News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 7 March 2017
Publishing date: 8 March 2017
Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs)...
Gender equality and how to make the military more representative in focus of discussion in OSCE’s Forum for Security meeting
Publishing date: 8 March 2017
VIENNA, 8 March 2016 – Increased inclusion of women is beneficial for the military as diversity makes armed forces more effective, said speakers in today’s session of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), which coincides with International Women’s Day. These benefits are particularly important when national armies take part in peacekeeping and peace-building missions abroad...
OSCE media freedom representative, meeting with Cyprus journalists, emphasizes dialogue as means to bridge divides
Publishing date: 8 March 2017
VIENNA, 8 March 2017 – Highlighting the essential role that co-operation of journalists can play in advancing democratic processes, Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE media freedom representative, opened the first roundtable discussion between Cypriot journalists in Vienna yesterday...
Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 6 March 2017
Publishing date: 7 March 2017
The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24-hour period. The SMM heard more than 1,000 explosions in areas east and north-east of Mariupol and unidentified armed men restricted its freedom of movement on two occasions in villages not controlled by the Government in this area.* The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Dokuchaievsk, Marinka and Krasnohorivka. It observed impact sites from shelling in Zaitseve, Loskutivka, Horlivka, Donetskyi, Kadiivka and Pervomaisk. The Mission continued monitoring the three disengagement areas but its access remained restricted.* It observed impact sites inside the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. The Mission continued to monitor the blockade of railroad routes crossing the contact line. The SMM visited one border area currently not under government control. It monitored a court hearing in Kyiv...
Ukrainian female displaced persons require further support for long-term integration, states OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine report
Publishing date: 7 March 2017
KYIV, 7 March 2017 – Internally displaced women still face many issues that prevent them from successful long-term integration into the host communities, states an OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) report released today in Kyiv. The research was conducted by the NGO “Youth Alternative”, at the request of the Social Policy Ministry of Ukraine...
New study shows criminal defamation laws unduly limit media freedom, OSCE media freedom representative says
Publishing date: 7 March 2017
VIENNA, 7 March 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today released a comparative study “Defamation and Insult Laws in the OSCE Region” which says criminal law remains an instrument to excessively limit media freedom...
OSCE Chairmanship concerned about closure of crossing points, stresses negative implications for local population
Publishing date: 7 March 2017
VIENNA, 7 March 2017- Reacting on the closure of two crossing points along the Administrative Boundary Line of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, Nabakevi-Khurcha and Meore Otobaia-Orsantia, which reduces the number of crossing points to two, following the closure of two others in 2016, a spokesperson of the OSCE Chairmanship said today:...