News and press releases

BRUSSELS, 17 November 2016 – Following steps in Azerbaijan to expand criminal insult provisions, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today reiterated her call on the authorities to reform the country’s defamation legislation...

Countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes was the focus of a two-day regional workshop organized in Skopje on 16-17 November 2016 by the OSCE in co-operation with the National Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors...

WARSAW, 16 November 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on today’s International Day for Tolerance released its hate crime data for 2015 on its dedicated website.

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, most of which were concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata Donetsk airport area and areas north-east and east of Mariupol. In Luhansk region, the SMM did not record any ceasefire violations. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.*. The Mission observed long queues at the entry-exit checkpoints near Stanytsia Luhanska during the morning hours. In Kyiv, the Mission observed peaceful public gatherings around the National Bank of Ukraine and the Parliament with a total of some 5,000 people attending, overseen by some 2,000 law enforcement officers...

SARAJEVO, 16 November 2016 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today supported the municipalities of Jajce and Jezero in organizing a roundtable discussion and opening of the hiking trail “Otomalj” in Jajce, as part of its activities to mark the International Day of Tolerance. The Mission also hailed the intention of the dedicated citizens in Jajce to form an additional Coalition against Hate, building on the success of other coalitions throughout BiH...

ASTANA, 16 November 2016 – A three-day OSCE regional workshop for 40 military and civilian experts focusing on challenges related to reducing and responding to explosive hazards, and developing the capacities of personnel working in this area, started today in Astana...

PARIS, 16 November 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today urged members of the parliament in the Czech Republic to abolish an amendment making defamation of the country’s president a criminal offence...