News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Strengthening law enforcement co-operation in combating trafficking in human beings focus of OSCE conference in Astana
Publishing date: 5 October 2022
An OSCE Central Asian regional conference on strengthening law enforcement co-operation in combating trafficking in human beings, co-organized by the Programme Office in Dushanbe and the Programme Office in Astana, in co-operation with the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, was held on 4 and 5 October 2022 in Astana.
Urgent action needed to protect civic space against misuse of counter-terrorism, ODIHR event underlines
Publishing date: 5 October 2022
The misuse of counter-terrorism measures against dissenting voices has reached alarming levels in the OSCE region, participants concluded at an event on counter-terrorism and shrinking civic space organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 4 October 2022.
OSCE, UNODC train Tajik government experts to counter terrorist networks by imposing financial sanctions
Publishing date: 4 October 2022
A three-day course for Tajik governmental experts on designating and imposing targeted financial sanctions pursuant to UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 against individuals and entities associated with terrorist groups concluded on 29 September 2022 in Dushanbe.
Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were competitive but concerns remained over failed reforms and divisive rhetoric, international observers say
Publishing date: 3 October 2022
SARAJEVO, 3 October 2022 – The general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were competitive and overall well organised with fundamental freedoms respected during the campaign. However, failed reform efforts, a widespread mistrust in public institutions, and ethnically divisive rhetoric continued to mark the election environment, international observers said in a statement today.
Fundamental freedoms generally respected in competitive Bulgarian elections, but process marked by voter fatigue, international observers say
Publishing date: 3 October 2022
SOFIA, 3 October 2022 – Bulgaria’s 2 October early parliamentary elections were competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected, although allegations of vote-buying and pressure on voters negatively affected parts of the process, international observers said in a statement today. Despite a late start to the preparations and the limited technical and administrative capacity of the election administration, the elections were organized adequately, the statement says.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau, Parliamentary Assembly President Cederfelt, OSCE Secretary General Schmid and OSCE PA Secretary General Montella condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory
Publishing date: 30 September 2022
WARSAW/VIENNA/COPENHAGEN, 30 September 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden), OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella, unanimously and categorically condemn the Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of territory in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts of Ukraine, as well as the continued occupation of Crimea.
Links between media freedom and democracy, safety of journalists, and encryption focus of OSCE Media Freedom Representative participation at Warsaw Conference
Publishing date: 30 September 2022
WARSAW, 30 September 2022- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, concluded today her participation in the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, where she and her Office engaged in various discussions with OSCE participating States, civil society organizations, OSCE Institutions, representatives of inter-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders on a range of media freedom issues and challenges.