News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Defending human rights of most vulnerable crucial to meeting security challenges, say speakers at OSCE conference in Warsaw
Publishing date: 22 September 2014
WARSAW, 22 September 2014 – OSCE participating States have to focus on the most vulnerable in particular if their efforts to defend human rights are to effectively promote security, speakers said at the opening of the OSCE Human Dimension Meeting in Warsaw today...
OSCE concludes series of seminars on local self-governance reform
Publishing date: 19 September 2014
KOKSHETAU, Kazakhstan, 19 September 2014 – Establishing dynamic, accountable and efficient local governments in rural and small town municipalities that involve the public in decision-making processes was the focus of an OSCE-supported training seminar held today in Kokshetau, in the Akmola Region...
On International Day of Democracy, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and ODIHR Director call for greater efforts to promote youth engagement and participation
Publishing date: 15 September 2014
BERN/WARSAW, 15 September 2014 – On the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), called on OSCE participating States to recognize, foster and galvanize the contribution of youth to promoting democratic values and practices, including the rule of law, the protection of human rights, and tolerance and non-discrimination...
OSCE Mission calls for greater participation of women, youth and people with disabilities in decision-making in Kosovo
Publishing date: 15 September 2014
PRISHTINЁ/PRIŠTINA, 15 September 2014 – On the occasion of the International Democracy Day, 15 September, the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, called on institutions to ensure greater participation of women, youth, and people with disabilities in the policy and decision-making process and has encouraged civil society organizations to advocate for the needs of those groups.
OSCE supports Parliamentary Intern programme in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 11 September 2014
BISHKEK, 11 September 2014 – Twelve university students completed a three-month internship programme at the Parliament of Kyrgyz Republic today. The Parliamentary Internship program, in its third year, is managed by the American Councils for International Education (ACTR/ACCELS), and supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek...
ODIHR, Venice Commission roundtable discussion in Warsaw discusses recommendations to facilitate establishment and functioning of associations
Publishing date: 9 September 2014
Key challenges in creating an enabling legislative environment for associations were the focus of a roundtable discussion organized in Warsaw by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the European Commission for Democracy through Law of the Council of Europe (Venice Commission) on 8 and 9 September 2014.
Swiss OSCE Chairmanship concludes series of four regional civil society workshops with a two-day event in Tbilisi
Publishing date: 8 September 2014
Some 40 representatives from regional civil society organizations of the South Caucasus and international NGOs took part in a discussion in Tbilisi on 3 and 4 September 2014, organized jointly by the 2014 Swiss OSCE Chairmanship and the Georgian NGO Analytical Center for Interethnic Cooperation and Consultations. The focus of the event was on the prevention of torture, the independence of the judiciary, and the institutional and legal framework to combat discrimination...