News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Implementation of ombudsman law in Turkmenistan in focus of roundtable discussion organized by OSCE Centre and UN agencies
Publishing date: 11 May 2017
A high-level roundtable discussion of the implementation of the new ombudsman law in Turkmenistan, effective from 1 January 2017, and of international standards, guidelines and good practices in establishing and strengthening national human rights institutions took place on 11 May 2017 in Ashgabat...
‘Fake news’ and propaganda in focus at OSCE annual South Caucasus Media Conference in Tbilisi
Publishing date: 11 May 2017
TBILISI, 11 May 2017 – ‘Fake news’, the dissemination of disinformation and propaganda through traditional and online media and the associated negative repercussions for the freedom of expression were the focus of the 14th South Caucasus Media Conference, which concluded in Tbilisi today...
Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 9 May 2017
Publishing date: 10 May 2017
The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations. The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Donetsk region most ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-east of Mariupol. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. Its access remained restricted there and elsewhere.* The Mission saw multiple weapons in Donetsk and Luhansk cities, in violation of withdrawal lines. It monitored three border areas currently not under government control. The SMM followed up on a reported civilian casualty and assessed impact sites and damage to residential areas caused by shelling. Outside the security zone the Mission observed parades marking 9 May that largely passed off peacefully...
Final report on Turkmenistan’s presidential election by OSCE/ODIHR observers recommends effectively enforcing principle of separation of powers
Publishing date: 10 May 2017
Noting that the 12 February 2017 presidential election in Turkmenistan took place in a strictly controlled political environment characterized by the lack of genuine opposition and meaningful pluralism, thus limiting voters’ choice, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
First Olympiad on multilingualism in Central Asia underlines value of mother tongues, State and official, and foreign languages as tools for integration
Publishing date: 10 May 2017
The first Olympiad on multilingualism in Central Asia that specifically focused on the mother tongues of the region, State and official languages, as well as foreign languages was held in Karaganda, Kazakhstan from 4 to 6 May 2017. Organized by Karaganda State University, in co-operation with the
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 9 May 2017
Publishing date: 10 May 2017
KAMENSK-SHAKHTINSKIY, RUSSIAN FEDERATION. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs).
Global co-operation important for tackling contemporary security challenges, say representatives of Shanghai Co-operation Organization
Publishing date: 10 May 2017
VIENNA, 10 May 2017- Consolidating international efforts is the only way to tackle current security threats at the global level, representatives of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) told the Forum for Security Co-operation in today’s session held under Russia’s Chairmanship. This is the first time that the SCO leadership addressed the OSCE within FSC’s Security Dialogue...