News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Newly declared states of emergency must include a time limit and parliamentary oversight, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 30 March 2020
WARSAW, 30 March 2020 – Emergency legislation being adopted by governments across the OSCE region must include a time limit and guarantee parliamentary oversight, said the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) ahead of a vote in Hungary to extend emergency measures earlier adopted in the EU member state. ODIHR is systematically monitoring the content and consequences of the states of emergency being declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic...
ODIHR encourages Belarus to continue work on strengthened judicial independence, promotion of human rights and support for women leaders
Publishing date: 27 February 2020
Greater efforts and co-operation are needed to achieve a more independent justice system, educate citizens about human rights and strengthen women’s leadership in Belarus, said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), addressing
It’s time for women to lead in politics, say participants in ODIHR Finland/Poland roundtable
Publishing date: 17 December 2019
Now is the time for women to boost their representation in political leadership positions, said politicians, government officials, diplomats, civil society representatives and activists from Poland and Finland, who gathered in Warsaw on 17 December 2019 to explore ways of increasing women’s
Addressing OSCE PA Bureau Meeting ahead of Bratislava Ministerial Council, Chair’s Special Representative stresses importance of parliamentarians in increasing understanding on OSCE’s work
Publishing date: 4 December 2019
Ahead of the official start of the OSCE’s 26th Ministerial Council, the Bureau of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) met in Bratislava on 4 December 2019 to discuss their work over the course of the year. Bureau members heard from Assembly President George Tsereteli, Treasurer Peter Juel-Jensen, OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella, and Lukas Parizek, Special Representative for the OSCE Chairmanship and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia...
Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro addresses ‘Women’s Parliament’ as part of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign
Publishing date: 29 November 2019
“The OSCE recognizes violence against women as both a threat to individuals and a broader security concern,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Maryse Daviet, in an address on 29 November 2019 to the 11th session of the ‘Women’s Parliament’, held within Montenegro’s Parliament, as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence international campaign...
Women’s leadership at local level key to improving everyday lives, say participants of ODIHR forum in Belarus
Publishing date: 27 November 2019
Promoting women’s leadership and political participation at the local level was the focus of a Women’s Forum organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Grodno, Belarus, on 27 November 2019. The event brought together a wide range of women leaders to
Democratic reforms and regional dialogue at crux of OSCE PA President's visit to Yerevan
Publishing date: 27 November 2019
YEREVAN, 27 November 2019- Concluding a visit to Yerevan, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) welcomed sustained efforts to firmly establish democratic institutions and practices in Armenia...