News and press releases

BAKU, 29 August 2024 – International election observers will hold a press conference to present their findings following the early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan.

WARSAW, 22 August 2024 – Safeguarding the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief protects the inherent dignity of every individual and at the same time helps to build more tolerant and inclusive societies, reducing tensions and allowing our diverse communities to exist together, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on today’s International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.

WARSAW, 2 August 2024 – We must move beyond commemoration to education in order to overcome the bias against Roma that allows hatred to fester, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on today’s Roma Genocide Remembrance Day.

BAKU, 1 August 2024 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 1 September early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, following an official invitation from the national authorities.

BAKU, 30 July 2024 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the forthcoming early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan on Thursday, 1 August.

VALLETTA/VIENNA/WARSAW, 30 July 2024 – Marking World Day against Trafficking in Persons, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci and OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Kari Johnstone underscored the need to strengthen collaborative efforts to identify victims of human trafficking and prevent exploitation of the most vulnerable, particularly children.

WARSAW, 22 July 2024 – In recent months, the intensified large-scale attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian cities have resulted in an increasing number of civilian casualties and severe damage to civilian infrastructure, while evidence is growing of widespread and systematic torture of detained civilians and prisoners of war in Russian-controlled areas, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its latest report on violations of international law following Russia’s military attack in Ukraine.