News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities calls for end to violence in Ukraine, warns of long-term and widespread effects on national minorities
Publishing date: 30 March 2022
THE HAGUE, 30 March 2022 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov is deeply concerned about the appeals he has received from Ukraine, including from representatives of national minorities, about the humanitarian situation in the country...
North Macedonia local elections 2021: ODIHR election observation mission final report
Publishing date: 25 March 2022
The October 2021 local elections in North Macedoniawere competitive and fundamental freedoms were widely respected, but shortcomings in the legal framework underscore the need for a comprehensive reform. The election days proceeded smoothly and procedures were generally assessed positively by ODIHR
OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Secretary General condemn bombing of Mariupol and ongoing violence against civilians throughout Ukraine
Publishing date: 18 March 2022
WARSAW/VIENNA, 18 March 2022 – OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau and Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid strenuously condemned the ongoing violence by the Russian Armed Forces against civilian areas throughout Ukraine, including the recent bombing of a theatre harboring hundreds of civilians in Mariupol.
Seventh Young Policy Advisers Course takes place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Publishing date: 16 March 2022
Twenty-two young officials working in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan’s presidential administrations, parliaments, government agencies, research and academic institutions are taking part in a five-day Young Policy Advisers Course (YPAC) from 14 to 18 March in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
We are responsible for our children – message by Rita Izsák-Ndiaye, Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office on Children and Security
Publishing date: 11 March 2022
VIENNA, 11 March 2022- I received the following WhatsApp message on 2 March from a Nigerian mother and her husband, both of them students in Ukraine, asking for help:
OSCE States need to strengthen anti-trafficking prevention measures amid humanitarian crisis in Ukraine
Publishing date: 10 March 2022
VIENNA, 10 March 2022 – Unprecedented numbers of people seeking refuge from armed violence in Ukraine are arriving in many OSCE participating States. These people, mostly women and children, face risks of human trafficking, including sexual and labour exploitation, during their journey or upon arrival in a destination country.
On International Women’s Day, OSCE Media Freedom Representative stresses the importance to ensure safety of female journalists
Publishing date: 8 March 2022
VIENNA, 8 March 2022 – Today, International Women’s Day, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro, called upon all participating States to adopt a gender-responsive and intersectional approach in all measures to ensure the safety of journalists, including in conflict situations.