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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Parliamentarians unite in Helsinki to advance gender equality in politics
Publishing date: 5 June 2025
Content type: News
What we do: Human rights, Good governance, Gender equality
More than 60 parliamentarians and experts from Europe and Central Asia gathered at the Finnish Parliament for a two-day workshop on gender-sensitive parliaments, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) with support from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and OSCE field operations. Entitled Realizing Gender Equality in and by Parliaments, the workshop highlighted the critical role of national parliaments in driving progress toward gender equality.
Conviction of independent election monitor in Russia undermines human rights and democratic standards, OSCE human rights office says
Publishing date: 16 May 2025
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Human rights, Elections
WARSAW, 15 May 2025 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expresses serious concern following the conviction and sentencing of Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of the independent Russian election monitoring group Golos, to five years in a penal colony, alongside a nine-year ban on public activities, after a verdict by a Moscow court.
To safeguard human rights we must protect civic space and the right to peaceful assembly, OSCE leaders say
Publishing date: 4 May 2025
Content type: Press release
What we do: Human rights
VIENNA, 5 May 2025 – A vibrant civic space in which everyone contributes to public and political life is increasingly challenged by growing threats to freedom of peaceful assembly and severe challenges faced by human rights defenders through discreditation, criminalization, and direct attacks, OSCE leaders said as a two-day conference began today.
Georgia’s foreign agents legislation raises concerns over negative impact on civil society, OSCE human rights office says
Publishing date: 2 April 2025
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Human rights
WARSAW, 2 April 2025 – Georgia’s new law ‘On the Foreign Agents Registration Act’, requiring all individuals or organisations considered to act in the interest of a foreign entity to register as foreign agents, due for example to foreign funding, and imposing sanctions for lack of compliance, adds to concerns over other legislation adopted recently and the law’s negative impact on civil society, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today.
Free and independent media are vital for strong democracies and our common security, OSCE leaders say
Publishing date: 17 March 2025
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairpersonship, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Human rights, Media freedom and development
VIENNA, 17 March 2025 – Independent media are essential in providing factual, unbiased reporting that counters propaganda, promotes informed public debate and ensures accountability, OSCE leaders said at the opening of a two-day conference to discuss the role of media in conflict and humanitarian crises against the background of international law today.
Republika Srpska’s new NGO law raises serious concerns over human rights protection, OSCE Human Rights Director and Media Freedom Representative say
Publishing date: 28 February 2025
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Human rights, Media freedom and development
WARSAW, 28 February 2025 – The Law on the Special Registry and Publicity of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations adopted last night by the parliament of Republika Srpska does not meet international human rights standards or the commitments of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an OSCE participating State, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Maria Telalian and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Jan Braathu said today.
Human rights situation in Ukraine deteriorates as attacks intensify amid ongoing persecution in Russian-occupied territories: OSCE human rights office
Publishing date: 13 December 2024
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Human rights
WARSAW, 13 December 2024 – The human rights situation in Ukraine has continued to worsen amid increased aerial attacks that include systematic strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure, as well as intensified hostilities on the front line, leading to a surge in civilian casualties.