POLICE-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE laundering. The seminar hosted representatives of local institutions and agencies responsible for preventing and combating high-level corruption as well as members of the Italian, French and Swiss embassies. t
From 19-22 October, the Mission organized a study visit to Germany for nine KP officers and two special prosecutors engaged in the Special Anti-Corruption Task Force to learn about the German legislation on preventing and combating corruption. During this study visit, the participants met with anti-corruption, financial intelligence, investigation, forensic accounting, and asset recovery units of the German Federal Criminal Police in Wiesbaden, as well as with the Prosecutor’s Office dealing with corruption matters in the German State Prosecutor of Frankfurt. t
From 4-5 November, the Mission organized a regional conference on fighting corruption with the purpose to exchange experiences on regional best practices covering the current situation, opportunities, advantages and disadvantages, challenges and recommendations in fighting high level corruption, with an emphasis on asset seizure and financial investigation issues. Delegates from Albania, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia presented their respective current situation and challenges. The event also hosted representatives of institutions directly benefiting from this project as well as judiciary and civil society, EU, UNDP, and officials of the German, Albanian and French embassies. t
On 17 December, the Mission organized a reception to mark the conclusion of this extra-budgetary project, during which the project report with joint findings and recommendations was presented. Finally, the beneficiaries and other stakeholders who had contributed to the successful project completion were awarded certificates of recognition. From 1-5 June, the Mission delivered a training course aimed at increasing the abilities of 20 KP officers in cases related to intelligence analysis of economic, corruption, and financial crime. The training focused on analysing the data related to crime suspects, criminal networks, incidents, issues, and economic crime trends. From 26-29 October, the Mission organized a study visit to Italy for six KP officers and two special prosecutors engaged in the special anti-corruption task force to learn about the Italian legislation on preventing and combating corruption. During this visit, the study group met with representatives of the General Police Directorate, Joint Task Force against Crime Department, Anti-Mafia Directorate, Anti-Corruption and Guardia Di Finanza Task Force on financial intelligence, and the investigation and asset recovery units of the Italian Police. From 30 November-4 December, the Mission delivered training on ethics and anti-corruption to 15 KP first line supervisors, with five of them stationed in Mitrovica/ Mitrovicë North. The training focused on current aspects of police corruption and investigation techniques. Gender and Ethnic Mainstreaming Throughout the year, the Mission has supported the Association of Kosovo Police Women (AKPW) in reaching its overall objective to strengthen the role and position of women in the KP. As specified in the Kosovo Progress Report 2014, the progress remains low, especially in senior positions2, and the AKPW is considered as having a negative impact on the employment of women3. From 22-23 September, the Mission, in co-operation with the AKPW, organized a regional conference on “Integration of Gender Perspective in Security Sector” in Prishtinë/Priština. The purpose of the conference was to strengthen the role and position of women in the public safety sector at the regional level and enhance co-operation through the exchange of experiences. The police and the representatives of the OSCE field operations in Tirana, Podgorica, and Skopje, as well as the Head of the European Network of Policewomen, the Head of the Force International Ltd., and AKPW board members attended the event. They emphasised the need for continuous co-operation and membership in international organizations. From 16-20 November, the Mission, in close co-operation with the KP, facilitated an awareness-raising workshop aimed at preparing and encouraging Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian communities in Kosovo to join the police. Twenty-seven participants, 18 to 30 years of age, learned about the daily work of the police, community policing, ethics, selection and recruitment procedures, training, legislation, oversight, and key principles of democratic policing. 2 See European Commission Kosovo 2014 Progress Report, October 2014, paragraph 3, pg. 18. 3 See European Commission Kosovo 2014 Progress Report, October 2014, paragraph 2, pg. 37. 51