News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Republika Srpska’s new NGO law raises serious concerns over human rights protection, OSCE Human Rights Director and Media Freedom Representative say
Publishing date: 28 February 2025
WARSAW, 28 February 2025 – The Law on the Special Registry and Publicity of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations adopted last night by the parliament of Republika Srpska does not meet international human rights standards or the commitments of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an OSCE participating State, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Maria Telalian and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Jan Braathu said today.
OSCE calls for greater efforts to counter resurgent anti-Semitism and promote tolerance
Publishing date: 10 February 2025
HELSINKI, 10 February 2025 – Governments, civil society, representatives of Jewish and other faith communities, as well as experts from across the OSCE region meet this week to take stock of current efforts to counter anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance and find new ways forward to tackle this deep-rooted hatred at the annual Conference on Addressing Anti-Semitism in the OSCE Region, which opened today in Helsinki.
An end to hatred is only possible when we understand the horrors of the past, OSCE says on Holocaust Remembrance Day
Publishing date: 27 January 2025
HELSINKI/WARSAW, 27 January 2025 – This year we mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. As the living memory of the Holocaust fades, we have a profound responsibility to commemorate the victims of this atrocity and to understand its ongoing meaning and consequences, the OSCE said on today’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Finland takes over OSCE Chair
Publishing date: 1 January 2025
HELSINKI/VIENNA, 1 January 2025 – Today, Finland takes over the OSCE Chairpersonship with a focus on upholding OSCE principles, supporting Ukraine, and strengthening the Organization’s resilience in order to address complex security challenges.
Kazakhstan’s Women Judges Contribute to the 10th Annual Conference of the Kyrgyz Association of Women Judges
Publishing date: 19 December 2024
On 6-7 December 2024, the 10th Annual Conference of the Kyrgyz Association of Women Judges took place in Aral village, Chui Province, Kyrgyzstan. Themed “Strengthening Legal Justice: Access to Free Legal Aid, Support for Women in the Judiciary, and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence”, the conference convened legal professionals and experts from Central Asia to address pressing issues related to justice reform and gender equality.
OSCE welcomes FBiH Government decision to endorse the Proposed Law on Protection from Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women of the FBiH
Publishing date: 12 December 2024
OSCE welcomes FBiH Government decision to endorse the Proposed Law on Protection from Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women of the FBiH
OSCE Presence, Albanian Central Election Commission organize technical roundtable on improving voting’s secrecy, preventing voters’ intimidation
Publishing date: 11 December 2024
On 11 December, the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Central Election Commission (CEC) held a technical roundtable to discuss ways to enhance voting secrecy and prevent voter intimidation. The event emphasized safeguarding one of the fundamental electoral principles, such as the right to free and