News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Fifth International Summer School for Junior Diplomats takes place in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 25 August 2021
From 22 to 28 August 2021, twenty young diplomats from Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Russian Federation are taking part in a five-day International Summer School for Junior Diplomats in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative concerned about sanctions in Ukraine that endanger media freedom and free flow of information
Publishing date: 25 August 2021
VIENNA, 25 August 2021 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro today expressed her concern regarding Ukraine’s practice of applying sanctions that negatively affect the work of media outlets and journalists.
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 24 August 2021
Publishing date: 24 August 2021
The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.
Appointment of new judges to Georgia’s highest court lacked integrity and credibility, though procedure was generally well run: ODIHR assessment
Publishing date: 23 August 2021
WARSAW, 23 August 2021 – Despite a number of positive legal changes to the nomination process for the judges of Georgia’s Supreme Court, today’s final monitoring report of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) shows that the stage of the appointment procedure carried out by parliament still lacks adequate safeguards, negatively affecting the integrity of the overall process.
Joint Message of OSCE CiO’s Personal Representatives on the International Day Commemorating Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
Publishing date: 20 August 2021
VIENNA, 20 August 2021- Throughout this past year we have witnessed acts of violence and hate-motivated attacks based on religion or belief across the OSCE region. Jews, Muslims, minority Christian communities, and others were targeted and endured physical and verbal abuse and even murder, solely because of their religious identification. Despite the strength and resilience many participating States have demonstrated in managing the COVID-19 crisis, the pandemic and its physical distancing restrictions have led to the proliferation of online intolerance. This includes racist discourse and incitement against members of religious and belief communities, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, and hate speech against Muslims. These developments should alarm us all.
OSCE-supported Annual Anti-Terrorism Experts Meeting in Issyk-Kul focused on preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism
Publishing date: 20 August 2021
The Eighth Annual Anti-Terrorism Experts Meeting, organized by the Anti-Terrorist Center under the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, and the OSCE’s Action against Terrorism Unit/Transnational Threats Department, was held from 18 to 21 August 2021 in Issyk-Kul.
Countering religious hatred is critical to restore COVID-worn democracy and security, says OSCE human rights head
Publishing date: 20 August 2021
WARSAW, 20 August 2021 – Governments need to work harder to protect victims of religious hate crimes, and consistently condemn and prosecute all bias-motivated crimes, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said ahead of the third anniversary of the United Nations International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion.