual Sessions,Reaffirming that the existence of an unsettled conflict in the Transdniestrian region of theRepublic of Moldova continues to pose a serious threat to security and stability in Europeand the OSCE area,Reaffirming the OSCE commitments to finding a peaceful and sustainable solution to theTransdniestrian conflict through the 5+2 negotiations process,Recalling the Statement of the OSCE Ministerial Council on the Negotiations on theTransdniestrian Settlement Process in the 5+2 Format adopted in Dublin on 7 December2012,Recognizing the progress in the conflict negotiations achieved since the resumption of thesettlement talks in the 5+2 format in 2011 with the efforts of the mediators from theRussian Federation, Ukraine and the OSCE, as well as the European Union and theUnited States as observers,Recognizing that a broad support among the parliamentary forces and society on bothbanks of the Dniester/Nistru is an important element for a viable and sustainablesettlement of the Transdniestrian conflict,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:7.Considers that identification of special legal status for the Transdniestrian region in thecomposition of the Republic of Moldova while consolidating and ensuring thesovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within itsinternationally recognized borders constitutes the major aim of the Transdniestrianconflict settlement process;Expresses its conviction that confidence building between both banks of theDniester/Nistru, ensuring sustainable socio-economic growth in the region as well asfurther development of the civil society institutions and safeguarding of the rule of law,human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with norms and principles ofinternational law are key components of the conflict settlement;Recognizes the opportunities offered by Ukraine’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2013for achieving further progress in the Transdniestrian settlement, taking into account therole of Ukraine as immediate neighbour and mediator in the 5+2 negotiation process;

Endorses the commitment expressed by the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship to achieveprogress in the Transdniestrian settlement, and in this regard commends the visit of theOSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mr. LeonidKozhara to the Republic of Moldova in January 2013;Encourages all political forces on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru to contributeconstructively to the Transdniestrian settlement process and to support continuity in thedialogue between the sides at all levels;Expresses concern over the recent incidents in the Security Zone and urges all sides tointensify their efforts with regard to confidence- and security-building measures and torefrain from unilateral steps which may lead to deterioration of the security situation inthe region;Welcomes the efforts aimed at facilitating a parliamentary dialogue between members ofthe Moldovan Parliament and representatives of the Transdniestrian Supreme Soviet;Calls upon all sides to exercise an inclusive approach and to engage with civil society andwith media to promote the idea of conflict settlement and to raise awareness of theongoing process;Calls upon all participants of the 5+2 negotiation process to co-operate closely and tointensify their co-ordinated efforts in advancing the negotiations on all three baskets ofthe agreed agenda: socio-economic issues, general legal and humanitarian issues andhuman rights, and comprehensive settlement, including institutional, political andsecurity issues;Recognizes the important stabilizing role played by the existing peacekeeping operationin the region and recalls that in the Moscow statement of 18 March 2009 all sides calledfor transformation of the existing operation into a peace-guaranteeing operation underOSCE auspices in the context of the Transdniestrian settlement;Reiterates its commitment to supporting the important work done by the OSCE Missionto the Republic of Moldova;Reiterates the readiness of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Parliamentary Team onMoldova to support peace, stability and the rule of law in the country, including throughthe support of political dialogue in the Transdniestrian settlement process.

RESOLUTION ON

CYBER SECURITY

1.Recalling that in the contemporary world modern information societies dependsignificantly on cyberspace – an electronic environment including products, services andinformation,Recognizing the fact that cyber attacks in any form have become a serious security threat,which cannot be ignored or underestimated,Underlining that insecurity in our common cyberspace is an obstacle for further economicdevelopment, innovation and social prosperity,Recognizing that cyber attacks can be a society-wide challenge, including governments,private companies, non-governmental organizations and private Internet users, becausethey may destabilize society, jeopardize the availability of public services and thefunctioning of vital state infrastructure,Reiterating that any country that relies extensively on cyberspace might be influenced bycyber attacks the same way as by conventional acts of aggression,Stressing that meeting the new demands of the changed security environment is not onlya challenge for those countries directly affected by the new situation but a challenge forevery single country in the world,Recognizing that the continuing globalization and interoperability of information systemswill make cyberspace even more vulnerable and that the new security techniques andstrategies may not respond sufficiently to this increased vulnerability,Noting that the Internet has always been fuelled by policies that promote the free flow ofinformation and that protect human rights and foster innovation, creativity, and economicgrowth,Convinced that the OSCE could play a useful role in providing a platform for policymakers, relevant experts and other stakeholders by broadening the discussion on cybersecurity,Acknowledging that countering cyber threats requires a significant increase of assets interms of improving awareness, training, and investments in technology as well asadvancing conceptual and doctrinal approaches,Welcoming the discussions in international forum on how to respond effectively to theabuse of cyberspace for espionage, criminal, terrorist and military purposes and the

discussions and decisions initiated by NATO, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council ofEurope, and elsewhere,12.Recognizing that cyber security has become a matter of substantial concern to,inter alia,the Council of Europe, the EU, NATO and the UN General Assembly,Reaffirming the role of the OSCE as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of theUN Charter and a key instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisismanagement and post-conflict rehabilitation in its area,Reiterating its concern over the persistence of cyber attacks in various places of theOSCE area,Recognizing the previous work done in the OSCE with respect to various aspects ofcyber-security, in particular the OSCE Informal Working Group Established byPC Decision 1039, tasked to elaborate a set of draft confidence-building measures(CBMs) to enhance interstate co-operation, transparency, predictability and stability andto reduce the risks of misperception, escalation and conflict that may stem from the use ofinformation and telecommunication technologies (ICT),Underlining the urgent need for the international community to increase co-operation andinformation exchange in the field of cyber security, because only with joint andco-ordinated efforts is it possible to effectively respond to the threats originating fromcyberspace,Stressing that the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime of 2001 is the onlylegally binding multilateral instrument specifically addressing the computer-relatedcrime, but it has been ratified or acceded to by 39 states only,Welcoming the fact that several OSCE participating States have already developed andadopted countermeasures against various kinds of cyber threats, and noting however thecountermeasures have been mostly internal and cannot be effective in the worldwide-networked environment,Emphasizing the commitment of OSCE participating states to respect and foster theprinciples of international law,

Maintains that the results of a cyber attack against vital state infrastructure do not differin nature from that of a conventional act of aggression;Notes that cyberspace has been an environment to promote the free flow of information,to foster innovation and economic growth and should remain so;Calls upon OSCE participating States to promote and facilitate access to the Internet andinternational co-operation aimed at the development of media and information andcommunications facilities in all countries;Urges the parliamentarians of OSCE participating States to intensify their efforts inconvincing the parliaments and governments in their countries that threats originatingfrom cyberspace are one of the most serious security challenges of present time, whichcan jeopardize the way of life of modern societies and civilization as a whole;Urges Governments to take a leading role in defending a free and safe cyberspace,unequivocally condemn cyber attacks and seek common effective solutions to protectcyberspace from misuse and malicious activities;Notes the OSCE’s efforts made to increase transparency and stability and to reduce risksstemming from cyberspace;Urges OSCE participating States to use its comprehensive and cross-dimensionalapproach to security and to continue its efforts on the development of CBMs in cybersecurity;Stresses the need to tackle cyber threats without undermining fundamental rights andfreedoms, and that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online,in particular freedom of expression;Urges OSCE participating States and all other members of the international community toconsider joining the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime and follow itsprovisions;Urges OSCE participating States to consider joining also the Council of EuropeConvention on the Prevention of Terrorism, which offers additional instruments forpreventing cyber attacks by terrorist groups and use of the Internet for terrorist purposes;Draws attention to the need to study existing legal acts concerning cyber security and tofind supplementary means, including harmonization of the relevant legislation of States,to make international co-operation in the field of cyber security more efficient;Urges all parties involved to search, in good faith, for negotiated solutions in the field ofcyber security in order to achieve a comprehensive and lasting settlement which shall bebased on the norms and principles of international law;

Calls upon all parties to make full use of available dialogue mechanisms and formats in aconstructive spirit;Supports all efforts to enhance information exchange on relevant experiences and bestpractices, also involving relevant actors from the private sector and civil society, and toestablish public-private partnerships in this regard;Encourages OSCE participating States to develop, adopt and implement national actionplans on cyber security;Urges OSCE participating States to adopt anticipatory measures in order to preventsecurity incidents, and to increase the security awareness of information andcommunication technology users;Welcomes the proposal to hold a conference or a round-table for OSCE parliamentarians,taking into account and building on previously held OSCE events related to variousaspects of cyber security, and to gain, through the help of experts, detailed information onall relevant aspects of the issue;Asks the representatives of OSCE participating States to forward this resolution to thegovernments and parliaments of their countries.

RESOLUTION ON

THE ARCTIC

1.2.Taking note of the OSCE PA’s 2010 Oslo Declaration Resolution on the Arctic,Taking note of the development in the Arctic Region as a zone of peace and stability,where solutions to challenges are found through co-operative relationships and good will,in a peaceful manner,Acknowledging an ever-changing Arctic and the need for further strengthenedco-operation in the fields of environmental and civil security, and being aware thatmaritime safety requires broad regional and international collaboration,Noting the substantial progress that has been made to strengthen Arctic co-operation, andacknowledging the leadership of the Arctic Council in taking concrete action to respondto new challenges and opportunities,Acknowledging that responsible development of the rich natural resources of theArctic is vital in building sustainable Arctic societies,Recognizing that climate change in the region might lead to the need for more crisismanagement in extreme weather situations and adaptation to a new climate,Welcoming that co-operation in the Arctic is characterised by a low level of conflict and abroad mutual understanding, in spite of considerable challenges,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:8.Urges participating States to support the Arctic Council’s Kiruna Declaration, andencourages further co-operation within the framework of the Arctic Council;Encourages involved parties to continue activities and co-operation in the Arcticaccording to international law, including UN-conventions and other internationalagreements;Urges participating States to support the ongoing work of the International MaritimeOrganization to develop a mandatory polar code on shipping;Urges participating States to be aware of the fact that the economic potential of theArctic, as well as new routes of transport, have opened up for new types of strategic andsecurity policy opportunities and challenges, and that these challenges of overlappingclaims might be a future security risk.

RESOLUTION ON

GUANTANAMO

1.Welcoming the decision of the American administration to close the Guantanamodetention facility,Acknowledging the position of the States that have already received former detainees orhave promised to do so,Underlining the difficulties of implementation which the American Administration has toface, which are responsible for the delay of the effective closing of Guantanamo,Recalling that the Guantanamo facility still includes over 160 prisoners,Recalling the commitment and work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly regarding thesituation of the Guantanamo detainees,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:6.7.8.Calls for the permanent closing of this detention facility as soon as possible;Supports the United States Administration in its will to close the detention facility;Encourages participating States to receive detainees who have been cleared for releaseand who are clearly unable to return to their country of origin, where there are substantialgrounds for believing that they would be in danger of being subjected to torture;Recommends an increased co-operation between Europe and the United States as regardsthe concrete implementation of the closing of Guantanamo and the effective guarantee ofhuman rights in the context of the fight against terrorism.

RESOLUTION ON

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND ITS EFFECT

ON THE OSCE AREA

1.Seriously concerned by the crisis caused by the Syrian Civil War and its immediateimpact on neighbouring States,Deeply concerned by the humanitarian crisis of the refugees fleeing the war and itspossible destabilising effects on the area,Reiterating the conclusions adopted by the Action Group for Syria in Geneva on 30 June2012,Recalling the UN and European Parliament Resolutions on the conflict in Syria,Concerned at persisting challenges in the Middle East and the North African region indirect or indirect connection with the Arab Spring and considering that the situation inseveral OSCE Mediterranean participating and non-participating States is still unstableand their democratic processes are still not consolidated,Considering that the continuation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine affects andindeed negatively influences democratic development in the Middle East and in theMediterranean area in general,Recalling the Resolution on supporting the Peace Process in the Middle East adopted bythe OSCE Parliamentary Assembly at the Oslo Annual Session (July 2010),Recalling the Resolution adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in July 2012during the Monaco Annual Session on OSCE and Emerging Democracies in the ArabWorld,Recalling the Resolution on Turkish-Syrian Border adopted by the Standing Committeeof the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in its meeting held in Tirana in October 2012,Bearing in mind the debates on the situation in the Mediterranean area and in the OSCEMediterranean Partner countries held on the occasion of the OSCE ParliamentaryAssembly Winter Meetings in February 2011 and February 2013,Underlining the conclusions of the special report drafted by the International Secretariatof the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on The Humanitarian Crisis in Syria,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:12.Notes the US-Russian initiative to convene a peace conference on Syria based on theprinciples agreed to in the Geneva talks in June 2012 and stresses the urgent need for apolitical consensus for a negotiated political solution to prevail that will ensure fullrespect f o r the sovereignty of Syria and the will of its people;Urges OSCE participating States to comply with their commitments to humanitarianmatters in order to offer the greatest possible assistance to Syrian refugees;Calls on OSCE participating States to provide the greatest possible support to thegovernments of Turkey and Jordan with a view to a greater coordination in the provisionof assistance to Syrian refugees;Recognizes that substantial progress in the Middle East peace process is central toefforts to achieve peace, stability and democratic development in the region andstresses the urgent need for the resumption of negotiations to this end;Urges OSCE participating States to define and grant an adequate status to Palestineallowing the active participation of its representatives as observers in the work of theOSCE;Recommends that the OSCE establish and develop contacts at the highest possible levelwith the Government of Libya so that it can become a Mediterranean Partner country;Calls on the Standing Committee of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to reinforce thestatus of the Mediterranean Forum as a meeting place for dialogue and to continueworking more efficiently with the OSCE Mediterranean Partner countries with a view toachieving peace and democratic, economic and social development in the region;Recommends parliaments of the OSCE Mediterranean Partner countries to actively andregularly engage in the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, including theMediterranean Forum.

RESOLUTION ON

WATER MANAGEMENT AS A PRIORITY

FOR THE OSCE CIO IN 2014

1.Recalling the OSCE’s role in encouraging sustainable environmental policies thatpromote peace and stability, specifically the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the 1990Concluding Document of the CSCE Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe(Bonn Document), the 1999 Charter for European Security adopted at the IstanbulSummit, the 2003 OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and EnvironmentalDimension (Maastricht Strategy), other relevant OSCE documents and decisionsregarding environmental issues and the outcome of all previous Economic andEnvironmental Fora, which have established a basis for the OSCE’s work in the area ofenvironment and security,Recalling the OSCE PA’s Resolution on Water Management in the OSCE area in the2009 Vilnius Declaration and the Resolution on Sharing Expertise in Reclaiming WaterResources in Order to Strengthen Global Food Security in the 2012 Monaco Declaration,Applauding the OSCE Centre in Astana’s recent efforts to educate Kazakhstaniprosecutors on water management principles, institutional charters and legislation,Commending the OSCE Office in Tajikistan’s recent efforts to strengthen co-operationon hydrology and environment between Afghanistan and Tajikistan in the Upper Amu-Darya River Basin,Supporting the OSCE Centre in Bishkek’s commitment to realize an efficientmanagement of drinking water resources in Isfana,Welcoming the joint initiative of the OSCE, the UN Economic Commission for Europeand the United Nations Environment Programme that facilitated a treaty betweenMoldova and Ukraine to sustainably manage the Dniestr/Nistru river basin,Stressing the importance of sanitation, hydrology, safety and innovation in themanagement of our water resources,Concluding that water management is still an excellent tool for conflict prevention in theOSCE area,

Recognizing the need for further enhancement of the OSCE dialogue on energy securityand co-operation, including on agreed principles of our co-operation, as was emphasizedby Heads of State and Government of the OSCE participating States in the AstanaCommemorative Declaration of 2010,Recalling the other provisions and commitments on energy security and co-operationcontained in the relevant OSCE Ministerial decisions as well as OSCE ParliamentaryAssembly resolutions and declarations,Noting the outcome of “RIO+20”, the United Nations Conference on SustainableDevelopment in Rio de Janeiro held on 20-22 June 2012, and the 2012 International Yearof Sustainable Energy for All,Stressing the vital role of energy efficiency and renewable energy in achievingsustainable energy and growth and fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals,Recognizing that improving energy saving and energy efficiency is one of the quickest,greenest, and most cost-effective solution for reducing energy dependency, which alsocontributes to job creation, combating climate change and progress towards aresource-efficient economy,Welcoming the efforts of the OSCE participating States aimed at elaboration andimplementation of the national policies and measures to increase energy efficiency,taking into account their technological and economic development,Underlining the existence of the huge unutilized potential for strengthening internationalco-operation between OSCE participating States in the area of energy saving and energyefficiency,Stressing the need for exchange of information, experience and best practices on the mosteffective measures and policies to promote energy efficiency, taking into account the co-operation established between the participating States in the context of internationalorganizations and agreements,Underlining that co-operation between participating States in the area of dissemination ofknow-how and technology on energy efficiency can effectively promote energyefficiency in the OSCE region,

Recognizing that further research and development of cost-effective energy efficiencytechnologies should be fostered,inter aliathrough development of public/privatepartnerships and through expanded international co-operation,Expressing full support for the work of the OSCE Co-ordinator for Economic andEnvironmental Activities in the area of promoting energy saving and energy efficiency,Taking note of the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship’s priorities in the second dimensionand the theme and discussions held within the 21st Economic and Environmental Forum,and expressing hope that the concluding meeting of the Forum will produce meaningfulrecommendations for future OSCE activities, in particular in the area of energyefficiency,Welcoming with satisfaction the fruitful discussions held under the UkrainianChairmanship during the first and the second preparatory meetings of the 21st Economicand Environmental Forum in Vienna on 4 and 5 February and Kyiv on 16 and 17 April2013, which proved the necessity and importance of promoting energy saving andefficiency,Expressing hope that the concluding meeting of the 21st Economic and EnvironmentalForum to be held in Prague on 11-13 September 2013 will help generate ideas andrecommendations for new OSCE decisions and further promote activities in the area ofenergy co-operation, energy savings and efficiency,Welcoming the joint initiative of the Presidents of Ukraine and Turkmenistan to hold aninternational conference under the auspices of the OSCE devoted to “Energy Security andSustainability – the OSCE Perspective” to take place in Ashgabat on 17 and 18 October2013,Recognizing the invaluable contribution made by the relevant international and regionalorganizations to the promotion of energy efficiency, and stressing the importance ofco-ordinating those efforts and avoiding duplication,

Supports the OSCE participating States’ efforts aimed at further development of energyefficiency and renewable energy that are essential elements for strengthening energy andenvironmental security;Welcomes the efforts and activities related to the promotion of energy saving, energyefficiency and sustainable management of energy resources undertaken within theUN system, and notes with interest the Sustainable Energy for All initiative identifyingthe need for doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency amongst thekey objectives which underpin the goal of achieving sustainable energy for all by 2030;Encourages the OSCE Secretariat and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economicand Environmental Activities to further develop co-operation and dialogue with relevantinternational and regional organizations on energy efficiency issues, including throughthe organization of regular meetings with the aim of complementing their efforts in thefield of energy saving and efficiency;Encourages the OSCE Secretariat in co-operation with other OSCE executive structuresto strengthen OSCE engagement in the area of energy efficiency with the Partners for Co-operation;Supports the use of the OSCE as a platform for exchange of best practices and experiencebetween participating States and relevant international organizations in the area of energysaving and efficiency;Encourages the participating States and OSCE to engage in activities aimed at raisingawareness of consumers and stakeholders through dissemination of clear, credible andaccessible information on energy efficiency;Acknowledges the need for developing public-private partnerships for improving energyefficiency in and across key energy-consuming sectors;Encourages the participating States to establish relevant tools and mechanisms tofacilitate investments in energy saving and energy efficiency and scientific research inthis area.

RESOLUTION ON

ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION OF ENERGY SECURITY

1.Recalling the provisions on energy security and protection of the environment containedin the relevant OSCE Parliamentary declarations and resolutions,Recognizing that energy is one of the engines of inclusive growth and key to sustainabledevelopment,Acknowledging that energy has a basic role in improving quality of life and fosteringeconomic growth, and the existence of trade-offs and synergies across supply security andenvironment issues, and noting that any delay of access to sustainable and affordableenergy services have the potential to hamper sustainable economic development andquality of life in participating States,Recognizing that ensuring energy security is one of the global challenges which requiresglobal solutions with due respect to international law and States’ sovereign energy rightsand that there is an urgent need to increase efficiency in dealing with energy security,economic development and environmental sustainability,Underlining that access to affordable, constant and secure energy supply is of paramountimportance for our societies,Recognizing the need to enhance co-operation and dialogue among producers, transitcountries and consumers,Recalling that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases fromenergy-related activities contribute considerably to negative changes in the Earth’sclimate system,Highlighting that the level of increase in the transportation of hydrocarbons throughchoke points and narrow waterways poses serious environmental, social and economicrisks, and increases concern over human life and ecosystem health,Acknowledging that the physical protection of energy infrastructure including pipelinesas well as safety of navigation through maritime choke points and narrow waterways hasgained utmost importance in recent years,Recognizing that recent dramatic changes in the energy field, especially the so-called“shale gas revolution” and their possible environmental consequences should be closelymonitored and assessed,

Concerned at the risks that the nuclear energy projects of participating States inenvironmentally fragile areas, including highly seismic sites, pose to public health andoverall security in the OSCE region and neighbouring areas,Underlining that activities aiming at ensuring energy security may have adverse impactson the environment and that it is necessary to identify these impacts in the OSCE area,Welcoming participating States’ increased efforts to protect the environment through theirintegrated policies and strategies, and emphasizing the need for increased co-operationamong OSCE Members, as well as international and regional co-operation,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:14.Being aware that environmental problems are not restricted to the countries of theirorigin, calls on participating States to seek means of co-operation in developing tools toassess the options for identifying and minimizing the externalities of energy securitypolicies in the OSCE region;Notes that reducing the environmental footprint of energy security policies will furtherenhance regional security, stability and prosperity, and calls for awareness raisingactivities throughout the OSCE region in promoting environmentally sustainable energy;Stresses the necessity for diligent conduct of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)for energy related activities;Underlines that upstream, midstream and downstream activities for production andtransportation of hydrocarbon resources should observe international standards and bestpractices in a way that ensures environmental and social concerns are fully addressed;Urges participating States and private companies operating in oil and gas markets to showdue diligence in the transportation of hydrocarbon resources through maritimechokepoints;Highlights that oil spills caused by increased traffic constitute a major risk for the marineecosystem as well as security of surrounding cities;Cautions that adverse impacts of energy consumption on the environment might haveserious consequences on,inter alia,health, water, soil, air, biological diversity, foodsecurity and human lives, and calls upon participating States, regional organizations andother parties to increase co-operation in identifying policies that minimize the threat tothe environment;Calls on the OSCE participating States to better integrate their national economic, energysecurity, climate and environmental policies, and recommends the enactment andimplementation necessary legislation in order to eliminate the trade-off between energysecurity and environmental sustainability to the maximum possible extent;

Encourages participating States to seek ways to enhance energy security throughincreased use of renewable energy resources, deploying environmentally friendlytechnologies and enhancing energy efficiency and good governance within theirrespective national capabilities;Calls on participating States to improve access to sustainable modern energy services bymobilizing adequate financial resources in order to provide these services in a reliable,affordable, economically viable and socially and environmentally acceptable manner;Commends that the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) which was launchedin 2003 has been further enhanced under the Chairmanship of the OSCE in the last twoyears;Takes note with appreciation that the energy-environment nexus has taken itswell-deserved place at the top of the OSCE agenda in recent years, and recommends thatthe OSCE remains engaged in this matter;Encourages the OSCE Secretariat to collaborate with the relevant international andregional organizations and institutions in this field to enhance co-operation and avoidduplication of their work.

RESOLUTION ON

STRENGTHENING SECURITY IN THE BORDER AREAS

OF THE OSCE REGION

1.Reaffirming the OSCE as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the UnitedNations Charter and as a primary organization for the peaceful settlement of disputeswithin its region, and stressing that the OSCE continues to play an important role increating a secure and stable space in the OSCE region,Noting that the OSCE is a key instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisismanagement and post-conflict rehabilitation,Taking into account the OSCE’s Strategy to Address Threats to Security and Stability inthe Twenty-First Century,Recognizing the importance of international law and the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 withregard to the territorial integrity of the OSCE participating States, pursuant to which thedelimitation and demarcation of borders depend primarily on the sovereign decisions ofStates,Aware that ongoing conflicts in border areas undermine sovereignty, impede sustainabledevelopment and hinder bilateral and regional co-operation,Concerned that unresolved conflicts in the OSCE region pose a threat to compliance withOSCE principles and have an impact on peace and stability at local, regional andinternational levels,Recognizing that the demarcation and delimitation of borders can contribute to thedevelopment of friendly relations among States at both governmental and local levels,Bearing in mind the effective role of local and regional authorities in the implementationof multilateral and bilateral agreements aimed at stabilizing and improving the lives ofpeople in disputed border areas,Given the experience gained in this area by international organizations, such as theEuropean Union and the Council of Europe, as well as other specialized bodies, such asthe Association of European Border Regions, which has an extensive database on bestpractices in transboundary co-operation at all types of borders in Europe and beyond,Bearing in mind the situation in the border areas of the OSCE participating States,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:11.Urges the OSCE participating States to promote a political dialogue on border issues inorder to ensure security, stability and prosperity in the region;Calls on the OSCE participating States to continue to work actively on the delimitationand demarcation of State borders;Calls on the OSCE participating States to refrain from carrying out construction work orengaging in business activities in disputed border areas until the process of delimitationand demarcation of State borders is completed;Calls for the establishment of joint commissions to investigate conflict situations indisputed border areas and for the formation of joint border-guard units;Requests that weapons not be used against persons who attempt to violate regulationsgoverning the crossing of State borders if they do not constitute a danger to the lives ofborder guards or others;Welcomes the opening of training centres for border officials, and calls for dialogue andnegotiations to promote the peaceful settlement of problems that arise between States inborder areas;Stresses the need for a rapid exchange of information, through diplomatic channels aswell as at the level of authorized State bodies and local authorities, on situations thatcould lead to a crisis at State borders or in border areas;Recommends that the OSCE participating States conduct activities aimed at raising theawareness of the local inhabitants of border areas and organize platforms for dialoguethrough which such persons can be informed about rules, laws and agreements betweenindividual States and neighbouring countries in order to prevent conflict situations fromdeveloping;Supports all efforts by OSCE participating States to promote bilateral relations both at thelevel of local authorities and among local inhabitants;Urges all parties concerned to commit themselves to the settlement of conflicts in borderareas.

RESOLUTION ON

GENDER ASPECTS OF LABOUR MIGRATION

1.Reaffirming its commitment to implement the principles proclaimed in the Declarationon the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (New York, 1967) and, to that end,to adopt measures to eliminate such discrimination in all its forms and manifestations,Stressing that effective gender mainstreaming for achieving equality between men andwomen is essential for making full use of human capital in the OSCE region,Taking into account that the OSCE commitments in the field of migration focus on theimplementation of policy objectives in three main areas, namely: (1) protecting migrants;(2) reaping the benefits and mitigating the adverse effects of migration in the countries oforigin and the countries of destination; and (3) strengthening co-operation between thecountries of origin and the countries of destination in the management of migration,Supporting a comprehensive approach to migration policy based on internationalstandards for migration,Bearing in mind that the feminization of migration has become a global trend,Recognizing the significant contribution made by female migrant workers to theeconomic and social development of the countries of departure and the countries ofdestination,Expressing concern that female migrant workers may face additional difficulties anddiscrimination at all stages of the migration process due to limited access to certain typesand sectors of employment, educational requirements and existing stereotypes,Also expressing concern about the considerable risk that female migrant workers have offinding themselves in a vulnerable situation and about the number of victims of abuse,including through violence and trafficking,Taking into account international principles and norms of international law as well as thedocuments of specialized international organizations on questions of gender policy andmigration,Bearing in mind the declarations of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on questions of genderpolicy and migration,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:11.Calls upon participating States to elaborate and implement a gender-sensitive migrationpolicy aimed at:i.the creation of a political and legal environment conducive to equal opportunitiesfor employment and equal access to its blessings and benefits for both male andfemale migrants;the implementation of a strategy which includes the application of both generalprovisions on the protection of migrants and provisions designed specifically forthe protection of female migrant workers that improve their opportunities in theareas of freedom of choice, access to resources and the enjoyment of their rights;

Encourages participating States to use best practices for promoting the principle ofnon-discrimination and to ensure co-ordination and co-operation between parliaments,Governments and other stakeholders (trade unions, non-governmental organizations,diaspora organizations and corporations) in the support and protection of female migrantworkers;Draws attention to the need for participating States to strengthen measures to suppressunregulated migration and criminal networks engaged in the smuggling and trafficking ofpersons;Refers to the relationship between the legal status of female migrant workers and theirdegree of protection from abuse and exploitation, and in that connection gives priority tothe creation of a preventive measure for legal migration channels for women;Invites participating States which are countries of origin to make use of the possibilityof ensuring the safe migration of their female citizens through the creation of legal andinstitutional mechanisms that protect and enhance their opportunities at the recruitmentstage and prior to migration (including through the provision of information, theorganization of training and the upgrading of qualifications for future migrants);Supports multilateral and bilateral co-operation between the countries of origin and thecountries of destination in the regulation of general migration issues in order tostrengthen legal migration and combat trafficking in persons;Calls upon participating States to co-operate effectively with international organizationsspecialized in the fields of women's rights and migration.

Recalling that the Convention on the Rights of the Child (New York, 1989) recognizesthe right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing anywork that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to beharmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development,Expressing concern about the increasingly widespread practice of child labour, includingits worst forms, which for the purposes of the International Labour Organization (ILO)Convention No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for theElimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (Geneva, 1999) comprises:i.all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and traffickingof children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour, includingforced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict;the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production ofpornography or for pornographic performances;the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for theproduction and trafficking of drugs as defined in the relevant international treaties,work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely toharm the health, safety or morals of children,

Convinced, however, that the employment of children in work that adversely affects theirhealth and morals and prevents them from receiving a full education seriouslyundermines the economic viability of society and the long-term prospects of itsdevelopment,Sharing the conviction of the international community that the worst forms of childlabour are unacceptable and harmful to the welfare of children and to society as a wholeand that their eradication requires immediate and comprehensive action at national andinternational level,Bearing in mind international principles and norms of international law as well as thedocuments of specialized international organizations on guaranteeing the rights ofchildren,Bearing in mind the declarations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE concerningthe rights of children,Taking into account the resolution on combating trafficking and the exploitation ofchildren in pornography adopted at the 15th annual session of the OSCE ParliamentaryAssembly in Brussels and OSCE Council of Ministers decision No. 15/06 on combatingsexual exploitation of children,

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:11.Condemns the economic exploitation of children, which constitutes one of the worstforms of child labour as defined in International Labour Organization (ILO) ConventionNo. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of theWorst Forms of Child Labour (Geneva, 1999), as well as work performed by childrenunder the minimum age for admission to employment established in national legislationfor the types and conditions of work set out in ILO Convention No. 138 concerningMinimum Age for Admission to Employment (Geneva, 1973);Calls upon the participating States to consider the eradication of the economicexploitation of children as an essential aspect of policy and to that end to takecomprehensive and co-ordinated action in the following key areas: publicawareness-raising, legislative and executive measures, education, and support for childrenand their families;Draws attention to the need to give due consideration to each nation’s traditions andcultural values in the area of the protection and harmonious development of childrenwhen elaborating national programmes for the eradication of the economic exploitation ofchildren;Stresses the importance, in efforts to eradicate the economic exploitation of children, ofensuring free and compulsory education for both boys and girls, as well as – in manyStates – reforming school curricula to allow for local factors and conditions;

Calls on the parliaments of participating States to step up activities aimed at ensuring theright of children to be protected from economic exploitation, including through thefollowing measures:i.enacting legislation that makes the abolition of child labour the ultimate goal ofState policy, and clearly defining and prohibiting the economic exploitation ofchildren as a matter of priority;making allocations in the national budget for the programmes and work oforganizations that play an important role in the implementation of programmes forthe eradication of the worst forms of child labour;monitoring the activities of authorized governmental agencies;mobilizing public opinion for the fight against child labour, with a focus on theworst cases of child exploitation;co-operating with international and non-governmental organizations and otherstakeholders of civil society;

Reiterates its call for participating States to take appropriate measures to interact oneradicating the economic exploitation of children through greater internationalco-operation and/or assistance, including support for social and economic development,poverty alleviation programmes and universal education;Recommends that ensuring the rights of migrant children, who are the most vulnerablecategory of children, should be considered a priority of international action aimed atcombating their economic exploitation;Suggests that, when determining the international prestige of a State and the possibility ofits access to the international market as a function of its commitment to combating theeconomic exploitation of children, strong support should be given to States which set thegoal of eliminating the worst forms of child labour;Believes that the global and sustained mobilization of the forces needed for successfullyaddressing the crucial issue of ensuring the right of children to be protected fromeconomic exploitation that is not a function of the level of development of a State,cultural or national traditions or political opinions is only possible through activeinternational co-operation in this area.

RESOLUTION ON

CO-OPERATION ON THE TRANSITION TO A GREEN ECONOMY IN

THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1.Taking into account the significant developments in recent decades in the economic andenvironmental situation in the OSCE region, which not only have had a positive effect,but have also resulted in the emergence of new threats and challenges of an economic andenvironmental nature,Stressing the determination of the participating States to counteract these economic andenvironmental threats and challenges through comprehensive use of OSCE capacities andcomparative advantages,Recalling the commitments of the participating States to support and promote initiativesfor sustainable development and to take the necessary steps to implement internationalconventions and agreements on environmental protection as set out in CSCE/OSCEdocuments,Noting in particular the provisions of the 2003 OSCE Strategy Document for theEconomic and Environmental Dimension concerning co-operation on ensuringsustainable development and environmental protection,Referring to the commitments of the participating States to improve good environmentalgovernance, as set out in the OSCE 2007 Madrid Declaration on Environment andSecurity,Recalling the provisions relating to the transition to a green economy contained in theMonaco Declaration adopted at the 2012 Annual Session of the OSCE ParliamentaryAssembly, including the resolution on promotion and use of new and renewable sourcesof energy,Taking note of ongoing UN activities as well as other regional initiatives, mechanismsand institutions to promote a more widespread implementation of green economyprinciples and standards,Recalling United Nations General Assembly resolutions 66/288 on the future we wantand 67/215 on the promotion of new and renewable sources of energy,Aware that the introduction of green economy principles plays a significant role in theachievement by the participating States of internationally agreed development goals,Noting the importance of increasing the availability of green technologies and theimplementation of best available techniques for a comprehensive prevention and controlof environmental pollution,57

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:12.Stresses the importance of providing comprehensive assistance for sustainabledevelopment in the OSCE region through a balanced strengthening of its economic,social and ecological components;Considers the green economy to be an important instrument for achieving sustainabledevelopment and environmental security and calls on the participating States to takeconsistent measures to implement green principles in national economies;Supports the UN role in promoting principles of sustainable development in theinternational agenda and welcomes the UN Secretary-General’s idea of creating amechanism to facilitate the development, transfer and dissemination of environmentallyclean technologies;Notes the importance of enhancing co-operation and co-ordination of interaction amongpublic institutions, civil society and the private sector on implementing green economyprinciples in national strategies and programmes for sustainable development;Calls on participating States to create favourable conditions for State and privateinvestment in the development of environmentally cleaner technologies and to facilitatethe mobilization of financial investments in the creation of mechanisms for the transfer ofinnovative technologies and their adaptation to specific country needs, as well as therecruitment of qualified specialists and the training of national staff;Calls on participating States to elaborate and implement measures for the liberalizationand establishment of a preferential trade regime for environmental goods and services inthe context of the creation of favourable conditions for environmental growth andsustainable development;Calls on participating States to take into account the principle of common butdifferentiated responsibility and the introduction of green principles at different speeds,depending on the level of socio-economic development of States;Urges participating States to refrain from adopting or applying any unilateraldiscriminatory economic, financial or trade measures that are contrary to internationallaw or limit or prevent the achievement of green economy goals in the context ofsustainable development;

Calls on participating States to provide, on a bilateral and multilateral basis, internationaltechnical assistance and technological support for the development, transfer anddissemination of environmentally clean technologies, including through the establishmentof a voluntary fund for the transfer of green technologies;Calls on participating States to encourage the establishment of national and regionaltechnology transfer centres and to facilitate co-ordination between them, with a view toultimately creating a single international centre for the exchange of energy technologies;Calls on participating States and the OSCE executive structures to intensify co-operationwith States, international and regional organizations and financial institutions onproviding financial, technical, consultative and other assistance for the development andintroduction of green technologies;Suggests that consideration be given at a Parliamentary Assembly event to the promotionof co-operation on issues relating to the transition to a green economy in the OSCEregion;Calls on the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activitiesand other OSCE executive structures to help the participating States of the OSCE regionintroduce green economy principles and raise awareness of their relevance for sustainabledevelopment;Recommends that the OSCE hold an expert meeting with a view to sharing experience onthe transition to a green economy in the context of sustainable development and bestpractices in implementing green principles in the national economy.

RESOLUTION ON

STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTIONS

IN THE OSCE REGION

1.Taking note of the OSCE PA resolution adopted in Brussels in 2006 calling onparticipating States to seek and implement ways of further promoting exchange of viewsthrough open and constructive dialogue with civil society,Recognizing the important role that civil society institutions play in the process ofproviding assistance to the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law,Reaffirming that “respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, andthe rule of law is at the core of the OSCE comprehensive concept of security” (OSCECharter for European Security, Istanbul, November 1999 (19)),Recalling the Resolution on Co-operation with Civil society and Non-GovernmentalOrganizations, adopted at the Annual Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly,Brussels, 2006, calling upon participating States “to recognize that a strong andindependent civil society free from interference of government contributes essentially tothe promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law”,Stressing the need for the OSCE participating States to implement the OSCEcommitments to “enhance the ability of non-governmental organizations to make theirfull contribution to the further development of civil society and respect for human rightsand fundamental freedoms” (OSCE charter for European security, Istanbul, November1999 (27)),Recalling the UN General Assembly Millennium Declaration which recognizes thenecessity to “give greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmentalorganizations and civil society, in general, to contribute to the realization of theOrganization’s goals and programmes” (United Nations Millennium Declaration,8 September 2000),

Calls upon participating States to engage with non-governmental organizations and othercivil society institutions in the decision-making process as well as in the process ofsolving social problems;Recommends that participating States take steps to create a legal environment that allowsfor greater performance and participation of non-governmental organizations and civilsociety institutions;Calls upon participating States to promote the exchange of information and practices forincreased collaboration between non-governmental organizations and civil societyinstitutions working towards common OSCE commitments;Calls upon participating States to co-operate with non-governmental organizations andother civil society institutions on the resolution and prevention of regional conflicts in theOSCE area on the basis of the principles of international law, the Helsinki Final Act andrelevant UN Security Council resolutions;Encourages participating States to create an enabling environment to ensure sustainabilityof activities and transparency of financial resources of non-governmental organizations,including access to both foreign and domestic sources of funding;Calls upon participating States to grant consultative status to non-governmentalorganizations in the appropriate OSCE institutions;Calls upon participating States to collaborate more actively with non-governmentalorganizations in the process of enhancing the role of civil society in the areas of humanrights protection, democracy, and the rule of law;Encourages participating States to engage closely with non-governmental organizations inprogrammes and projects that have social importance.

Recalling the resolutions on Belarus adopted by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly(OSCE PA), as well as the Joint Declaration of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Working Group onBelarus and the delegation from the Belarusian National Assembly on future co-operationsigned in 2004 (Edinburgh),Noting the efforts of the OSCE Chairmanships in re-establishing the OSCE field presencein Minsk and in establishing a meaningful dialogue between OSCE institutions withBelarus as an OSCE participating State,Deploring the limited co-operation between the Government of Belarus and many of theOSCE’s institutions, as well as the limited co-operation with the OSCE PA WorkingGroup on Belarus, which has not been invited to visit Minsk since 2010,Regretting that the nature of human rights violations in Belarus remain structural andendemic, underscored by the centralization of the legislative and executive powers in theoffice of the President, whose decrees are a key legislative mechanism in the country,undermining the role of Parliament,Welcoming the Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation ofhuman rights in Belarus of 18 April 2013,Noting the lack of progress in the investigations into the enforced disappearance ofpolitical opponents, including in the cases of Viktar Hanchar, Anatol Krasouski, YuryZakharenko, and Dmitry Zavadsky dating back to 1999-2000,Regretting that elections in Belarus, including the December 2010 presidential electionand the September 2012 parliamentary elections, have been neither free nor fair,Noting the United States Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011 and therecent EU Council regulations and decisions concerning targeted measures againstofficials and companies from Belarus,Condemning the executions of Uladzislau Kavalyou and Dzmitry Kanavalau, sentencedto death for their alleged involvement in the April 2011 metro bombing in Minsk, througha trial that fell short of international standards for the rule of law, the subsequentdestruction of key evidence in these cases and the inhumane treatment (including policesurveillance) of the families, whereby the bodies of the two men have not been returnedto their relatives, as well as a new death sentence issued in April 2013 on the part ofMahiliou Regional Court,

Deploring the restrictions placed on freedom of assembly, including a nearde factobanon picketing, demonstrations and meetings by civil society and opposition groups,Noting that many civil society and media representatives have fled Belarus sinceDecember 2010 to seek asylum abroad, and urging the authorities in Belarus to ensureconditions for their safe and voluntary return,Expressing deep concern over the confiscation of property and the closing of the office ofthe non-government organization Human Rights Centre Viasna in Minsk, and thecontinued incarceration of the organization’s leader Ales Bialiatski on politically-motivated charges,Deeply regretting the lack of media freedom in Belarus, including increasing instances ofharassment of journalists, restrictive laws with regard to broadcasting and internetfreedom, as well as selective application of justice with regard to independent journalists,Noting the report of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Committee on Freedomof Association in November 2012, underlining the Belarusian government’s lack of co-operation and the lack of progress with regard to improving the situation of trade unionrights in the country,

Calls on the Government of Belarus to release and exonerate all political prisoners inBelarus, including those given suspended sentences and those whose freedom ofmovement has been limited, immediately and unconditionally, and to guarantee the fullrestoration of their civil and political rights;Reiterates its calls on the Government of Belarus to allow representatives of the OSCEParliamentary Assembly to visit political prisoners incarcerated in Belarus;Condemns the treatment of political prisoners, including political opponents, humanrights defenders and activists, incarcerated on politically motivated charges, and in manycases denied regular access to their lawyers and relatives, as well as other degradingtreatment amounting to torture;Urges the Government of Belarus to suspend any restrictions on movements imposed onmembers of the opposition who have been given a suspended sentence after politicallymotivated trials, including Irina Khalip, Vladimir Neklyaev, Vitalyi Rymashevsky,Sergei Vozniak, Andrei Dmitriev, Alexander Feduta and others;Сalls on the authorities to reinstate the licenses of the lawyers disbarred or forced toresign under pressure for their defence of opposition and civil rights activists, and toguarantee the principle of independence of practice in particular seizing illegal limitationson communication with mass media;

Calls on the Belarusian authorities to respect freedom of movement of its citizens,including political activists, in Belarus and abroad, and to stop the widespread practicesof arbitrary detention;Condemns the adoption of a series of repressive laws in Belarus, restricting fundamentalrights to freedom of assembly, expression and association, and giving additional powersand immunity from prosecution to State Security Committee (KGB) officers;Encourages the authorities to reconsider the registration applications of the BelarusianChristian Democracy party, the “Tell the Truth!” and “For Fair Elections!” campaigns,“Malady Front” (Youth Front), and the non-governmental organization Viasna, whichhave been repeatedly denied legal registration without due cause;Calls on the authorities to suspend the harassment and persecution of civil society, suchas representatives of youth organizations and movements, trade unions, independentmedia and human rights defenders;Calls on the Belarusian authorities to co-operate closely with the OSCE Representativeon Freedom of the Media to develop a media law reflecting OSCE commitments andprinciples;Reiterates its call on the authorities to implement the recommendations of theInternational Labour Organization with regard to trade unions, and to ensure that workersare able to freely leave their jobs, including in State industries;Calls on the authorities to strengthen anti-discrimination legislation, including ensuringsafeguards to prevent harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons andassociations;Encourages the Government to consider substantive legislative reforms to bring thecountry in line with European standards, including correcting the imbalance of power infavour of the executive, vested in the country’s 1996 Constitution, with a particular focuson reducing the dependence of the judiciary on the executive branches;Calls on the authorities to co-operate closely with OSCE institutions in addressing theOrganization’s election-related recommendations ahead of the upcoming local andmunicipal elections;Calls on the authorities to take the necessary steps to make full use of the EuropeanDialogue on Modernization and on the European Union to strengthen such initiative;Calls on the authorities to annul convictions and pending charges against journalists foractivities connected with their profession and to allow an unrestricted public debate onkey social and political issues;

Calls on the authorities to abolish Article 193.1 of the Criminal Code, which envisages apunishment of up to two years for “acting on behalf of an unregistered organization,” andviolates the right to freedom of association, as well as other OSCE commitments;Recommends that the International Ice Hockey Federation ensures that Article 8 of itsStatute, guaranteeing neutrality in political, racial, gender and religious matters isthoroughly respected;Urges the Government of Belarus to respect its OSCE commitments with regard tofreedom of assembly and freedom of expression, and to liberalize both legislation andpractices, allowing citizens the right to public protest both online and offline;Calls for an international investigation into the treatment of political prisonersincarcerated in Belarus, including allegations of torture by current and former prisonerslike Ales Mikhailevich, Andrei Sannikov and Anatol Liabedzka;Urges the Government of Belarus to immediately withdraw all issued death sentences,and to work to abolish the death penalty;Urges the Government to ensure conditions where religious organizations, includingthose of the Protestant faith, as well as the Union of Poles in Belarus can operate inaccordance with national legislation.

RESOLUTION ON

PROMOTING FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

IN THE OSCE REGION

1.Appreciating that multiple faiths and beliefs are practiced and manifested in the OSCEregion, and hold tremendous value to their followers and adherents,Declaring that democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms arestrengthened, and that peace and stability in the OSCE region are enhanced, when theright to freedom of religion, thought, conscience or belief is respected, protected andfulfilled by participating States and their legislative and judicial bodies,Reaffirming that freedom of religion, thought, conscience or belief is a fundamentalhuman right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the InternationalCovenant on Civil and Political Rights and other universal human rights instruments,Recalling that the OSCE participating States are committed to “respect human rights andfundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belieffor all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion” and to “recognize andrespect the freedom of the individual to profess and practice, alone or in community withothers, religion or belief acting in accordance with the dictates of his [or her] ownconscience” as per the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe Final Act,which is further upheld by subsequent concluding documents and declarations,Recalling as well the various Ministerial Council Decisions on Tolerance andNon-Discrimination, including No. 6/02, No. 4/03, No. 10/05, No. 10/07 and No. 13/06,the latter in which the Ministerial Council “commits to raise awareness of the value ofcultural and religious diversity as a source of mutual enrichment of societies and torecognize the importance of integration with respect for cultural and religious diversity asa key element to promote mutual respect and understanding,”Reiterating the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s affirmations regarding the promotion ofreligious freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination in the OSCE region as included inthe Edinburgh Declaration, Kyiv Declaration, Oslo Declaration, and the BelgradeDeclaration,

Stresses that religious sites, artefacts and symbols constitute an integral part of theworld’s cultural heritage and urges OSCE participating States to ensure their protection,including in the event of armed conflict, as called for in the Hague Convention of 1954and other relevant international instruments, and to take all necessary measures for theirmaintenance in post-conflict situations;Calls upon the OSCE participating States to ensure freedom of worship, unimpededaccess to religious sites and unobstructed training of the clergy; these being key elementsin promoting freedom of religion;Calls on national parliaments to ensure that national legislation is consistent withinternational obligations set out above relating to freedom of religion, thought,conscience, or belief, that such legislation recognizes and ensures the equality of allindividuals before and under the law, and guarantees, without discrimination, the right ofeach person to equal and effective protection and benefit of the law;Further calls on national parliaments to ensure that national legislation requiringregistration or administrative procedures relating to religious or belief communities arequick, non-discriminatory, transparent, fair, inclusive, and do not limit the right tofreedom of religion or belief;Commends the work of the personal representatives of the Chairman-in-Office oncombating racism, xenophobia and discrimination, on focusing on intolerance anddiscrimination against Christians and members of other religions, on combatingintolerance and discrimination against Muslims, on combating anti-Semitism, the ODIHRfor its work on issues relating to tolerance and non-discrimination, including freedom ofreligion and belief, and its panel of experts on freedom of religion or belief;Remains seized of instances where the right to freedom of religion, conscience, thoughtor belief is not being respected, protected or fulfilled in the OSCE region;Encourages the participating States to undertake initiatives to establish and support inter-faith dialogue and co-operation involving governments, civil society and religious groupsin order to facilitate and strengthen mutual understanding, tolerance and respect.

RESOLUTION ON

STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN COMBATING

RACISM, XENOPHOBIA AND OTHER FORMS OF INTOLERANCE AND

DISCRIMINATION

1.Recognizing that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is at the core of theOSCE comprehensive concept of security, and reaffirming that such rights and freedomsapply to “all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion” as enshrined in the1975 Helsinki Final Act,Celebrating the wealth of diversity among and within the OSCE’s 57 participating States,Acknowledging in this context the positive contribution of migrants to the culturalenrichment of our societies,Noting with serious concern the continuing rise of discrimination and violence towardsindividuals with differing racial, ethnic, religious and linguistic backgrounds, particularlytowards migrants, in the OSCE region,Concerned at the rise of nationalism, racism and extremism in political life as a result ofthe persisting economic recession and high unemployment, and at their influence insocieties in general and with regard to migrants in particular,Reaffirming that such intolerance and discrimination represents a continuing threat to thefundamental human rights and democratic values that underpin security and stability inthe OSCE region,Condemning these phenomena in their various forms in all participating States of theOSCE,Emphasizing the need to ensure effective implementation of existing OSCE commitmentson combating racism, xenophobia, and other forms of intolerance and discrimination, andrecalling the Resolution on “Strengthening Efforts to Combat Racism and Xenophobiaand Foster Inclusion” unanimously adopted on 6 July 2011 by the OSCE ParliamentaryAssembly,Welcoming the efforts of the three Personal Representatives of the Chairman-in-Officeon Tolerance and Non-Discrimination, as well as the work done by the Office forDemocratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to address these urgent issues,Recalling the various commitments of the international community to counter intoleranceand discrimination that stress the role of education, including, in the OSCE, thosederiving from the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the 1990 Copenhagen Document, the 1991

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:12.Calls upon the OSCE participating States to intensify their efforts in the field ofeducation, in order to promote understanding and raise awareness of the causes,consequences and evils of intolerance and discrimination;Encourages the OSCE participating States to develop cultural and educationalprogrammes aimed at countering intolerance and discrimination in order to foster mutualunderstanding among all cultures and civilizations;Urges participating States to develop, with reference to ODIHR’s relevant materials andtools, national guidelines on educational work to promote tolerance and foster inclusion,and emphasizes within this framework the importance of equal access to education (andthe value of intercultural education);Stresses the central role that education must play in States’ integration policies, and theimportance of equal education and employment opportunities in efforts to combatdiscrimination and safeguard social cohesion and stability, particularly so, in the light ofthe economic recession and cuts in public spending,inter alia,in this field;Calls upon participating States to increase efforts to counter racism, xenophobia,intolerance and discrimination, also through education,inter alia,by reviewing, asappropriate, educational curricula and textbooks in order to ensure that that they are freefrom prejudice and negative stereotypes and by introducing or further elaboratingsections on tolerance and non-discrimination;Invites the OSCE participating States to consider developing educational activities inschools, including extracurricular ones, to raise awareness against intolerance anddiscrimination;Recommends that the OSCE participating States encourage educational authorities andthe private sector, as appropriate, to develop educational materials, including textbooksand dictionaries, aimed at combating those phenomena;

Reiterates its request for increased support for ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department’s Racism and Xenophobia programme,inter alia,with a viewto increasing the number of available educational materials and training programs foreducators;Encourages the OSCE participating States to take measures necessary to ensure that allteachers and trainers are effectively trained and adequately motivated to shape attitudesand behavioural patterns, based on the principles of non-discrimination, mutual respectand tolerance;Suggests the development of guidelines on academic responsibility to ensure theprotection of migrant and other students from intolerance and discrimination in theacademic environment;Encourages the media, whose effect on the development of attitudes of youth can besignificant, to avoid negative stereotyping and to refrain from spreading prejudices;Emphasizes that parliamentarians can serve as role models to youth, reaffirmsparliamentarians’ responsibility to publicly denounce intolerance and discrimination andto raise awareness of the value of diversity, and calls attention to the important role ofpoliticians and political parties in promoting mutual respect and understanding.

Table of Contents

PREAMBLE

HELSINKI +40

CHAPTER I

POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND SECURITY

CHAPTER II

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THE

ENVIRONMENT

CHAPTER III

DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN QUESTIONS

RESOLUTION ON

ENHANCING TRUST, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

WITHIN THE OSCE INSTITUTIONS

RESOLUTION ON

TRAFFICKING VICTIM WATCHFULNESS: PLANES,

TRAINS, BUSES, AND HOTELS

RESOLUTION ON

THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN SYRIA

RESOLUTION ON

INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

RESOLUTION ON

FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA

RESOLUTION ON

THE ROLE OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

IN POST-CONFLICT REHABILITATION SCENARIOS

RESOLUTION ON

ENLARGING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH NON-MEMBER

MEDITERRANEAN STATES TO INCLUDE

THE PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY

RESOLUTION ON

TRANSDNIESTRIAN SETTLEMENT PROCESS

RESOLUTION ON

CYBER SECURITY

RESOLUTION ON

THE ARCTIC

RESOLUTION ON

GUANTANAMO

RESOLUTION ON

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND ITS EFFECT

ON THE OSCE AREA

RESOLUTION ON

WATER MANAGEMENT AS A PRIORITY

FOR THE OSCE CIO IN 2014

RESOLUTION ON

PROMOTING ENERGY SAVING AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

IN THE OSCE REGION

RESOLUTION ON

ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION OF ENERGY SECURITY

RESOLUTION ON

STRENGTHENING SECURITY IN THE BORDER AREAS

OF THE OSCE REGION

RESOLUTION ON

GENDER ASPECTS OF LABOUR MIGRATION

RESOLUTION ON

ENSURING THAT CHILDREN HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED

FROM ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION

RESOLUTION ON

CO-OPERATION ON THE TRANSITION TO A GREEN ECONOMY IN

THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

RESOLUTION ON

STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTIONS

IN THE OSCE REGION

RESOLUTION ON

BELARUS

RESOLUTION ON

PROMOTING FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

IN THE OSCE REGION

RESOLUTION ON

STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN COMBATING

RACISM, XENOPHOBIA AND OTHER FORMS OF INTOLERANCE AND

DISCRIMINATION