News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE field operations in Tajikistan and Albania work together to support women’s participation in political life
Publishing date: 8 April 2016
A group of eight women politicians from all registered political parties in Tajikistan, including a member of parliament, paid a visit to Albania from 2 to 8 April 2016 to strengthen inter-regional co-operation and share experiences on empowering women in political life. The visit was jointly organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and the OSCE Presence in Albania...
Political leaders have primary role in countering discrimination and prejudice against Roma and Sinti, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and ODIHR Director say on International Roma Day
Publishing date: 8 April 2016
BERLIN/WARSAW, 8 April 2016 – Political leaders must play a primary role in in countering discrimination and prejudice against Roma and Sinti and improving their situation, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said today, on the occasion of International Roma Day../
Roma remain one of most vulnerable groups, continue to face difficult living conditions and discrimination in access to social protection, health, employment and adequate housing, as stated in reports by independent bodies
Publishing date: 8 April 2016
BELGRADE, 8 April 2016- On the occasion of International Roma Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, the United Nations Country Team in Serbia, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade reaffirm our strong commitment to equality and non-discrimination...
OSCE/ODIHR shares trial monitoring expertise with NGO representatives from Eastern Europe and South Caucasus at training event in Ukraine
Publishing date: 8 April 2016
The fundamentals of trial monitoring were the focus of a training event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the Educational Human Rights House, from 6 to 8 April 2016 in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Bringing together 26 lawyers representing
Aarhus Centres excel in community-based disaster risk reduction, concluded at OSCE-organized discussion in Vienna
Publishing date: 8 April 2016
VIENNA, 8 April 2016 – More than 60 representatives of Aarhus Centres, local authorities, state agencies for emergency situations, NGOs and international and regional organizations concluded in Vienna today a two-year project on community-based disaster risk reduction...
Spot Report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM): SMM vehicle hit by bullet, and SMM threatened at gunpoint in Smile
Publishing date: 7 April 2016
At 9:45hrs on 7 April, while an SMM patrol, comprised of four SMM members in two armoured vehicles, was 3.5km north-east of Snizhne (“DPR”-controlled, 72km east of Donetsk) near the administrative boundary between Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the driver of the front SMM vehicle heard the trunk window crackling. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, the SMM noted on the lower right part of the trunk window a hole, 5mm in diameter, assessed to be caused by a bullet...
Chief of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine concerned by increased violence, calls for a sustained ceasefire
Publishing date: 7 April 2016
KYIV, 7 April 2016 – Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), expressed concern today regarding the highest level of ceasefire violations in the Donetsk region since the sides recommitted to the ceasefire in September 2015. He noted as particularly troubling the extremely high number of incidents involving the use of heavy weapons and mortars...