News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Renewed efforts needed to eliminate racial discrimination, especially in the workplace, say heads of Europe’s human rights organizations
Publishing date: 21 March 2019
VIENNA/STRASBOURG/WARSAW, 21 March 2019 – Too many people with an ethnic or migrant background are still being held back in the job market. This is despite laws against racial discrimination and for equal opportunities in employment that have been in place for decades, the heads of three European human rights institutions said in a joint statement on today’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination...
Best practice examples and perspectives on Security sector governance and reform in OSCE context explored at Vienna meeting
Publishing date: 20 March 2019
VIENNA, 20 March 2019 – Best practice examples of and perspectives on Security sector governance and reform (SSG/R)- a priority theme for both Slovakia’s 2019 OSCE Chairmanship and the Swiss Chairmanship of the FSC – was discussed at today’s joint meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and the Permanent Council in Vienna...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative concludes official visit to Belarus, encourages reform of media freedom environment
Publishing date: 20 March 2019
MINSK, 20 March 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today concluded a three-day official visit to Minsk. In his discussions with the Belarusian authorities, he called on the government to undertake the reforms necessary for developing a more favourable and pluralistic media environment...
Social workers promote the importance of human relationships on occasion of World Social Work Day, at OSCE-supported event in Banja Luka
Publishing date: 19 March 2019
Banja Luka, 19 March 2019- On the occasion of World Social Work Day, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Association of Social Workers of Republika Srpska supported the Union of Social Work Students and the Faculty of Political Sciences of the Banja Luka University in holding an event today in Banja Luka entitled “Promoting the importance of human relationships”...
Statement of the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions
Publishing date: 15 March 2019
BRUSSELS, GENEVA, VIENNA, 15 March 2019- The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions welcome the reopening of crossing points on 15 March. However, they also reiterate their conviction that the closure was not justified. They have made this position clear through continuous engagement since the first day of the closure on 12 January, at the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting on 8 February and during their meetings in Tskhinvali on 12 March.
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office offers further support to ongoing reforms, discusses current issues in peace negotiations during visit to Armenia
Publishing date: 13 March 2019
YEREVAN, 13 March 2019 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák emphasized the importance of creating perspectives for peace during his visit to Armenia today. He welcomed the commitment to reforms and discussed the ongoing work and next steps in the negotiations for a peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the OSCE’s longstanding engagement with and in Armenia.