TNTD/SPMU participated in an Expert Meeting at ODIHR on International Roma and Sinti Day on 8 April 2014. The meeting reviewed the relevance, use and practical application of the OSCE TNTD-ODIHR Manual on Police and Roma and Sinti, by taking into account the current challenges and developments regarding Roma and Sinti since 2010. Participants discussed the way forward and focused on addressing the current challenges along with promoting policing in Roma and Sinti communities at local level. It was agreed that TNTD/SPMU should be part in a country visit to Slovakia, where major attacks against Roma communities took place recently. From 27-31 October 2014, TNTD/SPMU, ODIHR and the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) conducted a joint visit to Slovakia. The aim was to assess the relationship between the police and Roma and Sinti communities in the country. In preparation of this field visit, ODIHR hired one national and one international expert to prepare background papers on the issue. The visiting team comprised five participants representing ODIHR, HCNM, TNTD/SPMU and civil society organizations. The team met with representatives from governmental and community structures and visited Roma settlements in the Kosice region, where meetings where held with social services staff and Roma community leaders. A comprehensive joint assessment report is to be issued by the end of November 2014 in consultation with the Slovak authorities. In July 2014, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Ukraine requested the OSCE’s assistance in developing and implementing a pilot project in the Lviv region as the first stage of a police reform process. The project envisions establishing a Pilot Project Office (PPO) in the Headquarters (HQ) of the MIA of Ukraine in Lviv and conducting an assessment of the MIA HQ in Lviv and its relationships with the local population and with other state structures and bodies. The project will serve as a test for potential future long-term OSCE activities in Ukraine in the area of police reform and help in the development of a community policing model which could be expanded to other regions of the country in the near future. The Ukrainian MIA has expressed its full support to the project proposal that was drafted by TNTD/SPMU and sent to the MIA for consideration. A draft Memorandum of Understanding between the OSCE and the MIA is presently under review by the relevant Governmental bodies in Ukraine. Project activities will be conducted in close co-operation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine and other international actors, such as the US Embassy in Kyiv and the EU Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine), to ensure that the project and its implementation are in line with parallel initiatives by these actors as well as with the overall principles of Criminal Justice Sector Reform in Ukraine. Public Assembly Management On 14-16 May, upon invitation of the Ministry of Interior of Kazakhstan, TNTD/SPMU organized and held an intensive three-day training in Almaty on public assembly management. The training was attended by mid- and senior-level practitioners of the MoI and was devoted to the use of firearms and force application during public assemblies. TNTD/SPMU delivered presentations on “Ensuring Law and Order during Public Assemblies” and “Policing Assemblies: International Standards and Good Practices”, followed by a case study. The objective of the training was to promote international human rights standards for national authorities, as well as to develop and raise awareness of related legislative and practical recommendation based on international best practices. On 9-10 December 2014, TNTD/SPMU participated in a workshop in Warsaw organized by ODIHR dedicated to the elaboration of a new Human Rights Guide to Policing Assemblies. The event convened policing experts from various participating States who have worked together for the past two years in developing this new guidebook. TNTD/SPMU has been 27