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 media representative concerned by restriction to media freedom in the law on Manipulation of Information in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 29 June 2020
Vienna, 29 June 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today about the recently passed law on the Manipulation of Information in Kyrgyzstan.
Well-governed migration pivotal to ensure positive development outcomes for post-pandemic recovery, say participants at OSCE-hosted discussion
Publishing date: 29 June 2020
The disruption of labour mobility during the COVID-19 crisis and possible ways forward to address the post-pandemic recovery were the focus of an OSCE webinar held on 26 June 2020...
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...
OSCE media Representative concerned by detention of journalists in Belarus, calls on authorities to ensure right of media to cover public gatherings
Publishing date: 20 June 2020
VIENNA, 20 June 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern over a series of detentions of journalists on 19 June, who were covering public gatherings in Belarus.
Use new technologies to prevent and combat corruption and money-laundering, participants at OSCE Economic and Environmental meeting urge
Publishing date: 16 June 2020
VIENNA, 16 June 2020 – We must do all we can to adapt and use new technologies in preventing and combating corruption and money-laundering, participants of a two-day virtual 2nd Preparatory meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum (EEF) urge, which concluded today. Tackling corruption will be a critical element in the ability of many countries to successfully re-emerge from the COVID-19 crisis...