News and press releases

A team of experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) was in Albania from 4 to 8 December 2017 for a consultation and planning visit as part of ODIHR’s Support to Elections in the Western Balkans project. The ODIHR team met with senior officials from the

VIENNA, 8 December 2017 – Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), called on participating States today to leverage current momentum in addressing gender-based violence in all its forms, including sexual assault and harassment, ahead of International Human Rights Day on 10 December...

VIENNA, 8 December 2017- The OSCE’s 57 participating States made a number of decisions at the close of the 24th Ministerial Council in Vienna today...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Novoamvrosiivske. The SMM continued to observe long queues at the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Zalizne, Berezove, Vesela Hora and Zolote. The Mission visited five border areas outside of government control. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored public gatherings...

VIENNA, 8 December 2017 – The OSCE Austrian Chairmanship appealed for greater attention to the plight of civilians in Eastern Ukraine at a side event held on the margins of the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna today.

VIENNA, 8 December 2017 – In a series of exchanges with foreign ministers, ambassadors, heads of OSCE institutions and other senior officials in Vienna this week, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) welcomed increased co-operation and dialogue on both the multilateral and bilateral levels. He noted the value of the OSCE and emphasized that it should be fully equipped to handle challenges facing the region...

The OSCE’s activities in combating the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) are an important contribution to the global fight against organized crime and terrorism, said speakers at a side event in in Vienna on 8 December 2017, on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council.