News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Human rights, resolving protracted conflicts vital to regional security, OSCE Chairperson tells US Helsinki Commission
Publishing date: 9 May 2013
WASHINGTON D.C., 9 May 2013 – Protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms and making progress in resolving protracted conflicts are top priorities of his country’s OSCE Chairmanship, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara told the US Helsinki Commission at a hearing on 8 May in Washington D.C.
OSCE/ODIHR final report on Armenia’s presidential election recommends measures to increase integrity of electoral process
Publishing date: 8 May 2013
The final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 18 February 2013 presidential election in Armenia concludes that though the elections were generally well-administered and characterized by a respect for fundamental freedoms, more can be done to increase public trust in the integrity of the electoral process...
OSCE Chair calls for remembrance of Second World War victims, renewed efforts towards resolving conflicts, building indivisible security community
Publishing date: 8 May 2013
WASHINGTON D.C., 8 May 2013 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara marks the days of 8-9 May known as the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, urging participating States to step up co-operation to solve remaining conflicts, strengthen peace and security in OSCE region...
OSCE Chair addresses UN Security Council, stresses need for more pragmatic, action-oriented co-operation
Publishing date: 8 May 2013
UNITED NATIONS, 8 May 2013 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara in his address to the UN Security Council yesterday outlined the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship priorities, stressed the importance of further developing the partnership between the two organizations in promoting international peace and security...
OSCE media freedom representative urges Romanian authorities to finalize decriminalization of libel
Publishing date: 7 May 2013
VIENNA, 7 May 2013 – OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović expressed concern today over a recent decision of the Constitutional Court that prevents the decriminalization of speech offenses in Romania and called for a Constitutional amendment to ban criminal defamation...
ODIHR Director says recent legislative changes could undermine Moldova’s democratic achievements
Publishing date: 7 May 2013
WARSAW, 7 May 2013 – The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Janez Lenarčič today warned that the manner in which recent legislative changes were introduced in Moldova ran counter to the country’s rule of law commitments and threatened to undermine its achievements so far in developing a pluralistic democratic system...
On World Press Freedom Day OSCE media freedom representative calls on governments for immediate action to ensure journalists’ safety
Publishing date: 3 May 2013
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica, 3 May 2013 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, today called upon all 57 OSCE participating States to take real action to ensure journalists’ safety...