News and press releases

VIENNA, 17 October 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today condemned an assault on Sunday on three journalists in Osh, Kyrgyzstan on the premises of a polling station...

VIENNA, 16 October 2017 – Harlem Désir, OSCE media freedom representative, expressed immense shock over the death of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and urged the Maltese authorities to carry out swift, transparent investigations into the case...

SKOPJE, 16 October 2017 – The holding of the 15 October municipal elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia contributed to strengthening confidence in the democratic process, international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. The elections took place in a competitive environment, with candidates generally able to campaign without restriction, and the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression were respected overall. Some credible allegations of vote-buying, pressure on voters and isolated cases of violence occurred during the pre-election period. The monitored media provided unbiased coverage of contestants and facilitated the opportunity for political debate. Although some procedural irregularities were observed, election day generally proceeded in an orderly fashion, the observers said.

VIENNA, 13 October 2017 – The increasing demands and expectations on internet intermediaries “to do more” about illegal content and activity online, and the impact of this on human rights and fundamental freedoms such as the freedom of expression, were the focus of a joint OSCE-Council of Europe conference on internet freedom in Vienna today...

BISHKEK, 13 October 2017- A training course supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek on the advancement of management and leadership skills for employees of the State Service for the Execution of Punishment under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SSEP) was held from 9 to 11 October 2017.

NICOSIA, 10 October 2017 – Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, during his visit to Cyprus launched an exchange programme for young journalists from the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in the next phase of his Office’s "The Cyprus Dialogue” project, which was initiated in March this year...

VIENNA, 6 October 2017 – Canada’s new Journalistic Source Protection Act, known as Bill S-231, which was passed on Wednesday 4 October, was today welcomed by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir. The legislation, which protects the confidentiality of journalistic sources, was adopted with the support of all three political parties. The bill was first introduced by Conservative Senator Claude Carignan in November 2016...