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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Unhindered access to, and free flow of, information remain essential during public health emergencies, concludes South Caucasus Media Conference
Publishing date: 19 November 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development
VIENNA, 19 November 2020 – The promotion of freedom of information during health crises and the state of media freedom in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia were the focus of the two-day 17th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference, which concluded today...
Participants of annual Central Asia Media Conference highlight need to uphold OSCE media freedom commitments while countering ‘harmful content’
Publishing date: 9 October 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development
VIENNA, 9 October 2020 – The 22nd Central Asia Media Conference, organized online by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), concluded today. Over the course of the three-day conference, around 150 journalists, representatives of NGOs, academia, international experts, and government agencies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan as well as Mongolia, discussed a broad range of issues related to freedom of the media and freedom of information in the region, with a special focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic...
Progress and challenges over three decades of safeguarding democracy and human rights: OSCE webinar series begins today
Publishing date: 28 September 2020
Content type: Press release
WARSAW/VIENNA, 28 September 2020 – The increasing challenges to the rights and freedoms at the heart of the OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy made 30 years ago, as well as the need for a greater understanding that only a dialogue based on mutual respect will enable us to overcome our common challenges, form the backdrop for a month-long series of webinars beginning today...
Stronger collective efforts needed to protect journalists against growing threats, concludes seventh OSCE South-East Europe Media Conference
Publishing date: 18 September 2020
Content type: Press release
What we do: Media freedom and development
VIENNA/BELGRADE, 18 September 2020 – The seventh South-East Europe Media Conference entitled “The New Frontline: Working together to Foster Media Freedom”, organized jointly by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) and the OSCE Mission to Serbia, in collaboration with OSCE field operations from South-East Europe, concluded today...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Edi Rama takes action to ensure operational continuity ahead of imminent vacancies of Secretary General and Heads of Institutions roles
Publishing date: 17 July 2020
Content type: Press release
TIRANA / VIENNA, 17 July 2020 – In a letter to the OSCE’s 57 participating States today, Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship announced that the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Edi Rama has taken prompt action to ensure the Organization’s operational continuity in light of the imminent vacancies of the OSCE Secretary General and the Heads of Institutions roles...
Threats to media freedom and to work of journalists on the rise, said OSCE Media Freedom Representative Désir at Permanent Council meeting in Vienna
Publishing date: 2 July 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development
VIENNA, 2 July 2020 – The press is in danger in too many places in the OSCE region, said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, as he presented his biannual report to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today. The COVID-19 pandemic has only aggravated this situation, as it amplified existing trends and added a new layer of problems to the existing ones, including the dire economic situation many media are currently facing...
OSCE media representative concerned by restriction to media freedom in the law on Manipulation of Information in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 29 June 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Media laws
Vienna, 29 June 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today about the recently passed law on the Manipulation of Information in Kyrgyzstan.
On occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2020, OSCE Media Freedom Representative calls on States to let journalists work freely without fear or favour
Publishing date: 2 May 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development
VIENNA, 2 May 2020 – In a video message published on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called on participating States throughout the OSCE region to let journalists work without fear or favour, especially in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic...
OSCE Representative Désir concerned by several cases of restrictions on media publication linked to “false information” on COVID-19 in Russia
Publishing date: 2 May 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development
VIENNA, 2 May 2020 – Following recent restrictions on several media in the Russian Federation, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, reiterated today his call on the Russian authorities to take into greater consideration the principles of necessity and proportionality when regulating the media and journalists’ activities...
Comprehensive security approach needed for global response to COVID-19, OSCE leaders say ahead of International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
Publishing date: 23 April 2020
Content type: Press release
TIRANA/COPENHAGEN/VIENNA/WARSAW/THE HAGUE, 23 April 2020 – The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace tomorrow will be marked with a heightened appreciation for the importance of comprehensive security and greater sense of urgency for the need to strengthen international co-operation, said the Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council and heads of OSCE institutions in a statement today...