News and press releases

VIENNA, 22 August 2023- On this International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, we express our concern at the alarming number of violent incidents and hate-motivated attacks based on religion or belief that occur throughout the OSCE region. Antisemitic conspiracy theories, hate speech directed at Muslims, racist discourse, and incitement targeting Christians and members of other religions or belief are rife on and off social media.

WARSAW, 22 August 2023 – Interfaith and interreligious dialogue is vital to promote the right to freedom of religion or belief and combat religious intolerance and violence, not just against people but also against homes, property, schools, religious sites, or places of worship, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion.

On 21 August 2023, The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) in co-operation with Tajikistan’s Border Troops launched a one month training course. Twenty-five officers from the Special Units of Tajikistan’s Border Troops are taking part in the course on “Sustaining Field Operational Capacities” held in the Border Troops Regional Training Facility in Khorog. The course is conducted by a national expert and supported by assistant instructors from the Tajik Border Troops, leveraging local expertise while fostering sustainable internal training capacities.

On 17 and 18 August 2023, the Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) organized a two-day training for social workers and psychologists in Dushanbe. The training aimed to teach techniques for rehabilitating juvenile offenders and preparing them for reintegration into society after serving their sentences.

On 14 – 19 August 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) organized a six-day training on the practical use of the electronic inventory management software for small arms and light weapons (SALW) and conventional ammunition (CA). Twelve national participants (all men) from Tajikistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) took part in the training held in Dushanbe.

VIENNA/SARAJEVO, 16 August 2023- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, and Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Brian Aggeler are alarmed by the recent repeated, open and direct threats as well as accusations made by Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik towards N1, Capital, BN, and Buka media outlets.

SARAJEVO, 16 August 2023- On this day of mourning, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina expresses its deep condolences to the families of the victims of those killed and wounded in the horrific killings in Gradačac, as well as to the local community suffering from this tragedy.