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Minority rights

The OSCE identifies and seeks early resolution of ethnic tensions that might endanger peace or stability. It promotes the rights of national minorities and pays particular attention to the situation of Roma and Sinti.

Latest stories

OSCE Chairperson welcomes appointment of Astrid Thors as OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

KYIV, 17 July 2013 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, welcomed the appointment of Finnish politician Astrid Thors as OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Thors has been a Member of the Parliament of Finland since 2004. She has also served as a Minister of Migration and European Affairs of Finland and was a Member of the European Parliament. Her appointment as OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities was a consensus decision of all 57 OSCE participating States... ()

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities visits Serbia, discusses enhancing minority participation

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, visited Serbia from 12 to 14 June 2013 to discuss national minority issues with representatives of central and local government and community leaders...

Security needs of Jewish communities in OSCE region focus of conference in Berlin

BERLIN, 11 June 2013 – Representatives of governments from some 20 OSCE participating States, civil society and Jewish communities will meet in Berlin on Thursday, 13 June for an expert conference on the security needs of Jewish communities in the OSCE region...

Organizational skills of Armenian national minorities enhanced with OSCE involvement

A five-day training course on organizational development for national minorities in Armenia kicked off in Yerevan on 31 May 2013. The class, which receives support from the OSCE Office in Yerevan, targets heads and representatives of youth branches of national minority NGOs... ()

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities: State must take responsibility for facilitating integration

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Knut Vollebaek has stressed the need for governments to promote integration of society during the last official visit of his mandate to Skopje from 22 to 24 May 2013...

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities marks 20 years of conflict prevention

The institution of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities marked its 20th anniversary in The Hague on 7 and 8 March 2013...

OSCE Chairperson stresses need to respect and uphold rights of national minorities

THE HAGUE, 7 March 2013 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, speaking today at an event marking the 20th anniversary of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) said lasting peace and security can only be achieved by respecting and upholding human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities...