News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Monitors from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine focus on human trafficking during Kyiv training
Publishing date: 8 April 2015
KYIV, 8 April 2015 – The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, stressed the importance of raising awareness about human trafficking among monitors from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) at the end of a two-day training designed to improve their ability to spot this heinous crime...
Head of OSCE Bosnia and Herzegovina Mission calls on authorities to implement Roma Action Plans, marks International Roma Day in Kakanj
Publishing date: 8 April 2015
SARAJEVO, 8 April 2015 – On the occasion of the International Roma Day, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador Jonathan Moore called today on state authorities to allocate necessary resources and implement the Roma Action Plans on Housing, Education, Health and Employment...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 7 April 2015
Publishing date: 8 April 2015
The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements” which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations*. The SMM observed an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in the Donetsk region, especially around Donetsk airport. The SMM monitored the situation in the area of Shyrokyne and assessed the security situation as remaining tense. The SMM monitored five heavy weapons holding areas belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In Luhansk region, the SMM observed the security situation to be relatively calm...
OSCE media freedom representative calls for decriminalization of defamation in Greece after journalist sentenced to 26 months on libel charges
Publishing date: 8 April 2015
VIENNA, 8 April 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the recent libel conviction and sentence imposed on journalist Kostas Vaxevanis for stories written about banking practices in Greece...
OSCE PA President demands end to intimidation of monitors in eastern Ukraine
Publishing date: 8 April 2015
COPENHAGEN, 8 April 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) today called for an immediate end to the intimidation of OSCE monitors in Ukraine and reiterated the need for the monitors to have unfettered access throughout the country...
OSCE supports development of guidebook on anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 8 April 2015
ASTANA, 8 April 2015 – The presentation of a guidebook on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) developed jointly by experts from the OSCE and the Committee of Financial Monitoring of the Finance Ministry took place today in Astana...
On International Roma Day, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and human rights chief call for youth focus to promote greater Roma participation
Publishing date: 8 April 2015
BELGRADE/WARSAW, 8 April 2015 – Ivica Dačić, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), called today for greater efforts to ensure Roma and Sinti participation in social, political and cultural life. On the occasion of International Roma Day, they stressed that a focus on youth, including on education, is key to providing Roma communities with greater opportunities...