News and press releases

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a three-day training seminar for officers of the Drugs Control Agency of Tajikistan (DCA) from 7 to 9 April 2020 in Dushanbe. The course trained participants on how to protect human rights and promote gender aspects in the daily work of law enforcement agencies. Some 25 young officers from DCA participated. This initiative was part of a 15-day special training for young employees of the DCA, who recently started their career in the law enforcement sector.

Persistent gender inequality might worsen due to the impact of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus if not properly addressed from the beginning, said speakers at the OSCE online discussion held on 7 April 2020. The webinar, organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Section and moderated by OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues Amarsanaa Darisuren, provided a platform for the exchange of ideas and good practices on how to respond to gender-related impacts of COVID-19.

Some 150 young scholars (90% female) from 46 OSCE participating States and seven Partners for Co-operation, began the eight-week online training programme on “Conflict Prevention and Resolution through Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation in the OSCE Area” on 6 April 2020. The programme is organized jointly with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Vienna, thanks to generous contributions of Andorra, Finland, Germany and Switzerland...

SKOPJE, 6 April 2020- The OSCE Mission to Skopje, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia and the National Network to End Violence against Women and Domestic Violence call upon the relevant actors to make additional efforts to prevent domestic violence during the COVID-19 crisis and to put in place effective victim protection mechanisms...

VIENNA / COPENHAGEN / WARSAW, 2 April 2020 – Noting a troubling rise in domestic violence in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and self-isolation guidelines in many countries, OSCE leaders called today for measures to be taken by governments to protect women and children. They said that unfortunately, for them home is not always a safe haven, as they are the most susceptible to abuse and need increased protection in these extraordinary times and urged authorities to ensure that they are kept safe from abusers.

VIENNA, 13 March 2020- The pivotal role of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and post-conflict rehabilitation was highlighted during Wednesday’s meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under Turkey’s FSC Chairmanship, which focused on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The speakers urged the implementation of the Resolution, recognizing that equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts for maintaining and promoting peace and security is of utmost importance...

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger acknowledged exceptional efforts and achievements of OSCE staff members in promoting gender equality in the OSCE and beyond at an award ceremony that took place on 12 March 2020, in Vienna.