News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 31 August 2015
Publishing date: 1 September 2015
The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The number of ceasefire violations observed remained at a similar level compared with the previous day in Donetsk. No ceasefire violations were recorded in the Luhansk region. The SMM observed preparations for the start of the school year in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In Kyiv the SMM monitored a protest outside the national Parliament which turned violent...
Technical Working Group on durable solutions for displaced from Kosovo met to take process forward
Publishing date: 1 September 2015
PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 1 September 2015 – Measures crucial to advance durable solutions for displaced persons from Kosovo were at the focus of a technical working group meeting organized in Prishtinё/Priština today by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and supported by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)...
OSCE PA human rights Chair calls for release of Azerbaijan’s Ismayilova
Publishing date: 1 September 2015
COPENHAGEN, 1 September 2015 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Chair, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today called for the immediate release of Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who was sentenced earlier on 1 September to 7 ½ years in prison...
OSCE human rights chief calls for human rights-based, co-operative response to Europe’s migration crisis
Publishing date: 1 September 2015
WARSAW, 1 September 2015 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today called on countries in the OSCE to work together towards a co-ordinated and sustainable response to the increased flow of migrants into Europe; one that takes into account obligations to all individuals, including asylum seekers and refugees...
OSCE Representative and Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights condemn sentencing of journalist Khadija Ismayilova in Azerbaijan
Publishing date: 1 September 2015
STRASBOURG/VIENNA, 1 September 2015 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, and the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, today condemned the sentencing of Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova...
OSCE contest challenges creative community to raise awareness of link between climate change and security
Publishing date: 1 September 2015
VIENNA, 1 September 2015 – To help raise awareness about security risks linked to climate change, the OSCE has launched an international contest in partnership with eYeka, a global community of talented creators, to find a compelling image that conveys the important message that climate change increases the risk of conflict...
Spot Report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): Protest outside national Parliament in Kyiv turns violent
Publishing date: 31 August 2015
On 31 August beginning at 09:00hrs, the SMM monitored protests in front of the national Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) building in Kyiv. Some 3,000 persons (male and female of all ages) carrying “Svoboda”, “Radical Party” and “Ukrop” flags were protesting against constitutional amendments that were being voted on inside the Parliament. The event was initially peaceful and orderly with no signs of unrest...