News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Spain’s November elections democratic and transparent, some recent amendments at odds with OSCE commitments, concludes ODIHR report
Publishing date: 17 February 2012
Spain’s early parliamentary elections in November were democratic and conducted transparently but some recent amendments to the electoral legal framework appear to be at odds with OSCE Commitments, concludes the ODIHR final report...
Europe’s Roma at risk from austerity measures, OSCE Roma adviser tells US Helsinki Commission
Publishing date: 15 February 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C., 15 February 2012 – The persisting financial crisis significantly worsens prospects for integrating Europe’s Roma and Sinti populations and combating intolerance and violence targeting this minority in many countries, the head of the OSCE Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, Andrzej Mirga, told the United States Helsinki Commission today...
OSCE/ODIHR ready to co-operate with Asian Partners on promoting democracy and respect for human rights
Publishing date: 15 February 2012
The OSCE is ready to co-operate with its Asian Partners in promoting democracy and human rights to contribute to broader security in the region, Janez Lenarčič, the ODIHR Director, told the OSCE-Thailand Conference in Chiang Mai on 14 February 2012...
Effectiveness, transparency of Serbian legislative process needs improvement, says OSCE/ODIHR assessment
Publishing date: 8 February 2012
The lawmaking process in Serbia can be strengthened through a more precise and effective delineation of its two stages – policy development and the drafting of legislation, and would benefit from more public consultation, says an OSCE/ODIHR assessment presented in Belgrade on 7 February 2012...
Slovenia’s legal framework provides sound basis for democratic elections, some aspects could benefit from further review, says ODIHR final report
Publishing date: 7 February 2012
Slovenia’s early parliamentary polls in December showed that the legislative framework provided a sound basis for the conduct of democratic elections, although certain aspects could benefit from further review, the ODIHR final report says...
ODIHR report says Croatia’s December elections pluralistic and transparent, recommends improvements to legal framework and compilation of voter lists
Publishing date: 3 February 2012
Croatia’s parliamentary elections on 4 December 2011 were pluralistic and administered transparently but further steps should be taken to improve the legal framework and the compilation of voter lists, concludes ODIHR's final report...
OSCE rights chief welcomes decision to release Zhovtis, but expresses concern about clampdown on Kazakh opposition
Publishing date: 1 February 2012
WARSAW, 1 February 2012 – Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today welcomed the decision by a court in Ust-Kamenogorsk to release prominent human rights defender Yevgeniy Zhovtis, but expressed concern about the continuing clampdown on opposition activities in Kazakhstan in the wake of December’s violence in Zhanaozen and parliamentary elections held earlier this month...