News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Free and independent media are vital for strong democracies and our common security, OSCE leaders say
Publishing date: 17 March 2025
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
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.
Uzbekistan's draft information code shows promise but still needs improvement, OSCE Human Rights Director and Media Freedom Representative say
Publishing date: 9 July 2024
WARSAW/VIENNA, 9 July 2024 – In a new legal analysis of Uzbekistan's draft information code, Matteo Mecacci, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), noted that while the code contains positive elements, it also includes provisions that need improvement to meet international standards and OSCE commitments on freedom of expression and media freedom.
Kyrgyzstan’s bill on so-called “foreign representatives” worrying and should be reviewed: OSCE Human Rights Director and Media Freedom Representative
Publishing date: 7 February 2024
WARSAW/VIENNA, 7 February 2024 – The decision of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, to proceed towards the adoption of the so-called “foreign representatives” bill is of great concern, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Matteo Mecacci and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro said today.
Media freedom is indispensable for the future of our common security, OSCE leaders say
Publishing date: 13 March 2023
VIENNA, 13 March 2023 – Freedom of expression as well as the freedom for media to operate independently are key pillars of a genuine democracy, OSCE leaders said during a two-day Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting in Vienna.
Annexation of Ukrainian territories is illegal and a threat to human rights, say OSCE human rights Director and OSCE media freedom Representative
Publishing date: 6 October 2022
WARSAW/VIENNA, 6 October 2022 – The Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of territory in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine, which was signed into law earlier this week, was strongly condemned by the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Matteo Mecacci and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro.
Gender equality is a cornerstone of media freedom and democratic society, OSCE leaders say
Publishing date: 9 March 2021
VIENNA, 9 March 2021 – Ensuring both equal opportunities and equal safeguards for women and men is key to an independent and diverse media landscape, which is vital for open societies based on the principles at the heart of OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy, participants said at a two-day OSCE meeting that ended today.