News and press releases

VIENNA, 19 October 2017 – In a consensus decision today by the OSCE Permanent Council, the 57 participating States agreed to extend the mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk by three months to 31 January 2018...

On the occasion of the European Union’s Anti-Trafficking Day on 18 October 2017, a two-day training course concluded on 19 October for over 20 judges and prosecutors on the role and use of information technology in trafficking in human beings. The course, held in Konjic, was organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Centres for Judicial and Prosecutorial Training in the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)...

VIENNA, 19 October 2017 – Speaking at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Christine Muttonen (MP, Austria) stressed the importance of strengthening dialogue and co-operation between OSCE parliamentarians and the OSCE’s governmental representatives. She urged all OSCE institutions to work closely together and share their strengths in order to meet current challenges...

MINSK, 19 October 2017 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 18 October 2017...

From 18 to 20 October 2017 the OSCE Mission to Moldova together with the Ribnita-based NGO Vialex organized a training workshop for a group of 20 psychologists, social workers and shelter staff who work with survivors of domestic violence. The trainees belong to several NGOs that seek to provide comprehensive assistance to beneficiaries residing in Tiraspol, Grigoriopol, Ribnita and neighbouring localities on the left bank.

Participants in a conference held in Vienna on 18 October 2017 reviewed current manifestations of intolerance and discrimination against Muslims and related challenges across the OSCE region and explored methods for developing a comprehensive response to address these phenomena. The event,

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. The Mission observed an impact site and damage to a fence near a residence in Novooleksandrivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Oleksandrivske and Samiilove, two settlements near the border with the Russian Federation.* The Mission observed armoured combat vehicles and a surface-to-air missile system near Svobodne, in a zone within which deployment of heavy armaments and military equipment is proscribed according to the Memorandum. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the thermal power plant in Shchastia, a water pumping station near Artema and power lines near Druzhba. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control. The SMM monitored large gatherings in Kyiv, including in front of the national Parliament building, and a gathering in Chernivtsi...