News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Roma must be equally treated and protected, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 8 April 2022
WARSAW, 8 April 2022 – Roma continue to face discrimination and marginalization where support and inclusion should be provided, a fact clearly demonstrated by the situation of Roma currently fleeing Ukraine, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on today’s International Roma Day...
OSCE Secretary General calls for vigilance as fighting increases long-term environmental risks in Ukraine
Publishing date: 7 April 2022
VIENNA, 7 April 2022 – OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid has warned of the serious environmental damages caused by continued fighting in Ukraine, and their long-term effects across the region.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative reiterates grave worries regarding safety of journalists in Ukraine
Publishing date: 6 April 2022
VIENNA, 6 April 2022 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro today reiterated her grave worries regarding the safety of journalists during the Russian ongoing military attack in Ukraine, as the death toll, injuries and harassment of media workers grows.
Threats from explosive ordnance and mines are an expanding aspect of urgent humanitarian needs for Ukraine, says OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine
Publishing date: 4 April 2022
KYIV/VIENNA, 4 April 2022 – International assistance to Ukraine is urgently needed to strengthen the country’s capacity in humanitarian demining and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education. This was the main message by Ambassador Henrik Villadsen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, today as he marked the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
States need to protect most vulnerable members of society: OSCE Alliance Conference calls to strengthen protection of victims of trafficking
Publishing date: 4 April 2022
VIENNA, 4 April 2021 – Protecting victims of human trafficking and upholding their rights is the focus of the 22nd high-level OSCE Alliance Conference against Trafficking in Persons, which opened today in Vienna with over 850 registered participants.
Serbia’s elections offered diverse political options, but shortcomings led to an uneven playing field, international observers say
Publishing date: 4 April 2022
BELGRADE, 4 April 2022 – Fundamental freedoms were largely respected in Serbia’s 3 April presidential and early parliamentary elections, and voters were presented diverse political options, but a number of shortcomings resulted in an uneven playing field, favouring the incumbents, international observers said in a statement today. The combined impact of unbalanced access to the media, undue pressure on public sector employees to support the incumbents, significant campaign finance disparities and misuse of state resources resulted in unequal conditions for contestants, the statement says...
Hungary’s parliamentary elections well-run and offered distinct alternatives but undermined by absence of level playing field, international observers say
Publishing date: 4 April 2022
BUDAPEST, 4 April 2022 – Hungary’s parliamentary elections offered voters distinct alternatives and were well run, but while competitive, the process was marred by the pervasive overlapping of government and ruling coalition’s messaging that blurred the line between state and party, as well as by media bias and opaque campaign funding, international observers said in a statement today.