Report

From 29 June to 3 July 2024, a delegation of 7 Canadian parliamentarians participated in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly’s (OSCE PA) 31^st Annual Session, which was held in Bucharest, Romania. The delegation comprised:

• The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., head of delegation;

• The Honourable Senator Peter Boehm;

• The Honourable Senator Percy E. Downe;

• The Honourable Senator Judy White;

• Ms. Pam Damoff, M.P.;

• Ms. Annie Koutrakis, M.P.;

• Ms. Kristina Michaud, M.P.

Prior to the Annual Session, Dr. Fry, in her capacity as OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues, hosted a meeting with Romanian non-governmental organizations. The delegation was assisted by Andrew Lauzon, the Association’s Secretary and Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay, Advisor.

2024 OSCE PA Annual Session

More than 225 parliamentarians from 55 OSCE participating States met in Bucharest for the OSCE PA’s 31^st Annual Session. The theme of the Annual Session was “The Role of the OSCE in the Current Security Architecture: A Parliamentary Perspective.”

The Annual Session included a meeting of the Standing Committee and three plenary sessions, as well as meetings of the three OSCE PA General Committees: Political Affairs and Security; Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment; and Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. Various OSCE PA Ad hoc committees and working groups – including the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration Issues, which has one Canadian member – also met during the Annual Session.[1] As well, over the course of the Annual Session, the Canadian delegation participated in side events, bilateral meetings and a working lunch on gender issues.

The Bucharest Declaration was adopted during the closing plenary.[2] The declaration contains the resolutions of the three General Committees as well as 16 supplementary items (SIs) which were proposed by individual delegates. Elections for the OSCE PA President, Vice-Presidents, and committee officers, including the Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Rapporteurs, also took place during the 31st Annual Session.

STANDING COMMITTEE

A. OVERVIEW

The Standing Committee – which comprises OSCE PA heads of delegation, the organization’s President, Vice-Presidents and Treasurer, as well as the officers of the General Committees – met on 29 June 2024. The meeting began with the election of the OSCE PA Secretary General. Mr. Roberto Montella, who was first appointed as the OSCE PA’s Secretary General in January 2016, was elected for a third consecutive five-year mandate, which will begin on 1 January 2026 and end 31 December 2030.

The Standing Committee then approved the proposal for the allocation of the 16 SIs to the plenary and the three General Committees. OSCE PA President, Ms. Pia Kauma (Finland), and OSCE PA Secretary General Montella also presented their annual reports. [3]

The OSCE PA Treasurer, Mr. Johan Büser (Sweden), presented a budget proposal for 2024–2025 in the amount of €4,373,001, a 3.7% increase compared to the previous year.[4] Canada’s national contribution for 2024–2025 is €241,840,[5] as determined by the national scales of contribution established at the OSCE intergovernmental level. Mr. Büser explained that the planned budget increase was required to address such challenges as Russia’s non-payment of its national contribution and the inflationary pressures facing most OSCE participating States. The budget was adopted without amendments.

B. ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

Dr. Fry represented the Canadian delegation at the Standing Committee. Along with Mr. Büser and Mr. Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus), she was also invited by President Kauma to oversee the election of the OSCE PA Secretary General.

OPENING OF THE ANNUAL SESSION

A. OVERVIEW

The Opening of the Annual Session featured remarks by the President of the Senate of Romania, Mr. Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă, and the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania and Head of the Romanian Delegation to the OSCE PA, Mr. Dan Barna (Romania). Their remarks emphasized the need for the international community and OSCE participating States to maintain their ongoing support for Ukraine.

In her remarks, President Kauma said the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine remain non-negotiable, and noted the courage and resilience demonstrated by Ukrainians in the face of Russia’s aggression. She characterized the 31st Annual Session as an opportunity for the OSCE PA to express and reiterate its commitment to provide Ukraine with the political, humanitarian and economic assistance it needs. She also spoke about other security challenges in the OSCE region and beyond, including in the Middle East, the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus and Central Asia, and urged delegates to maintain a focus on ensuring that the OSCE and its institutions have the resources they need to carry out their work.

B. ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

All members of the Canadian delegation attended the Opening of the Annual Session.

GENERAL COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND SECURITY

A. OVERVIEW

Chair: Mr. Richard Hudson (United States)

Vice-Chair: Mr. Costel Neculai Dunava (Romania)

Rapporteur: Mr. Tobias Winkler (Germany)

The First General Committee considered and debated a report and a draft resolution submitted by the Rapporteur, Mr. Winkler. While focussing primarily on the war in Ukraine, both documents also touched on rising tensions and conflicts elsewhere the OSCE region and in the world, including in the Middle East, Georgia, the Transnistrian region of Moldova and Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Rapporteur’s draft resolution also addressed several internal matters, including the OSCE’s failure to pass a unified budget since 2021 and the need to appoint OSCE Heads of Institutions before the terms of the current office holders expire in September 2024.

Following the Rapporteur’s presentation of his report and draft resolution, delegates debated the issues they raised. Proposed amendments to the draft resolution were then debated, and the draft resolution was adopted as amended. The First General Committee also debated and adopted four SIs:

• Countering the Proliferation of Drugs, particularly Fentanyl and other synthetic Opioids, as well as Mafias and Criminal Organizations Involved in Trafficking Them (Mr. Eugenio Zoffili, Italy)

• Condemning the Weaponization of Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones (Ms. Susanna Campione, Italy)

• Building a Comprehensive European Security Architecture against Aggression (Mr. Joe Wilson, United States)

• Strengthening the Support for Ukraine (Mr. Didier Paris, France)

During the last meeting of the First General Committee, the following individuals were elected as officers of the First General Committee for 2024–2025:

Chair: Mr. Birgir Thorarinsson (Iceland)

Vice-Chair: Mr. Costel Neculai Dunava (Romania)

Rapporteur: Ms. Karina Odebrink (Sweden)

B. ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

Ms. Michaud sponsored two amendments to the committee’s draft resolution. The first encouraged OSCE participating States to impose targeted sanctions relating to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and to work collaboratively to counter attempts to evade these sanctions. The second called on OSCE participating States to enact legislation to allow for the forfeiture and repurposing of assets belonging to sanctioned Russian individuals and entities. Ms. Michaud also presented an amendment on behalf of Mr. Steve Cohen (United States) noting that Russia’s actions against Ukraine appear to amount to genocide as defined in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. All three amendments were adopted. Dr. Fry sponsored an amendment to the committee’s draft resolution that called on OSCE participating States to develop national action plans on the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 and the subsequent resolutions that together form the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. The amendment was adopted.

Dr. Fry also sponsored an amendment to Ms. Susanna Campione’s (Italy) SI on Condemning the Weaponization of Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones. The amendment, which called on the OSCE and OSCE participating States to adopt a gender-sensitive and survivor-centred approach when responding to sexual violence in conflict contexts, was adopted.

GENERAL COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

A. OVERVIEW

Chair: Mr. Azay Guliyev (Azerbaijan)

Vice-Chair: Mr. Artur Gerasymov (Ukraine)

Rapporteur: Ms. Gudrun Kugler (Austria)

The Second General Committee considered and debated a report and a draft resolution submitted by the Rapporteur, Ms. Kugler. Ms. Kugler’s report and draft resolution focused on the environmental and economic impacts of the war in Ukraine as well as on Ukraine’s reconstruction process. Considerable attention was also given to artificial intelligence (AI), in particular its risks, including its potential to spread disinformation and facilitate human rights abuses, such as mass surveillance. As well, the report and draft resolution noted the need to address energy security – including through an equitable, inclusive and affordable transition to cleaner and diverse energy sources – and highlighted a number of issues related to digitization, technology, demography and migration.

Following the Rapporteur’s presentation of her report and draft resolution, delegates debated the issues they raised. Proposed amendments to the draft resolution were then debated, and the draft resolution was adopted as amended. The Second General Committee also debated and adopted four SIs:

• Addressing the Multifaceted Impacts of Climate Change and Water Scarcity in the Central Asian Region through Enhanced Regional Co-operation and Parliamentary Dialogue (Ms. Farah Karimi, Netherlands)

• Youth Perspectives on the Future of International Relations, Multilateralism, and Sustainable Development (Mr. David Stogmuller, Austria)

• Preventing Corruption from Being Used as a Foreign Policy Tool (Ms. Irene Charalambides, Cyprus)

• Environmental Protection in International Armed Conflicts (Ms. Federica Onori, Italy)

The following individuals were elected as officers of the Second General Committee for 2024–2025:

Chair: Mr. Azay Guliyev (Azerbaijan)

Vice-Chair: Mr. Artur Gerasymov (Ukraine)

Rapporteur: Ms. Paula Cardoso (Portugal)

B. ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

During the general debate on the Rapporteur’s report, Senator Downe spoke about the reconstruction of Ukraine. Reflecting on the devastating destruction caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, he called on the international community to support Ukraine with both its emergency reconstruction needs and its vision to “build back better” in a post-war context.

On behalf of Ms. Carina Ödebrink (Sweden), Ms. Damoff presented an amendment to the committee’s draft resolution that called on the OSCE PA Standing Committee to develop a proposal to support gender balance in the OSCE PA’s membership. The amendment was adopted.

Senator Downe also spoke in support of the SI on Preventing Corruption from Being Used as a Foreign Policy Tool, sponsored by Ms. Irene Charalambides (Cyprus). He underlined some of the recommendations made in the SI, including those encouraging the enactment of legislation to create or strengthen beneficial ownership registers and the promotion of accountability and transparency in public procurement processes.

GENERAL COMMITTEE ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN QUESTIONS

A. OVERVIEW

Chair: Ms. Lucie Potuckova (Czech Republic)

Vice-Chair: Mr. Sargis Khandanyan (Armenia)

Rapporteur: Mr. Malik Ben Achour (Belgium)

The Third General Committee considered and debated a report and a draft resolution submitted by the Rapporteur, Mr. Ben Achour. The draft resolution focused on four main themes: protecting civilians in armed conflict and respect for international humanitarian law; the plight of refugees, forcibly displaced persons, and migrants; fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of association, assembly, and expression; and promoting and safeguarding human rights and democratic principles.

Following the Rapporteur’s presentation of his report and draft resolution, delegates debated the issues they raised. Proposed amendments to the draft resolution were then debated and adopted, and the draft resolution was adopted as amended. The Third General Committee also debated and adopted six SIs proposed by delegates:

• Ending the Scourge of Antisemitism in the OSCE Region (Mr. Ben Cardin, United States)

• Navigating Contemporary Journalism and Gender-Related Challenges (Ms. Daniela De Ridder, Germany)

• Strengthening Safe and Regular Pathways for Migration (Ms. Daniela De Ridder, Germany)

• Strengthening Actions to Prevent Human Trafficking and Protecting Survivors to Prevent Re-Trafficking (Mr. Christopher Smith, United States)

• The Role of Civil Society in Fostering Democratic and Inclusive Societies (Dr. Hedy Fry, Canada)

The following individuals were elected as officers for the Third General Committee for 2024–2025:

Chair: Ms. Lucie Potuckova (Czech Republic)

Vice-Chair: Mr. Sargis Khandanyan (Armenia)

Rapporteur: Ms. Carina Ödebrink (Sweden)

B. ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

During the general debate on the Rapporteur’s report, Dr. Fry spoke about the humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine, drawing attention to issues relating to maternal and newborn care, as well as to the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia. Dr. Fry also presented an amendment to the committee’s draft resolution that encouraged OSCE participating States to increase their support for organizations providing services to victims of conflict-related sexual violence. The amendment was adopted.

As well, Dr. Fry sponsored two amendments to the SI on Strengthening Actions to Prevent Human Trafficking and Protecting Survivors to Prevent Re-Trafficking (Mr. Christopher Smith, United States). The first amendment recognized the vulnerability of women and girls to trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, forced marriage and other forms of exploitation. The second amendment specified that a gender-sensitive approach should be followed by participating States when developing and strengthening education programs designed to prevent human trafficking. The amendments were adopted

During the meeting of the Third General Committee, Dr. Fry also presented her SI on The Role of Civil Society in Fostering Democratic and Inclusive Societies, which was unanimously adopted without amendments. Ms. Koutrakis made an intervention in support of Dr. Fry’s SI, highlighting the SI’s call on participating States to provide channels for meaningful engagement between governments and civil society organizations for the development of public policy.

FIRST, SECOND AND FINAL PLENARIES

A. OVERVIEW

During the First Plenary on 29 June 2024, delegates debated and adopted the following two SIs:

• Security and Geopolitical Challenges in the OSCE Region: Ten Years of Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine (Mr. Mykyta Poturaiev, Ukraine)

• The Deterioration of the Situation of Human Rights in the Transdniestrian Region of the Republic of Moldova (Ms. Veronica Rosca, Moldova)

During the Second Plenary on 2 July 2024, delegates considered and adopted the following SI:

• Artificial Intelligence and the Fight against Terrorism (Mr. Emanuele Loperfido, Italy)

As well, delegates heard reports on various OSCE PA activities. Delegates were addressed by the co-chair of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, the chairs of the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration and the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism, in addition to the heads of the OSCE PA election observation mission to North Macedonia, which took place in May 2024. The next item on the agenda was the general debate, during which approximately 30 delegates spoke on the situation in the Middle East. The general debate was followed by an open debate, in which over 40 delegates took the floor, and which continued into the Final Plenary.

During the Final Plenary on 3 July 2024, Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Luminiţa-Teodora Odobescu, provided remarks. Delegates were also addressed by the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta, Mr. Ian Borg, who then answered questions from OSCE PA delegates. OSCE PA Secretary General Montella also reported on the recent activities of the OSCE PA secretariat.

The Bucharest Declaration was adopted during the Final Plenary and the results of the elections for officers of the OSCE PA were announced. The following individuals were elected as OSCE PA officers:

• Ms. Pia Kauma (Finland) re-elected President for a second one-year term to the end of the 2025 Session;

• Mr. Luís Graça (Portugal) elected Vice-President to the end of the 2027 Annual Session;

• Mr. Richard Hudson (United States) elected Vice-President to the end of the 2027 Annual Session;

• Ms. Gudrun Kugler (Austria) elected Vice-President to the end of the 2027 Annual Session.

B. ACTIVITIES OF THE CANADIAN DELEGATION

During the first plenary, Ms. Koutrakis and Dr. Fry intervened in support of the SI on Security and Geopolitical Challenges in the OSCE Region: Ten Years of Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine sponsored by Mr. Poturaiev (Ukraine). Ms. Koutrakis highlighted the growing security challenges facing liberal democracies and stressed the need for like-minded countries to stand together in a time of regional and global insecurity. Dr. Fry intervened to urge the OSCE PA community to hold Russia accountable for its violation of international law and for the human rights abuses that it has committed against the Ukrainian people.

During the Second Plenary, Ms. Michaud spoke during the general debate on the “Situation in the Middle East.” Drawing attention to the suffering of civilians in conflict settings, she encouraged the OSCE PA to condemn any armed conflict that threatens the lives of civilians. In the face of growing regional and global instability, she stressed the importance of cooperation and unity in addressing the multiple crises and conflicts facing the OSCE region and the world.

Dr. Fry and Senator Boehm intervened during the open debate, which took place during the Second and Final Plenaries. Dr. Fry presented her recent work as OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues. She spoke about her consultations with civil society organizations in Armenia in November 2023, Hungary in February 2024 and Romania in June 2024. She drew attention to the threat that restrictions on civic space pose to democracy and gender equality, a topic that is discussed both in her SI on The Role of Civil Society in Fostering Democratic and Inclusive Societies and in her 2024 annual report entitled Fostering Free and Inclusive Societies: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in a Time of Democratic Decline.[6] During the open debate, Senator Boehm focused his intervention on the need for ongoing international support for and solidarity with Ukraine. In the context of Russia’s attempts to undermine international solidarity for Ukraine, he stressed the importance of like-minded countries demonstrating their commitment to Ukraine through political, financial and military support.

Along with Mr. Büser and Mr. Hadjiyianni, Dr. Fry served as a Teller for the election of the OSCE PA President and Vice-Presidents. The Tellers oversaw election preparations prior to the Annual Session, as well as the early-voting and voting procedures during the Annual Session in Bucharest.

WORKING LUNCH ON GENDER ISSUES

Every year, in her capacity as OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues, Dr. Fry hosts a working lunch on gender issues during the OSCE PA Annual Session. The theme of the 2024 annual working lunch on gender issues was “Progress and Setbacks: The State of Gender Equality in the OSCE Region.” The event was co-hosted by Dr. Fry and the Head of the Romanian Delegation to the OSCE PA, Mr. Barna. All members of the Canadian delegation attended the working lunch on gender issues.

In her remarks, Dr. Fry outlined the main findings of her consultations with civil society organizations in 2023 and 2024. For instance, she noted that, during her consultations, participants drew attention to the importance of having a strong legal framework relating to gender equality, with many identifying violence and harassment against women working in the public sphere as a pervasive and recurring issue. Mr. Barna then delivered remarks, providing examples of steps Romania has taken to promote gender equality.

Following remarks by Dr. Fry and Mr. Barna, OSCE PA President Kauma and Secretary General Montella took the floor. President Kauma spoke in support of Dr. Fry’s work as OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues and encouraged all OSCE PA delegations to promote gender equality when appointing delegates. Secretary General Montella highlighted the progress that has been made towards achieving gender balance within the OSCE PA and the OSCE PA International Secretariat in recent years.

Participants heard presentations by Ms. Mónica Ferro, Director of the United Nations Population Fund Representation Office in London, and Ms. Liliana Palihovici, OSCE Chairpersonship-in-Office Special Representative on Gender. Ms. Ferro spoke about the work carried out by the United Nations Population Fund to promote gender equality through legal and policy reforms, to encourage gender-sensitive data collection, and to support a range of initiatives to improve the health of women and girls. For her part, Ms. Palihovici spoke about selected trends relating to gender equality in the OSCE region, including the participation of women in parliaments of the OSCE region, and provided an overview of the OSCE’s efforts to implement the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality. She also discussed possible measures to help increase women’s participation in politics in the OSCE region.

During the open discussion, participants were encouraged to discuss the following three questions:

1. What are the main challenges that the parliaments and governments of OSCE participating States face when trying to integrate a gender perspective into their work?

2. What are some examples of recent advances and setbacks in gender equality in your country?

3. How can parliamentarians better protect civil society actors working for gender equality in the OSCE region?

Several OSCE PA members took the floor to discuss these questions as well as other issues relating to gender equality in their country. Discussions focussed on several issues, including online and offline gender-based violence, violence against women in politics, domestic and family violence and the adoption and implementation of a robust legal framework relating to gender equality. Participants also spoke about best practices to promote gender equality, including the use of an intersectional approach when including a gender perspective in parliament’s work and in training for parliamentarians and their staff.

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON MIGRATION

On 30 June 2024, Dr. Fry attended the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee listened to a presentation on migration management, entitled “Migration management between politics and policies: The strategic role of evidence and data,” by Dr. Guido Tintori, Economic Affairs Officer at the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA). Dr. Tintori spoke about the work of the OCEEA in helping OSCE participating States to improve migration legislation and implement national policy frameworks relating to migration. His presentation also focused on trends relating to international migration governance, the collection and analysis of data on irregular migration, and best practices relating to public communication on irregular migration. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session, during which Committee members discussed the importance of having accurate migration data and the wide range of views on migration across the OSCE region. Dr. Fry shared information about Canada’s migration management framework.

The Committee then reviewed its recent activities, including its field visits to Italy in March 2024 and to Türkiye in May 2024. Members of the committee also discussed upcoming activities and the plans for the next meeting.

SIDE EVENTS AND BILATERAL MEETINGS

Canadian delegates attended the following side-events over the course of the 31^st Annual Session:

• A side event on “Enforcing the support for displaced people of Ukraine” hosted by the Ukrainian Delegation on 1 July 2024.

• A side event on “Ending the Scourge of Antisemitism” hosted by Senator Ben Cardin (United States), OSCE PA Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance, on 2 July 2024.

• A side event on “Legislative Action to Prevent the Misuse of Technology for Trafficking in Human Beings” hosted by the Romanian Delegation on 2 July 2024.

• A side event on “Combatting Russian disinformation campaigns” hosted by the German Delegation on 2 July 2024.

• A side event on “Climate change and water scarcity in Central Asia” hosted by Farah Karimi (Netherlands) on 2 July 2024.

• A side event on “Exploring Online Platforms for Documenting War and State Abuse in Pursuit of Freedom of Expression and Accountability” hosted by Malik Ben Achour (Belgium) on 2 July 2024.

Canadian delegates participated in bilateral meetings with:

• Ms. Pia Kauma (Finland), President of the OSCE PA on 1 July 2024, during which they discussed the upcoming work of the OSCE PA as well as matters relating to the functioning of the OSCE PA secretariat, including its resources and budget.

• delegates of the Delegation of Romania on 2 July 2024, during which they discussed such topics as bilateral relations, new technologies and AI governance and energy policies.

OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE HONOURABLE DR. HEDY FRY, OSCE PA REPRESENTATIVE ON GENDER ISSUES

On 28 June 2024, in her capacity as OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues, Dr. Fry hosted a meeting with Romanian civil society organizations in Bucharest, Romania. The objective of the meeting was to gain a better understanding of gender issues in the country and the role played by local civil society organizations in supporting the realization of gender equality.

The discussions focused on various issues including women’s political representation, education, violence against women, LGBTQI+ rights, migrant and refugee women and girls, the economic participation of women, and healthcare, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. Participants also underlined some of the operational challenges they face in conducting their work and the ways in which the OSCE and the OSCE PA could enhance their cooperation with civil society organizations working to advance gender equality.

Respectfully submitted,

The Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P.

Director, Canadian Delegation to the OSCE PA