News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Reforms necessary for holding democratic elections in Kazakhstan have yet to materialize, observers say
Publishing date: 4 April 2011
ASTANA, 4 April 2011 – Yesterday’s presidential vote in Kazakhstan revealed similar shortcomings as those noted in previous elections in the country, international observers said in a statement issued today. They noted that reforms necessary for holding genuine democratic elections have yet to materialize...
Workshop on gender equality and women's rights held in Prague
Publishing date: 31 March 2011
ODIHR organized a workshop for national human rights institutions from 17 OSCE participating States in Prague on 29 March...
OSCE/ODIHR to observe local elections in Albania
Publishing date: 29 March 2011
TIRANA, 29 March 2011 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an observation mission to monitor the 8 May local elections in Albania....
ODIHR team assesses opportunities for democracy and human rights assistance in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 28 March 2011
A team of experts from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) arrived in Kyrgyzstan on 27 March for a five-day visit to explore possibilities for assisting the authorities and civil society with democratic reform...
Participants at OSCE meeting call for more decisive steps to confront anti-Semitism in public discourse
Publishing date: 23 March 2011
PRAGUE, 23 March 2011 – Participants at an OSCE meeting in Prague on confronting anti-Semitism in public discourse today called for more decisive steps to counter expressions of intolerance and hatred while preserving the freedom of speech...
ODIHR to deploy election assessment mission to Cyprus
Publishing date: 23 March 2011
Ahead of the parliamentary elections in Cyprus scheduled for 22 May 2011, ODIHR conducted a needs assessment mission to the country on 2-4 March to assess the pre-election environment and preparations for the elections.
OSCE/ODIHR, Council of Europe and EU Fundamental Rights Agency make joint statement on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Publishing date: 18 March 2011
STRASBOURG, VIENNA, WARSAW, 21 March 2011 – In a joint statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Nils Muiznieks, Chair of the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance; Morten Kjaerum, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights; and Janez Lenarčič, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, strongly condemned manifestations of racism and related intolerance...