News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Election observers to North Macedonia’s early parliamentary elections to hold press conference on Thursday
Publishing date: 14 July 2020
SKOPJE, 14 July 2020 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference to present their preliminary conclusions following the early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia.
Competitive and well-organized Polish presidential run-off marred by confrontation, media bias and misuse of resources, international observers say
Publishing date: 13 July 2020
WARSAW, 13 July 2020 – While both candidates in Poland’s presidential run-off were able to campaign freely, hostility as well as biased coverage by the public broadcaster tarnished the election, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today.
Education vital to prevent escalation of violence that can lead to genocide, OSCE human rights head says on Srebrenica anniversary
Publishing date: 11 July 2020
WARSAW, 11 July 2020 – The importance of education and commemoration to promote tolerance and prevent the escalation of violence cannot be underestimated, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on the anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in 1995...
Polish presidential election managed well despite legal uncertainties, but intolerance and public media bias tarnished campaign, international observers say
Publishing date: 29 June 2020
WARSAW, 29 June 2020 – Poland’s presidential election was administered professionally despite the lack of legal clarity as solutions were sought to hold the election during the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign was characterised by intolerant rhetoric and a public broadcaster that failed in its duty to offer balanced and impartial coverage, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in a statement today...
To do justice to victims, rooting out the causes of law enforcement violence must become a priority, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 26 June 2020
WARSAW, 26 June 2020 – The root causes of excessive violence by law enforcement agencies, including torture or other ill-treatment, must be addressed comprehensively in order to acknowledge the injustice done to victims and help their path to recovery, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture today...
ODIHR opens special election assessment mission in North Macedonia
Publishing date: 22 June 2020
SKOPJE, 22 June 2020- The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened a special election assessment mission (SEAM) for the 15 July 2020 early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia. The deployment follows an official invitation from the authorities of North Macedonia...
Serbian parliamentary elections well run, but ruling party dominance and lack of media diversity limited voters’ choice, international observers say
Publishing date: 22 June 2020
BELGRADE, 22 June 2020 – While contestants in Serbia’s parliamentary elections were able to campaign and fundamental freedoms were respected, voter choice was limited by the governing party’s overwhelming advantage and the promotion of government policies by most major media outlets, international observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) concluded in a statement of their preliminary findings and conclusions today...