News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE leaders join the 16 Days of Activism campaign with an appeal to states to help end gender-based violence
Publishing date: 25 November 2020
TIRANA / VIENNA / WARSAW, 25 November 2020- On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, OSCE leaders called on participating States to increase their efforts and resources to combat violence against women and girls, particularly in times of crises.
OSCE/ODIHR concerned about decision undermining judicial independence in Poland
Publishing date: 20 November 2020
WARSAW, 20 November 2020 – The ruling by the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court of Poland on 18 November 2020, stripping Judge Igor Tuleya of his immunity, raises concerns about judicial independence in the country...
Well-managed presidential run-off in Moldova clouded by negative rhetoric and ineffective campaign finance rules, international observers say
Publishing date: 16 November 2020
CHISINAU, 16 November 2020 – Yesterday’s presidential run-off in Moldova was well managed in the challenging circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but negative and divisive rhetoric devalued the campaign amid ineffective rules on campaign financing, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today...
Lack of hate crime recording means victims and their needs too often remain invisible, OSCE’s human rights office says
Publishing date: 16 November 2020
WARSAW, 16 November 2020 – With the publication of its annual Hate Crime Report on today’s International Day for Tolerance, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) underscores the need for police to record hate crimes in order to ensure that victims are recognized and receive the support they so urgently need...
ODIHR opens special election assessment mission in Romania
Publishing date: 14 November 2020
BUCHAREST, 14 November 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 6 December parliamentary elections in Romania. The deployment follows an official invitation from the Romanian authorities...
Impunity for human rights abuses in Belarus must end, OSCE human rights office says
Publishing date: 13 November 2020
WARSAW, 13 November 2020 – As pervasive violations of OSCE commitments and international human rights obligations in Belarus continue, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) calls on the country’s authorities to end impunity of those responsible for human rights violations, up to and including deaths, and hold them to account...
Implementation of electoral recommendations in the Western Balkans discussed at OSCE/ODIHR regional conference
Publishing date: 10 November 2020
The follow-up to the recommendations of election observation missions in the Western Balkans topped the agenda of an online conference organized by the OSCE Office Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 10 November 2020. The conference focused on the extent and modalities of the