News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Participants in ODIHR event in Astana call for continued capacity-building efforts, dialogue to advance freedom of religion or belief in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 13 February 2018
The importance of promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief as a core component of ensuring sustainable security in Kazakhstan was highlighted by participants in a meeting organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Astana on 13 February 2018.
OSCE/ODIHR facilitates dialogue between members of UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publishing date: 7 February 2018
The establishment of a national body to monitor places of detention in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of efforts to prevent torture and other ill-treatment was the focus of high-level meetings in Sarajevo, supported by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 5 and 6 February 2018.
OSCE/ODIHR Director says ongoing operation of Guantanamo Bay detention facility contravenes international human rights standards, reiterates call for closure
Publishing date: 11 January 2018
WARSAW, 11 January 2018 – Today, on the 16th anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), reiterated her Office’s calls for the facility’s prompt closure...
OSCE/ODIHR Director voices concern over arrest of and charges against head of Memorial Human Rights Centre in Chechnya
Publishing date: 10 January 2018
WARSAW, 10 January 2018- Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today voiced serious concerns regarding the arrest and detention of Oyub Titiev, Director of the Memorial Human Rights Centre in Chechnya, in the North Caucasus republic of the Russian Federation, yesterday...
OSCE/ODIHR trains correctional officers on preventing sexual and gender-based violence in prison
Publishing date: 19 December 2017
A pilot training course on preventing and addressing sexual and gender-based violence in prison was organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), bringing together 14 correctional officers from eight OSCE participating States on 18 and 19 December 2017 in
On International Migrants Day, ODIHR Director calls for increased action to promote long-term, human rights-based inclusion and integration of migrants
Publishing date: 18 December 2017
WARSAW, 18 December 2018 – On the occasion of International Migrants Day, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today called for greater action to promote long-term integration efforts while protecting and promoting the human rights of all migrants.
High-level expert meeting in Warsaw focuses on updating handbook for protecting rights of trafficked persons
Publishing date: 14 December 2017
Updating a handbook created to assist OSCE participating States in establishing sustainable mechanisms and structures to counter human trafficking was the focus of a high-level international expert meeting organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw