News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Improving conditions for refugees from arrival to integration is key to overcoming COVID-19, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 20 June 2020
Warsaw, 20 June 2020 – On World Refugee Day, the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continues unabated. Governments need to make greater efforts to guarantee the right to seek asylum is respected and ensure refugees are afforded protection, a vital condition for their integration into the societies of their host countries, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today.
ODIHR opens special election assessment mission in Poland
Publishing date: 16 June 2020
WARSAW, 16 June 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 28 June presidential election in Poland. The deployment follows an official invitation from the Polish authorities...
ODIHR opens special election assessment mission in Serbia
Publishing date: 8 June 2020
BELGRADE, 8 June 2020 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 21 June parliamentary elections in Serbia. The deployment follows an official invitation from the Serbian authorities...
Tajikistan parliamentary elections 2020: ODIHR observation mission final report
Publishing date: 27 May 2020
ODIHR recommendations on Tajikistan 2020 elections ODIHR final report on the 2020 Tajikistan parliamentary elections The 2020 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan took place in a tightly controlled environment in which there was no space left for a pluralistic political debate and voters did not
Scapegoating of minorities during pandemic increases need for targeted action to combat intolerance and discrimination, OSCE conference concludes
Publishing date: 26 May 2020
VIENNA, 26 May 2020 –The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges that demand greater efforts from governments in order to build inclusive societies in the coming months and years, concluded OSCE participants at a meeting today on addressing the many dimensions of intolerance and discrimination...
Slovakia parliamentary elections 2020: ODIHR election assessment mission final report
Publishing date: 15 May 2020
ODIHR recommendations on Slovakia 2020 elections ODIHR election observation mission recommends Slovakia, among other things, to make greater efforts to help persons with disabilities vote The 2020 parliamentary elections in Slovakia were held in a pluralistic environment with respect for
ODIHR Director very concerned about decision to uphold life sentence for Azimjan Askarov
Publishing date: 13 May 2020
WARSAW, 13 May 2020 – Following the decision of Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court today to uphold the life sentence of human rights defender Azimjan Askarov, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed her deep disappointment...