Newsroom
News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism invoked to examine alleged human rights violations and abuses in the Republic of Belarus
Publishing date: 23 March 2023
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Thirty-eight OSCE participating States invoked the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism on 23 March 2023 to examine “threats to the fulfilment of the provisions of the human dimension posed by human rights violations and abuses in the Republic of Belarus”. The Moscow Mechanism, last invoked on 28 July 2022 in
Ambassadors Aggeler and Murphy hand over ICT equipment to anti-corruption bodies across the country
Publishing date: 23 March 2023
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
What we do: Democratization, Good governance
Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, and Ambassador Michael J. Murphy, U.S. Ambassador to BiH, handed over ICT equipment to anti-corruption bodies from Republika Srpska, the Federation of BiH, Brčko District BiH and nine cantons. The donation is worth around 126,000 EUR and
Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina visits Banja Luka
Publishing date: 22 March 2023
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
What we do: Human rights, Media freedom and development, Rule of law
Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, visited Banja Luka today where he held meetings with several local counterparts.
Differences between trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants focus of OSCE-supported training course
Publishing date: 22 March 2023
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
More than 40 representatives of the BiH Border Police, BiH State Investigation and Protection Agency, Service for Foreigners' Affairs and BiH Prosecutor’s Office attended a three-day, multi-sectoral training course on the differences between trafficking in human beings and the smuggling of migrants, which concluded on 22 March 2023 in Sarajevo. The course was organized by the OSCE Mission to BiH, in co-ordination with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
OSCE and Spain’s Guardia Civil help strengthen Ukraine’s canine capacities to prevent illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons
Publishing date: 21 March 2023
Content type: News
Where we are: Forum for Security Co-operation, OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Border management
The OSCE and Spain’s Guardia Civil launched a specialized canine team instructor course for eight Ukrainian specialists at the Guardia Civil’s Dog Training Centre (CADEPE) on 21 March 2023.
Montenegro’s presidential election competitive but negatively affected by an uninclusive process and legal shortcomings, international observers say
Publishing date: 20 March 2023
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
PODGORICA, 20 March 2023 – Montenegro’s presidential election was competitive, with candidates able to campaign freely and fundamental freedoms for all citizens respected, but the candidate registration was not inclusive and longstanding shortcomings in the legal framework and campaign finance regulations remained unaddressed, international observers said in a statement today.
Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections offered voters increased choice, although limitations on fundamental freedoms and participation remain, international observers say
Publishing date: 20 March 2023
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
ASTANA, 20 March 2023 – The 19 March early parliamentary elections were held in the context of reforms introduced to bring Kazakhstan closer to holding elections in line with international standards and OSCE commitments, as legal amendments addressed several previous recommendations and provided increased choice for voters. However, limits on the exercise of fundamental freedoms remain, and some political groups continued to be prevented from participation as parties in elections. Further changes to the legal framework are needed to provide a sufficient basis for conducting democratic elections, the international observers said in a statement released today.