News and press releases

BISHKEK, 15 May 2015 – In co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Parliament hosts a two-day international conference on the role of Parliaments in achieving gender equality. The event is organized in the context of the Beijing +20 process marking the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action for the advancement of women and girls. The high-level meeting is held on 15-16 May...

Impact assessment as an effective tool in producing better legislation was the focus of a workshop organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and the OSCE Office in Yerevan. It was held in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, on 12 and 13 May 2015.

VIENNA, 1 May 2015 – Today’s challenges require collective efforts and the OSCE is uniquely placed to restore trust through its inclusive approach to security, Secretary General of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development–GUAM Valeri Chechelashvili told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today.

BISHKEK, 30 April 2015 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek today donated professional audio and video equipment to the Information Department the Office of Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic as part of its project to support reforms of the government press office. During the donation ceremony, a handover agreement was signed between parties...

KYIV, 24 April 2015 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), was joined in Kyiv today by Valeriya Lutkovska, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, for the launch of ODIHR’s new two-year project. Following Director Link’s public lecture on the subject of civil society, democracy and human rights, ODIHR engaged representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the civil society and academia in a panel discussion on the vital role civil society plays as Ukraine takes critical steps to advance democracy, protect human rights and address discrimination.

VIENNA, 16 April 2015 – The freedoms of association and assembly are the cornerstone of a vibrant, pluralistic and participatory democracy, and restrictions to these can only be allowed in line with relevant international standards and commitments, participants said today at the opening of a two-day OSCE meeting in Vienna...

Some 40 civil society representatives from more than 25 OSCE participating States discussed the participation of associations in public decision-making processes at the Civil Society Forum organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 15 and 16 April 2015 in Vienna.