OSCE Experiences Each thematic area offers a general introduction to the topic’s relevance for building sustainable peace, which is followed by illustrative examples of OSCE’s work in South-Eastern Europe. Each area concludes with a summary of the lessons identified from these thematic examples, and highlights some of the challenges that had to be overcome. The case of war crime trial monitoring illustrates such challenges. Despite the understanding that war crimes trials contribute to reconciliation between and within communities, some societies perceived such processes as lacking in commitment or being too slow. Other challenges included inadequate progress on high-priority cases, divergent application of appropriate legal standards, and stalled investigations due to funding delays. Conflict-related sexual violence cases present a particularly acute challenge, with thousands of incidents believed to have been unreported, thus leaving survivors (and their families) suffering from emotional trauma and social stigma. Another challenge that the OSCE encountered in the region, though to differing degrees, is political polarization, which creates difficulties in promoting long-term visions of peace and stability. This occurs particularly in societies where different narratives of the past are exploited by various stakeholders for short-term political gain, at times creating polarization with a very profound impact. Such exploitation may also affect the work of civil society actors, of which some might be politically affiliated and, thus, become part of the problem. 23