News and press releases

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a five-day training course for lawyers, psychologists from the OSCE-supported Women’s Resource Centres (WRCs), and government representatives on preventing domestic violence and protecting its victims.

Helping Ukrainian media professionals ensure their stories dispel stereotypes, uphold the equality of women and men, and contribute to better protection of their rights is at the heart of a new publication launched in Kyiv on 14 August. “Gender Equality Policy in the Media Content”, was developed by the NGO, Women in Media, in close partnership with the Governmental Representative for Gender Equality and the Commission on Journalism Ethics, a self-regulating body for journalists and editorial boards in Ukraine, with assistance provided by the OSCE Secretariat Extra-budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU).

On 15 August 2024, the Seized Property Management Agency of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FAZUOI) and the National Agency of Ukraine for the Detection, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes (ARMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening their co-operation in the fight against organized crime and corruption through tracing, detection and management of illegal assets.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) supported the Anti-Corruption Summer School for Youth in Yos resort, Tajikistan, from 12 to 16 August 2024. The event was organized in collaboration with the Agency for State Financial Control and Fight against Corruption and Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Transparency and Anti-Corruption.

From 1 to 15 August 2024, Tajikistan National Mine Action Center with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) organized a two-week summer rehabilitation workshop for landmine/ explosive remnants of war survivors in the resort area of Guliston, Sughd region.

From 12 to 14 August, the OSCE facilitated its second training session on countering blockchain obfuscation techniques—this time for investigators from Armenia and Georgia. The course took place in Warsaw and was hosted by the Ministry of Finance of Poland.

The OSCE recognizes the significance of women and youth in leadership roles and aims to advance women's rights and gender equality in public and political spheres.

From 7 to 10 August, the OSCE trained financial investigators from Moldova and Ukraine on mitigating blockchain obfuscation techniques used by criminals in a course hosted by the Ministry of Finance of Poland in Warsaw.

On August 9, 2024, the VIII International Summer School for young diplomats from Central Asian countries, the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation concluded on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. The event, entitled “Diplomatic and Consular Service in the Era of Digitalization of International Relations,” was organized by the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic jointly with the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

From 6 to 9 August, the OSCE held a workshop at the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) in Tbilisi to enhance the bank’s regulatory framework for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), improve customer risk assessment procedures and implement robust preventive measures within the virtual assets sector.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), in co-operation with the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG) Secretariat, organized a five-day training session on 5-9 August 2024.

On 2 August 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD), in collaboration with Tajikistan's Border Troops, concluded a three-week Training of Trainers (ToT) course for nineteen officers of the Tajik Border Troops. The course was led by two international experts specializing in adult learning and planning military training exercises.

WARSAW, 2 August 2024 – We must move beyond commemoration to education in order to overcome the bias against Roma that allows hatred to fester, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on today’s Roma Genocide Remembrance Day.

With the financial and technical support of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, 154 tons of dangerous chemicals were safely removed, repackaged and transported from Transdniestria for incineration in Germany. The chemicals were collected from electrical sub-stations in Bender, Grigoriopol, Hirtop,

BAKU, 1 August 2024 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 1 September early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, following an official invitation from the national authorities.

BAKU, 30 July 2024 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the forthcoming early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan on Thursday, 1 August.

On 29 July 2024, Ambassador Antti Karttunen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), participated in the conference “Combating Human Trafficking: National Approaches and International Standards” in Tashkent.

On the occasion of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the OSCE Mission to BiH, in co-operation with the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, organized a workshop to address human trafficking among minorities, children, and persons with disabilities.

VALLETTA/VIENNA/WARSAW, 30 July 2024 – Marking World Day against Trafficking in Persons, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci and OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Kari Johnstone underscored the need to strengthen collaborative efforts to identify victims of human trafficking and prevent exploitation of the most vulnerable, particularly children.

On 29-31 July 2024, the OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), in co-operation with the National Human Rights Centre (NHRC) of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Main Directorate for the Execution of Punishments, launched a three-day training on the UN Bangkok Rules and gender-sensitive approaches to torture prevention.

While physical violence against journalists has decreased in recent years, forms of attacks have evolved, taking on more insidious and damaging forms. If left unaddressed, these newer threats can have profound consequences for media professionals. Recognizing the urgency of this issue and in support of journalists’ work, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, upon the request of its partner Media Trade Union, organized a workshop on psychological well-being and support for media workers on 27 and 28 July in Sutomore.

SARAJEVO, 25 July 2024- Today, the Municipality of Čelić celebrates the opening of its first fire station, an event that marks a significant step forward in strengthening the security infrastructure of this area. With the presence of citizens, representatives of local authorities and international organizations, the new building was officially opened, making Čelić a safer place to live.

THE HAGUE, 25 July 2024 – Natur og Ungdom from Norway has been selected as the winner of the 2024 Max van der Stoel Award. The Award recognizes this organization’s efforts to give young people of all backgrounds a voice in environmental policy.

From 22 to 24 July 2024, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, jointly with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, facilitated a needs assessment mission to Uzbekistan, focusing on requesting electronic evidence across borders. The mission was held as part of the E-VIDENCE project dedicated to building the capacity of law enforcement in requesting electronic evidence across borders for investigating online criminal matters, including terrorism-related.

VIENNA, 24 July 2024 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro expresses deep concern at the growing threat to the safety of journalists in the Russian Federation following the latest series of convictions of media professionals in the country.

As part of its commitment to combat gender-based violence and empower survivors, on 24 July the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided a greenhouse to the SOS Helpline Nikšić.

Novopavlovka village, Chui province, Kyrgyzstan – 24 July, 2024 A ceremony marking the launch of removal operation of the final 55 tonnes of Samin, a toxic rocket fuel component, from the Novopavlovka area in Chui province of Kyrgyzstan took place today. This operation mitigates a significant environmental threat and ensures the safety of some 21,000 residents living near the storage site. The chemical waste will be transported out of Kyrgyzstan by air to Germany at the end of August 2024, where it will be incinerated in a specialized disposal facility.

On 11 July, the Chair of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Natasha Meli Daudey, presented the White Ribbon Award to seven diplomats and delegation members, honouring their outstanding engagement for the promotion of gender equality. The White Ribbon Award is presented every year to OSCE delegates from participating States and Partners for Co-operation who have shown true dedication to the promotion of gender equality and have used their position to advance these efforts. The Award is given based on nominations received from OSCE delegations.

ERGNETI, 23 July 2024 – The 120th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in Ergneti today under the co-facilitation of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Viorel Moşanu, and the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Bettina Patricia Boughani.

To bolster Moldova's capabilities in the area of management of seized and confiscated virtual assets, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) hosted a dedicated workshop in Chisinau on July 22 and 23. This event gathered 30 participants from various law enforcement and regulatory agencies to improve their skills in managing and processing virtual assets that have been seized or confiscated.

WARSAW, 22 July 2024 – In recent months, the intensified large-scale attacks by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian cities have resulted in an increasing number of civilian casualties and severe damage to civilian infrastructure, while evidence is growing of widespread and systematic torture of detained civilians and prisoners of war in Russian-controlled areas, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said in its latest report on violations of international law following Russia’s military attack in Ukraine.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in partnership with the Tajikistan Border Troops, conducted eight awareness-raising meetings from 15 to 20 July 2024 in the Rushon and Shughnon districts of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).

Osh, 15-19 July 2024 – The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek conducted a week-long Training-of-Trainers (ToT) course on Ammunition Bunker Site (ABS) management. This initiative aimed to enhance the skills and knowledge of trainer candidates in managing Ammunition Bunker Sites according to international guidelines and best practices. The training focused on compliance with the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) and national regulations, providing both theoretical and practical lessons on setting up and running ABS, with an emphasis on safety measures to prevent unforeseen events at storage sites.

Effective management of seized and confiscated virtual assets is critical to addressing the risks posed by cryptocurrencies, including money laundering, terrorist financing, and fraud. To enhance Armenia’s capabilities in this area, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) conducted a specialized training session in Yerevan on 18 and 19 July. The event brought together 22 representatives from law enforcement and regulatory bodies to improve their knowledge and skills in managing seized and confiscated virtual assets.

VIENNA, 18 July 2024 – Media freedom and democracy improve human security and enhance international and domestic peace. This is the clear empirical conclusion of a new report by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, authored by the research team at the Varieties of Democracies Institute.

An OSCE-organized seminar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on freedom of expression took place on 17 and 18 July 2024 in Ashgabat. The two-day event gave an overview of the legal challenges posed by the emergence of AI and presented initiatives of international organizations aimed at

Following the publication of the report “From Paper to Practice” in June, main findings and figures of the project implementation from July 2021 to March 2024 are now included in a factsheet. During the three years, 59 organized crime and corruption cases were monitored in Montenegro, providing a significant basis for the evidence-based findings published by the project.

Annual OSCE-wide Conference on Cyber/ICT Security underscores the importance of strengthening national cyber resilience

Best practices for the regulatory framework, inventory and calculation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission were shared during an OSCE-organized seminar that began on 16 July in Ashgabat. The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the two-day seminar to provide an overview of existing legislation in the

Effective management of seized and confiscated virtual assets is critical to combating the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, such as money laundering, terrorist financing, and fraud. With the aim to bolster Georgia’s capacities in this area, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) organized a specialized training session in Tbilisi from 15-16 July. The session brought together 20 representatives from law enforcement and supervisory bodies to enhance their expertise in handling and managing seized and confiscated virtual assets.

On 15 and 16 July 2024, 15 young women graduates of the OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security training programme gather in Vienna for a capacity-building workshop on overcoming the barriers faced by young women working in conflict prevention and resolution. Jointly organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, the Forum for Security Co-operation Support Unit and the OSCE Gender Issues Programme’s WIN Project, the two-day event featured a negotiation skills workshop on conflict prevention and resolution.  

In a significant step towards equality of women and men and the elimination of violence against women, Presidents of Women’s Fora and representatives of political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have reached a consensus on the Principles for Political Engagement for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD), Ambassador Willy Kempel, visited the OSCE-supported Regional Explosive Hazards Training Center (REHTC) on 12 July 2024.

From 9 May to 10 July 2024, the OSCE Presence supported the Central Election Commission’s (CEC) informative, educational, and awareness-raising campaign aiming to inform and engage young voters, women and minorities across Albania on various aspects of the electoral process. The first phase of the

The role of the People’s Advocate (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Moldova in the democratic oversight of the security sector was at the centre of roundtable discussions held in Chisinau on 10 July. Forty participants took part in the event, including representatives of the security sector, government oversight bodies and civil society.

VALLETTA/VIENNA, 12 July – The OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg, and OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, unequivocally condemn today’s sentencing of OSCE official Vadym Golda to 14 years in prison as a result of so-called “legal proceedings” and call for the immediate release of all three OSCE officials in detention, which also include Maxim Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov.

Within the framework of the pilot initiative “Fire Resilient Protected Areas: Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif Area”, the OSCE has donated fire suppression equipment to five park management authorities in the four protected areas of Korab-Koritnik, Mavrovo, Shar Mountain and Sharri/Šara during the period April-June 2024. The donation is part of OSCE initiatives to strengthen regional co-operation in tackling wildfire risks in the shared hotspot Shar/Šara Mountains and Korab Massif Area where forest fires were identified as one of the main climate-related security threats.

Today, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid acknowledged the remarkable achievements of OSCE staff in advancing gender equality and empowering women in the Organization at the fifth award ceremony held at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 11 July 2024- The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is concerned by certain aspects of today’s adoption by the Assembly of Kosovo of a new Law on the Independent Media Commission (IMC).

An OSCE-organized training seminar on establishing press services of state institutions and organizing their work took place on 9 and 10 July 2024 in Ashgabat. The two-day seminar exposed representatives of key government bodies and national media to  best communications practices of state