News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Political actors in Georgia should resolve deadlock and participate in the work of the new parliament, OSCE PA leaders say
Publishing date: 17 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 17 November 2020 – Amidst demands by the opposition for repeat parliamentary elections in Georgia and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to the South Caucasus country today, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s political and security Chair and the leaders of the OSCE’s recent election observation mission reiterated that political deadlock must be overcome in order to ensure that the voters’ will is respected...
Statement of OSCE Mission to BiH Head Kavalec following the local elections 2020
Publishing date: 17 November 2020
SARAJEVO, 17 November 2020- While the country waits for the official election results, Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, thanked voters in BiH for taking the time to cast their ballots and investing in a democratic future. She also conveyed her gratitude to poll workers who made voting possible, observers who helped ensure the integrity of the election, and to the media for professional delivery of timely and adequate information to the public...
Well-managed presidential run-off in Moldova clouded by negative rhetoric and ineffective campaign finance rules, international observers say
Publishing date: 16 November 2020
CHISINAU, 16 November 2020 – Yesterday’s presidential run-off in Moldova was well managed in the challenging circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but negative and divisive rhetoric devalued the campaign amid ineffective rules on campaign financing, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today...
Lack of hate crime recording means victims and their needs too often remain invisible, OSCE’s human rights office says
Publishing date: 16 November 2020
WARSAW, 16 November 2020 – With the publication of its annual Hate Crime Report on today’s International Day for Tolerance, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) underscores the need for police to record hate crimes in order to ensure that victims are recognized and receive the support they so urgently need...
ODIHR opens special election assessment mission in Romania
Publishing date: 14 November 2020
BUCHAREST, 14 November 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 6 December parliamentary elections in Romania. The deployment follows an official invitation from the Romanian authorities...
Impunity for human rights abuses in Belarus must end, OSCE human rights office says
Publishing date: 13 November 2020
WARSAW, 13 November 2020 – As pervasive violations of OSCE commitments and international human rights obligations in Belarus continue, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) calls on the country’s authorities to end impunity of those responsible for human rights violations, up to and including deaths, and hold them to account...
OSCE leading by example in prevention of human trafficking within supply chains
Publishing date: 13 November 2020
The risks surrounding procuring goods and services produced by trafficked persons were the focus of the OSCE virtually held workshop on 13 November 2020...