News and press releases

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.

Novopavlovka village, Chui province, Kyrgyzstan – 24 July, 2024 A ceremony marking the launch of removal operation of the final 55 tonnes of Samin, a toxic rocket fuel component, from the Novopavlovka area in Chui province of Kyrgyzstan took place today. This operation mitigates a significant environmental threat and ensures the safety of some 21,000 residents living near the storage site. The chemical waste will be transported out of Kyrgyzstan by air to Germany at the end of August 2024, where it will be incinerated in a specialized disposal facility.

On 11 July, the Chair of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Natasha Meli Daudey, presented the White Ribbon Award to seven diplomats and delegation members, honouring their outstanding engagement for the promotion of gender equality. The White Ribbon Award is presented every year to OSCE delegates from participating States and Partners for Co-operation who have shown true dedication to the promotion of gender equality and have used their position to advance these efforts. The Award is given based on nominations received from OSCE delegations.

To bolster Moldova's capabilities in the area of management of seized and confiscated virtual assets, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) hosted a dedicated workshop in Chisinau on July 22 and 23. This event gathered 30 participants from various law enforcement and regulatory agencies to improve their skills in managing and processing virtual assets that have been seized or confiscated.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in partnership with the Tajikistan Border Troops, conducted eight awareness-raising meetings from 15 to 20 July 2024 in the Rushon and Shughnon districts of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).

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.