News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Switzerland’s elections to Federal Assembly vibrant and pluralistic, some concerns over regional variations, says ODIHR report
Publishing date: 31 January 2012
Switzerland’s elections to the Federal Assembly on 23 October 2011 demonstrated that Swiss democracy is deep-rooted and pluralistic but the decentralized system of government leads to some regional variations in electoral practice, concludes the final report of the OSCE/ODIHR election assessment mission...
Twenty years in OSCE, Kyrgyzstan plays important role for security in Central Asia and beyond, says Head of OSCE Centre in Bishkek
Publishing date: 30 January 2012
Twenty years ago, on 30 January 1992, following its independence, Kyrgyzstan joined the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which later became the OSCE...
OSCE and Mediterranean civil society groups recommend increased Organization engagement to support transitions in the Mediterranean region
Publishing date: 26 January 2012
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released on 26 January 2012 a report summarizing the discussions and the recommendations agreed at the OSCE- Mediterranean Partner Countries' Civil Society Conference, held in Vilnius on 4-5 December 2011 ahead of the OSCE Ministerial Council...
OSCE Secretary General meets Israeli foreign minister in Vienna
Publishing date: 23 January 2012
VIENNA, 23 January 2012- OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier met Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman in Vienna today to discuss Israel’s role as an OSCE Partner state, including concrete areas for co-operation...
OSCE Special Representative publishes recommendations on human trafficking to UK
Publishing date: 19 January 2012
Following a visit to the United Kingdom last year, the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Maria Grazia Giammarinaro published recommendations to the government on improving anti-trafficking action and the protection of human rights of trafficked persons, together with the UK official response, on 18 January 2012...
OSCE/ODIHR final report on Russian Duma elections says contest ‘slanted in favour of the ruling party’
Publishing date: 13 January 2012
A report released by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 12 January 2012 said that, although December’s Russian State Duma elections were technically well-administered, the contest was marked by the convergence of the state and the governing party...
Irish Deputy Prime Minister presents 2012 OSCE Chairmanship priorities
Publishing date: 12 January 2012
VIENNA, 12 January 2012 – Today the Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore addressed the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna for the first time in his role as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. Deputy Prime Minister Gilmore emphasised the need for the OSCE’s co-operative, inclusive approach in tackling modern security challenges...