News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative concludes the second Central Asia Judicial Dialogue in Samarkand
Publishing date: 6 March 2020
SAMARKAND, 6 March 2020- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, concluded today the second Central Asia Judicial Dialogue in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. During this two-day event, over 40 judges from the region discussed how to protect freedom of expression while combating violent extremism, terrorism and hate speech. The participants also discussed the decriminalization of defamation.
On International Women’s Day, OSCE officials call for strengthening intergenerational dialogue to advance gender equality
Publishing date: 6 March 2020
TIRANA/VIENNA/WARSAW, 6 March 2020- Ahead of the International Women’s Day OSCE leaders urged further action in promoting gender equality and called for intergenerational dialogue to ensure engagement of young people. This year Women’s Day is marked against the backdrop of the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action for the Advancement of Women, and these occasions provide an opportunity to take stock of progress made, they said.
OSCE PA President urges international response and sustainable solution to Turkish-Greek border situation, as envoy visits Athens
Publishing date: 3 March 2020
COPENHAGEN, 3 March 2020 – Regarding developments on the Turkish-Greek border, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli today called for greater co-ordination between Turkey and European Union Member States to mitigate the situation and to pursue a sustainable solution...
New national platform fosters inclusive dialogue on democratic oversight of security sector in Armenia
Publishing date: 27 February 2020
At the invitation of the Standing Committee on Defence and Security of the Armenian National Assembly, some 50 representatives from oversight and government bodies, security sector institutions and civil society organizations gathered in Yerevan on 27 February 2020 to inaugurate the new national multi-stakeholder platform on democratic security sector oversight...
Enhancing co-operation between OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation & Permanent Council in preventing and countering terrorism focus of Vienna meeting
Publishing date: 27 February 2020
VIENNA, 27 February 2020 – Enhancing co-operation between the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and the Permanent Council (PC) in preventing and countering terrorism was the focus of a joint meeting of the FSC and PC held on 26 February in Vienna under Turkey’s FSC Chairmanship and Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship. The discussions focused on how the FSC, as the OSCE’s leading decision-making body in the politico-military sphere, can contribute, in line with its mandate and existing instruments, to the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to combating terrorism...
ODIHR encourages Belarus to continue work on strengthened judicial independence, promotion of human rights and support for women leaders
Publishing date: 27 February 2020
Greater efforts and co-operation are needed to achieve a more independent justice system, educate citizens about human rights and strengthen women’s leadership in Belarus, said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), addressing
Press Statement of Special Representative Grau after Regular Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on 26 February 2020
Publishing date: 27 February 2020
MINSK, 27 February 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups in Minsk on 26 February 2020…