News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Threats to media freedom and to work of journalists on the rise, said OSCE Media Freedom Representative Désir at Permanent Council meeting in Vienna
Publishing date: 2 July 2020
VIENNA, 2 July 2020 – The press is in danger in too many places in the OSCE region, said OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, as he presented his biannual report to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today. The COVID-19 pandemic has only aggravated this situation, as it amplified existing trends and added a new layer of problems to the existing ones, including the dire economic situation many media are currently facing...
OSCE Mission to Montenegro supports State Election Commission and Association of Blind discussion on polling station accessibility
Publishing date: 1 July 2020
Ensuring accessibility for all voters at polling stations is essential and the responsibility of election commissions. This was the conclusion of representatives of the Montenegrin State Election Commission at a workshop organized by the Association of the Blind of Montenegro on 30 June in Podgorica...
OSCE hands over equipment to Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publishing date: 29 June 2020
SARAJEVO, 29 June 2020 – The OSCE Mission to BiH delivered today, in Sarajevo, laptops and photo cameras to the BiH Central Election Commission’s (CEC) Financial Audit Department...
Polish presidential election managed well despite legal uncertainties, but intolerance and public media bias tarnished campaign, international observers say
Publishing date: 29 June 2020
WARSAW, 29 June 2020 – Poland’s presidential election was administered professionally despite the lack of legal clarity as solutions were sought to hold the election during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign was characterised by intolerant rhetoric and a public broadcaster that failed in its duty to offer balanced and impartial coverage, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today...
To do justice to victims, rooting out the causes of law enforcement violence must become a priority, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 26 June 2020
WARSAW, 26 June 2020 – The root causes of excessive violence by law enforcement agencies, including torture or other ill-treatment, must be addressed comprehensively in order to acknowledge the injustice done to victims and help their path to recovery, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture today...
OSCE PA webinar explores challenges faced by minorities and vulnerable populations during COVID-19 pandemic
Publishing date: 23 June 2020
COPENHAGEN, 22 June 2020 – Noting that racism and discrimination against ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities have been on the rise during the COVID-19 crisis, participants at an OSCE Parliamentary Assembly webinar said today that public officials have a duty to speak out against intolerance and to work in favour of social cohesion. The pandemic and related measures, if not carefully managed, have the potential to fuel discrimination, threaten stability and undermine security, they emphasized...
ODIHR opens special election assessment mission in North Macedonia
Publishing date: 22 June 2020
SKOPJE, 22 June 2020- The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 15 July 2020 early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia. The deployment follows an official invitation from the authorities of North Macedonia...