News and press releases

With the financial and technical support of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, 154 tons of dangerous chemicals were safely removed, repackaged and transported from Transdniestria for incineration in Germany. The chemicals were collected from electrical sub-stations in Bender, Grigoriopol, Hirtop,

VALLETTA/VIENNA/WARSAW, 30 July 2024 – Marking World Day against Trafficking in Persons, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci and OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Kari Johnstone underscored the need to strengthen collaborative efforts to identify victims of human trafficking and prevent exploitation of the most vulnerable, particularly children.

While physical violence against journalists has decreased in recent years, forms of attacks have evolved, taking on more insidious and damaging forms. If left unaddressed, these newer threats can have profound consequences for media professionals. Recognizing the urgency of this issue and in support of journalists’ work, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, upon the request of its partner Media Trade Union, organized a workshop on psychological well-being and support for media workers on 27 and 28 July in Sutomore.

From 22 to 24 July 2024, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, jointly with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, facilitated a needs assessment mission to Uzbekistan, focusing on requesting electronic evidence across borders. The mission was held as part of the E-VIDENCE project dedicated to building the capacity of law enforcement in requesting electronic evidence across borders for investigating online criminal matters, including terrorism-related.

VIENNA, 24 July 2024 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro expresses deep concern at the growing threat to the safety of journalists in the Russian Federation following the latest series of convictions of media professionals in the country.

As part of its commitment to combat gender-based violence and empower survivors, on 24 July the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided a greenhouse to the SOS Helpline Nikšić.

Osh, 15-19 July 2024 – The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek conducted a week-long Training-of-Trainers (ToT) course on Ammunition Bunker Site (ABS) management. This initiative aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of trainer candidates in managing Ammunition Bunker Sites according to international guidelines and best practices. The training focused on compliance with the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) and national regulations, providing both theoretical and practical lessons on setting up and running ABS, with an emphasis on safety measures to prevent unforeseen events at storage sites.