News and press releases

An OSCE-supported two-day XII Internet Forum “Development of the Internet sphere in Central Asia” was concluded on 19 November 2021 in Almaty. The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in co-operation with the MediaNet International Centre for Journalism and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat conducted an online lecture series to support the education of future diplomats in Turkmenistan, which concluded today in Ashgabat.

Forensic science plays an increasingly larger role in criminal investigations. Joint forensic work on projects and cases with a regional character are crucial in combating organized crime. This was the conclusion of the sixth annual regional meeting of forensic centres, held in hybrid format, in Podgorica on 9 and 10 December 2021.

Ensuring protection and promotion of rights of persons with disabilities was the focus of an OSCE supported online roundtable discussion concluded on 3 December 2021. The aim was to discuss issues related to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in Kazakhstan.

WASHINGTON/ANKARA/VIENNA,10 DECEMBER 2021- As we mark International Human Rights Day, much of the world is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. A new variant and increased cases have led many OSCE participating States to reimpose restrictions reminiscent of the conditions under which we commemorated this important anniversary a year ago. The pandemic has exacerbated our task of preserving and defending human rights around the world. It has further widened the political and partisan divides and fueled conspiracy theories that target minorities and persons in vulnerable situations. Some nations, while citing the necessity of measures to control the spread of the virus, have used it as a pretext for disproportionate security responses and repressive measures that undermine human rights, including the freedom of religion or belief.

To help improve border security of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to BiH, held a training course on identifying forged travel documents for instructors at the Agency for Education and Professional Training of the BiH Ministry of Security, from 6 to 10 December 2021 in Mostar.

On the eve of International Human Rights Day, on 9 December 2021 the OSCE Presence in Albania organized a regional roundtable discussion for equality bodies and independent human rights institutions. Representatives from the Western Balkans discussed, in the hybrid-format meeting, their role and interactions with respect to judicial proceedings.