News and press releases

LONDON, 1 December 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today concluded a three-day visit to London in which he discussed the state of freedom of expression and media freedom in the United Kingdom with a broad range of state officials, parliamentarians, stakeholders and civil society representatives.

A one-week tailored training course on business ethics and anti-corruption measures for more than 30 representatives of public sector, business community and civil society concluded on 1 December 2017 in Bishkek. The course was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek to assist the Kyrgyz government and relevant anti-corruption stakeholders in developing and sustaining effective anti-corruption measures through multi-stakeholder partnerships...

A team from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) visited Yerevan from 29 November to 1 December 2017 to present the  final report of OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission for the 2 April parliamentary elections in Armenia. The report’s findings and recommendations

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission observed damage to civilian properties from shelling in Yasne. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including near Manuilivka and at a heavy weapons holding area and a permanent storage site in non-government-controlled areas. The Mission observed a weapon in violation of withdrawal lines near Bile and military-type vehicles in column formations near Buhaivka. The SMM attempted to reach Travneve but was unable to do so due to the possible presence of mines or unexploded ordnance on the road leading to the village. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure in Shchastia, and near Krasnyi Lyman, Vesela Hora and Novozvanivka. The SMM visited three border areas not under government control...

Four ambassadors and two military attaches representing their countries in the OSCE are the winners of the fourth White Ribbon Award in recognition of their personal commitment and achievements in promoting gender equality. The award ceremony was held on 30 November 2017, at the Hofburg in Vienna.

A two-day seminar on delimitation and demarcation practices in the OSCE area, organized by the Border Security and Management Unit (BSMU) of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, concluded on 30 November 2017 in Minsk.

The role of judicial councils in ensuring judicial independence and accountability was the focus of a seminar in Tashkent on 29 and 30 November 2017, co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Office of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.