News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE strengthens networks of women activists working on supporting survivors of sexual violence in conflict
Publishing date: 12 October 2022
On 5 and 6 October, women human rights activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine gathered to share successful practices of supporting survivors of sexual violence against women in conflict, setting up referral mechanisms, and holding perpetrators accountable amid war and post-conflict settings.
Kazakhstan 2022 referendum: ODIHR observation mission final report
Publishing date: 11 October 2022
The 2022 referendum in Kazakhstan was administered efficiently but the campaign lacked meaningful debate. Together with the restrictive media environment, there were limited opportunities for voters to be informed on the substance of the proposals, although the initiative for constitutional changes
Challenges of disinformation and propaganda at focus of 8th annual Media Development Forum organized by OSCE Presence in Albania
Publishing date: 11 October 2022
On 11 October, the OSCE Presence in Albania organized its eighth annual Media Development Forum, a platform for dialogue among media, public institutions and civil society. This year’s Forum focused on press freedom and the development of media in the country, journalist safety, and the challenges
ODIHR experts discuss electoral recommendations in Serbia
Publishing date: 11 October 2022
Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report and recommendations of the observation mission to Serbia’s April 2022 presidential and early parliamentary elections during a visit to Belgrade from 3 to 7 October. ODIHR’s priority
OSCE Troika, Secretary General, OSCE PA President and Secretary General strenuously condemn Russia’s attacks in Ukraine’s civilian centres
Publishing date: 10 October 2022
WARSAW/SKOPJE/STOCKHOLM/COPENHAGEN/VIENNA, 10 October 2022- OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, Foreign Minister of Sweden Ann Linde, and Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, representing the OSCE Troika, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden), OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella strenuously condemned Russia’s recent attacks against Ukraine’s population in the following statement:
OSCE Presence empowers women councillors in Albania through Women Municipal Excellence Programme
Publishing date: 10 October 2022
On 7 and 8 October 2022, the OSCE Presence in Albania awarded 20 motivated women members of municipal councils who completed the Women Municipal Excellence Programme (WoMEP), and also organized the second training module for 22 other women councillors, WoMEP’s third generation. WoMEP assists women
Türkiye should review the new draft disinformation bill to fully align with OSCE media freedom commitments, says OSCE Media Freedom Representative
Publishing date: 10 October 2022
VIENNA, 10 October 2022 – OSCE Media Freedom Representative Teresa Ribeiro expressed her concern today regarding the “Draft Bill on the Amendment of the Press Law and Some Laws,” that is currently being debated in the Turkish Parliament. The proposed law aims at criminalising the spread of disinformation in the online sphere with possible jail sentences of up to three years.