News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Challenges of urgent assistance for millions fleeing Ukraine must be followed by coordinated long-term support, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 22 March 2022
WARSAW, 22 March 2022 – With some 3.5 million people already forced to flee Ukraine since Russia’s military attack began less than a month ago, a rapidly increasing number of those in need of protection mean a concerted effort is crucial to provide them with longer-term assistance, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
OSCE Border Management Staff College concludes its 31st Staff Course
Publishing date: 22 March 2022
The OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) concluded its 31st Staff Course on 18 March 2022 in a face-to-face format in Dushanbe.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Secretary General condemn bombing of Mariupol and ongoing violence against civilians throughout Ukraine
Publishing date: 18 March 2022
WARSAW/VIENNA, 18 March 2022 – OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid strenuously condemned the ongoing violence by the Russian Armed Forces against civilian areas throughout Ukraine, including the recent bombing of a theatre harboring hundreds of civilians in Mariupol.
Germany, parliamentary elections 2021: ODIHR election expert team final report
Publishing date: 17 March 2022
The 26 September 2021 elections to the German Parliament (Bundestag) were generally well organized, and the election administration enjoyed stakeholder confidence notwithstanding some procedural issues reported and observed in Berlin. Overall, the postal voting system contains sufficient safeguards
Trainers from Bosnia and Herzegovina learn new techniques on investigating terrorist financing
Publishing date: 17 March 2022
A three-day train-the-trainer course on undertaking effective investigations in the course of an unfolding terrorist attack for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) concluded on 24 February 2022 in Vienna. The course was the third of its kind for BiH as part of sustained efforts by the OSCE and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to better counter terrorist financing and build training capability for the country.
OSCE human rights office alarmed by forced removal of elected officials in Ukrainian cities
Publishing date: 16 March 2022
WARSAW, 16 March 2022 – After two democratically elected mayors in the Ukrainian cities of Melitopol and Dniprorudne were forcibly removed from office, kidnapped and remain at risk of torture, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is increasingly alarmed by the impact of Russia’s military attack on the country’s democratic institutions.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Zbigniew Rau calls for stronger UN-OSCE co-operation to address global security challenges
Publishing date: 16 March 2022
NEW YORK, 16 March 2022 — We need to engage in closer cooperation with international institutions to stop the aggression against Ukraine and Russia must face consequences of its actions. This was the message underlined by Chairman-in-Office and Poland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau as he concluded his visit to United Nations headquarters in New York.