News and press releases

The annual OSCE-supported Youth Legal Forum concluded on 10 December 2016 at the Kazakh Humanities and Law University (KAZGUU) in Astana. This year’s two-day event focused on the limits to restricting freedom of expression and distribution of information on the Internet, in recognition of the International Human Rights Day...

SKOPJE, 12 December 2016 – The 11 December parliamentary elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were competitive and an essential step in resolving two years of deep political crisis, but took place in an environment characterized by widespread public mistrust in institutions and the political establishment, international election observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today...

COPENHAGEN, 12 December 2016 – In response to this weekend’s terrorist attacks near a football stadium in Istanbul and at a Coptic Christian cathedral complex in Cairo, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) issued the following statement...

BERLIN/VIENNA, 11 December 2016- Chairperson-in-Office Frank-Walter Steinmeier together with Secretry General Lamberto Zannier condemned in the strongest terms the acts of terrorism that hit Istanbul on 10 December 2016 and Cairo on 11 December 2016. They extended their condolences to the families and friends of the numerous victims and wished a speedy recovery to those that got injured. Steinmeier and Zannier expressed their solidarity with Turkey, an OSCE participating State and Egypt, an OSCE Partner for Co-operation...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and was restricted in its movement.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines and others missing from assigned areas. It monitored repair works to electric power lines between Avdiivka and Yasynuvata. It monitored the situation of civilians at entry-exit crossing points. The SMM monitored one border area currently outside government control...

COPENHAGEN, 10 December 2016 – Leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee today marked Human Rights Day with calls for a greater commitment to fundamental freedoms and basic rights across the OSCE area...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period...