News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Fundamental freedoms respected in competitive Georgian elections, but allegations of pressure and blurring of line between party and state reduced confidence, international observers say
Publishing date: 1 November 2020
TBILISI, 1 November 2020 – Georgia’s parliamentary elections were competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected. Nevertheless, pervasive allegations of pressure on voters and blurring of the line between the ruling party and the state reduced public confidence in some aspects of the process, international observers said in a statement today. The elections were conducted under a substantially revised legal framework, following broad public consultations that brought some improvements for the holding of democratic elections, but further efforts to address shortcomings are needed, the statement says...
OSCE and UN Office of Counter-Terrorism discuss ways to responsibly use passenger data to prevent return of foreign terrorist fighters
Publishing date: 30 October 2020
The OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Border Security and Management Unit and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) organized the fourth OSCE-wide Seminar on Passenger Data Exchange on 29 and 30 October 2020, bringing together more than 250 passenger data experts from OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation...
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and Project Co-Ordinator in Ukraine honour women’s contributions to peace and security
Publishing date: 30 October 2020
KYIV, 30 October 2020- The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) and the OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Ukraine marked the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 by honouring the efforts of women and girls in support of peace and security. The landmark Resolution recognizes the wide variety of roles women and girls play in support of sustainable peace and calls for their full and meaningful inclusion in these efforts...
Role of National Referral Mechanisms in combating human trafficking focus of roundtable discussion organized by OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan
Publishing date: 30 October 2020
Challenges, lessons learned and good practices in the use of National Referral Mechanisms to counter human trafficking were discussed at a roundtable discussion on 29 October 2020. The blended event was co-organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, jointly with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the National Anti-trafficking Commission of Uzbekistan...
Third OSCE Gender Equality Review Conference urges more systematic implementation of gender equality commitments across three dimensions of security
Publishing date: 28 October 2020
VIENNA, 28 October 2020 – OSCE participating States must do more to systematically implement their gender equality commitments across the politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions of security, said participants of the third OSCE Gender Equality Review Conference, which closed today.
OSCE Media Freedom Office publishes special report on handling of media during public assemblies
Publishing date: 22 October 2020
VIENNA, 22 October 2020 – The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) launched today a report on the handling of the media during public assemblies. The report elaborates on the role of both law enforcement agencies and journalists during such public events, and offers observations and recommendations in order for the media to be able to provide coverage without undue hindrance...
OSCE’s role in promoting Women, Peace and Security agenda focus of high-level event in Vienna
Publishing date: 21 October 2020
VIENNA, 21 October 2020- The OSCE’s vital role in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda was the focus of the high-level event “OSCE enhancing the UN Security Council Resolution 1325: Gender equality for a more peaceful world”.