News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE and League of Arab States promote guidebook on gender-aware approaches to preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism
Publishing date: 18 February 2020
The Arabic language version of the OSCE guidebook on “Understanding the Role of Gender in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism (P/CVERLT): Good Practices for Law Enforcement” was launched in Cairo on 17 February 2020. The guidebook, the first of its kind, is the result of a two-year collaborative effort by experts on gender, the security sector and countering violent extremism based on case studies from across the OSCE area. The event was organized jointly by the OSCE and the League of Arab States (LAS).
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Rama and Secretary General Greminger deeply concerned about surge in heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine
Publishing date: 18 February 2020
TIRANA / VIENNA, 18 February 2020- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger expressed their deep concern about reports of heavy fighting near the Zolote disengagement area in eastern Ukraine today. They regretted in particular the reports of casualties. While noting that the fighting there was reported to have stopped, they called for restraint and full respect for the ceasefire, especially after the many recommitments and reaffirmations most recently in the conclusions of the Normandy-format Summit in Paris on 9 December.
OSCE Secretary General Greminger discusses OSCE co-operation with Armenia in meeting with Foreign Minister Mnatsakanyan in Munich
Publishing date: 15 February 2020
MUNICH, Germany, 15 February 2020 – Co-operation between the OSCE and Armenia was a focus of a meeting yesterday between OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger and Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on the margins of the Munich Security Conference...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities launches call for nominations for 2020 Max van der Stoel Award
Publishing date: 14 February 2020
THE HAGUE, 14 February 2020 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier today launched a call for nominations for the 2020 Max van der Stoel Award. The award of 50,000 euros recognizes extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of national minorities in OSCE participating States. The deadline for nominations is 3 April 2020.
OSCE supports the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network on enhancing the effectiveness of jurisdictions’ efforts in dealing with asset seizure and management
Publishing date: 13 February 2020
The OSCE-supported meeting of the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) Steering Group took place in Tirana on 12 and 13 February 2020. The event was hosted by the Agency for Seized and Confiscated Assets of Albania’s Ministry of Finance. Participants discussed ways the Network could reach its aim of achieving full operationalization and sustainable management, including by involving new members or observers for the years 2020– 2022.
Press Statement of Special Representative Grau after the regular Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on 12 February 2020
Publishing date: 13 February 2020
MINSK, 13 February 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups in Minsk on 12 February 2020:...
Repatriation of ‘foreign terrorist fighters’ and their families urgently needed to safeguard human rights and security, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 11 February 2020
The situation of family members of ‘foreign terrorist fighters’ (FTFs) trapped in camps or detention in Syria and Iraq raise profound human rights and security concerns, the head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said ahead of an event on 12 February in Vienna highlighting the need to repatriate both FTFs and their families.