News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
ODIHR opens election observation mission in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 8 February 2023
ASTANA, 8 February 2023 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 19 March early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, following an official invitation from the national authorities and in accordance with its mandate.
Renewed efforts to counter anti-Semitism across the region are essential, say OSCE leaders
Publishing date: 7 February 2023
SKOPJE, 7 February 2023 – Taking stock of current efforts to counter anti-Semitism, an action that signifies further steps that need to be applied urgently, has been the central message of the participants of the of the 2023 Skopje Conference on Addressing anti-Semitism in the OSCE Region.
Bosnia and Herzegovina general elections 2022: ODIHR election observation mission final report
Publishing date: 3 February 2023
Bosnia and Herzegovina general elections 2022: ODIHR election observation mission final report The October 2022 general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were well organized and competitive. Nevertheless, universal and equal suffrage is still not guaranteed. Increasing segmentation along ethnic
OSCE Media Freedom Representative discussed with local counterparts challenges and steps forward in Greek media freedom situation
Publishing date: 1 February 2023
VIENNA, 1 February 2023 — OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, made an official visit to Greece from 25 to 26 January 2023. She met with several counterparts, including Secretary General for Communication and Information Dimitris Galamatis, Adviser to the Prime Minister Konstantinos Koutras, Member of Parliament Dimitris Markopolous, President of the Journalists' Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers Maria Antoniadou, as well as journalists from the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation ERT and representatives of the media community.
Joint statement of Personal Representatives of OSCE Chairman-in-Office on Tolerance and Non-discrimination on recent public burnings of the Quran
Publishing date: 31 January 2023
SKOPJE/VIENNA, 31 January 2023- Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism, Associate Professor Dr. Regina Polak, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions, and Ambassador Dr. Ismail Hakki Musa, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims made the following statement:
Greater efforts to counter Holocaust distortion needed to combat hate and protect democracy, OSCE says on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Publishing date: 27 January 2023
SKOPJE/WARSAW/WASHINGTON, 27 January 2023 — Greater international co-operation is needed to counter Holocaust denial and distortion, not only to combat hateful ideologies but also to defend democracy, the OSCE said on today’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Decision to close Russia’s oldest human rights organization should be reconsidered and reversed, OSCE Human Rights Office says
Publishing date: 25 January 2023
WARSAW, 25 January 2023 – Today’s decision by the Moscow City Court to liquidate Russia’s oldest human rights organization, the Moscow Helsinki Group, is contrary to the commitments made by all OSCE countries to respect the freedom to form and join associations, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said.