News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE helps to strengthen the ability of Ukraine’s Free Legal Aid system to provide assistance to survivors of gender-based violence in times of war
Publishing date: 29 September 2023
Ensuring gender-sensitive education of staff working in Ukraine’s system of free legal aid will enhance quality of assistance provided to survivors of gender-based violence, including related to the ongoing war. These are some of the recommendations, elaborated with the assistance of the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU), based on the assessment of documents, policies and practices used by members of the Free Legal Aid system.
With the OSCE support, the Ukrainian civil protection agencies practice interagency response to chemical emergencies
Publishing date: 28 September 2023
Over 100 rescuers, police officers, medics and officials enhanced their co-operation skills at a two-day table-top chemical emergency response exercise, organized by the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine together with the country’s State Emergency Service in Rivne, on 26-27 September.
OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia convenes reinforced meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
Publishing date: 26 September 2023
OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia convenes reinforced meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council
Inclusive economic growth and sustainable development took centre stage at OSCE 2023 Prague Forum on the Economic and Environmental Dimension
Publishing date: 15 September 2023
VIENNA/PRAGUE, 15 September 2023 – Promoting security and stability across the OSCE region through sustainable development and inclusive economic growth were in focus at the 2023 Forum on the Economic and Environmental Dimension of the OSCE, which took place in Prague from 14 to 15 September.
Canada takes over Chairpersonship of OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation
Publishing date: 13 September 2023
VIENNA, 13 September – Today, Canada assumed the Chairpersonship of the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) until December 2023. During the opening session, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Bill Blair, underlined the importance Canada attaches to the role of the FSC and to dialogue on security across the OSCE region.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Secretary General strongly urge immediate release of OSCE officials detained for over 500 days in Donetsk and Luhansk
Publishing date: 12 September 2023
SKOPJE/VIENNA, 12 September 2023 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, and Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid reinforced their repeated calls for the immediate release of three Ukrainian OSCE officials that have been in detention in Donetsk and Luhansk for more than 500 days.
The holding of illegal ‘elections’ in occupied areas of Ukraine condemned by OSCE leaders
Publishing date: 7 September 2023
SKOPJE/WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 7 September 2023- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pia Kauma and the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci, condemn the Russian Federation’s holding of so-called “elections” in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories.