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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative Désir calls on Ukrainian Government not to cut budget of public service broadcaster
Publishing date: 31 March 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Media pluralism
VIENNA, 31 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, called today on the Ukrainian Government not to cut the budget of the public broadcasting company of Ukraine, UA:PBC...
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...
Сoronavirus response should not curb freedom of the press in Azerbaijan, says OSCE Media Freedom Representative
Publishing date: 25 March 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, 25 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding amendments to the law on information, adopted by the national parliament of Azerbaijan on 17 March, in the context of the fight against disinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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...
Gender equality is a cornerstone of media freedom and democratic society, OSCE leaders say
Publishing date: 9 March 2021
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Gender equality, Media freedom and development
VIENNA, 9 March 2021 – Ensuring both equal opportunities and equal safeguards for women and men is key to an independent and diverse media landscape, which is vital for open societies based on the principles at the heart of OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy, participants said at a two-day OSCE meeting that ended today.
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 concerned about decree against “fake news” in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and calls on authorities to withdraw it
Publishing date: 14 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Safety of journalists
VIENNA / SARAJEVO, 14 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kathleen Kavalec, pointed to the risk of potential violations of fundamental freedoms after the Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, issued a decree which could restrict the media and journalists from reporting freely on the COVID-19 pandemic.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative and OSCE Head of Mission to Serbia stress importance of free access to information, following new Government decision
Publishing date: 1 April 2020
Content type: Press release
What we do: Media freedom and development, Media laws
VIENNA/BELGRADE, 1 April 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Orizio, expressed their concerns today over a new decision by the Government of Serbia on public information during the current health emergency and the impact that this could have on free access to information in the country...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative concerned by the impact of coronavirus response law on work of media in Russia
Publishing date: 31 March 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, 31 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his deep concerns today about amendments to the Russian legislation, imposing up to five years in prison, for spreading false information about the COVID-19 pandemic...
Сoronavirus response bill should not curb freedom of information in Romania, stresses OSCE Media Freedom Representative
Publishing date: 30 March 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, 30 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about the provisions of the Romanian coronavirus response decree that grants the government special powers to curb freedom of information in the country...