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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
ODIHR gravely concerned at situation in Belarus following presidential election
Publishing date: 10 August 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Elections
WARSAW, 10 August 2020 – Amidst intimidation and disproportionate police force against protesters in Belarus following reports of serious administrative misconduct during yesterday’s presidential election, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) calls for dialogue and urges the authorities to refrain from violence and to honestly report detailed election results from all polling stations...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Edi Rama takes action to ensure operational continuity ahead of imminent vacancies of Secretary General and Heads of Institutions roles
Publishing date: 17 July 2020
Content type: Press release
TIRANA / VIENNA, 17 July 2020 – In a letter to the OSCE’s 57 participating States today, Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship announced that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Edi Rama has taken prompt action to ensure the Organization’s operational continuity in light of the imminent vacancies of the OSCE Secretary General and the Heads of Institutions roles...
Impact of emergency measures on human rights and democracy key focus of new OSCE/ODIHR report
Publishing date: 17 July 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
WARSAW, 17 July 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has been a formative experience for all humanity and a health emergency of global proportions, presenting a huge challenge to national leaders, health systems, and citizens. The findings of a new report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) shows that it has also been a test to our democracies and the respect for human rights to which countries across the OSCE committed many years ago.
Parliaments vital for strong democracies in times of crisis, OSCE human rights and parliamentary heads say
Publishing date: 21 April 2020
Content type: Press release
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Rule of law
Warsaw/Copenhagen, 21 April 2020 – A strong role for parliaments is crucial to the transparency and accountability of government measures as the COVID-19 pandemic puts our democracies to the test, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said in a statement today...
Newly declared states of emergency must include a time limit and parliamentary oversight, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 30 March 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights
WARSAW, 30 March 2020 – Emergency legislation being adopted by governments across the OSCE region must include a time limit and guarantee parliamentary oversight, said the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) ahead of a vote in Hungary to extend emergency measures earlier adopted in the EU member state. ODIHR is systematically monitoring the content and consequences of the states of emergency being declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic...
ODIHR encourages Belarus to continue work on strengthened judicial independence, promotion of human rights and support for women leaders
Publishing date: 27 February 2020
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Gender equality, Rule of law
Greater efforts and co-operation are needed to achieve a more independent justice system, educate citizens about human rights and strengthen women’s leadership in Belarus, said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), addressing
It’s time for women to lead in politics, say participants in ODIHR Finland/Poland roundtable
Publishing date: 17 December 2019
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights
Now is the time for women to boost their representation in political leadership positions, said politicians, government officials, diplomats, civil society representatives and activists from Poland and Finland, who gathered in Warsaw on 17 December 2019 to explore ways of increasing women’s