News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE/ODIHR event in Kyiv focuses on lessons learned and recommendations for further reforms developed in project on security of religious communities in Ukraine
Publishing date: 26 February 2016
Lessons learned and recommendations for further reforms in policy, legislation and practice developed over the course of a project to promote the security of religious communities in Ukraine were the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Kyiv on 25 and 26 February 2016.
Migrants crisis, Ukraine in focus as OSCE PA Winter Meeting opens
Publishing date: 25 February 2016
VIENNA, 25 February 2016 – Nearly 300 lawmakers from Europe, Asia and North America, including four speakers of parliament, assembled today in Vienna for the opening of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 2016 Winter Meeting, its first major convocation of the year...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 24 February 2016
Publishing date: 25 February 2016
The SMM observed a higher number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk than the previous day, and mostly training-related ones in Luhansk region. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission facilitated and monitored repair works on both sides of the contact line. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, all in Donetsk region.* The SMM noted long queues at crossing points on the contact line. It monitored public gatherings in Kyiv and Odessa...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 23 February 2016
Publishing date: 24 February 2016
The SMM observed a lower number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk than the previous day, and four training-related violations in Luhansk. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The Mission facilitated and monitored repair works on both sides of the contact line. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions, the majority south of Donetsk city. The SMM noted long queues along the line of contact. It observed public gatherings in Kyiv and Chernivtsi...
Media freedom imperative for ensuring security, OSCE media freedom representative Mijatović says at Annual Harriman Lecture at Columbia University
Publishing date: 24 February 2016
NEW YORK, 24 February 2016 – Delivering the Annual Harriman Lecture at Columbia University, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović emphasized the importance of OSCE’s comprehensive and multi-dimensional concept of security. Mijatović said freedom of expression and free media constitute two imperative tools in fostering a meaningful debate on security issues and effectively addressing new security challenges...
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 23 February 2016
Publishing date: 24 February 2016
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCP). The overall cross-border traffic increased at both BCPs. A forty-eighth Russian Convoy crossed at the Donetsk BCP...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 22 February 2016
Publishing date: 23 February 2016
The SMM observed a large number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. The situation remained relatively calm in Luhansk region. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM encountered freedom-of-movement restrictions. The SMM observed commemorative events for the victims of violence in Odessa and Kharkiv. The SMM observed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoints near Marinka were open. The SMM observed damage to a television station in Kyiv. The SMM confirmed that an NGO activist held by the “DPR” had been released...