News and press releases

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission), in co-operation with the AIRE Centre and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS) Judicial and Prosecutorial Training Centres, organized a tailored training course on ethical standards and disciplinary practices for 40 judges and prosecutors on 29 May in Sarajevo.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) continued its bicycle tour of Uzbekistan by organizing the V Cycling Marathon for preschool children on 28 May 2024, this year in Namangan. Previous editions took place in Tashkent, Samarkand, Khiva and Nukus. This playful yet meaningful initiative

Recognizing the critical importance of addressing violence against women and girls in ensuring comprehensive security and stability, the OSCE hosted the third Regional Networking and Capacity Building Conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 21 to 23 May 2024. The Conference that followed networking events in 2022 and 2023, further reinforced vital connections among women’s resource centers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in the region and marked a significant milestone in the Organization’s efforts to support domestic violence survivors in the region.

On 27-29 May, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) organized a three-day training for employees of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan on “Access to the constitutional court: Features of judicial argumentation in constitutional proceedings”. Twenty-five participants

Eighteen judges from the High and Basic courts, prosecutors, police officers and special services support staff from NGO shelters are participating in a three-day training course on court simulation of gender-based violence cases, with the stalking of women and girls in focus, which started on 28 May in Budva. The event is organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Supreme Court of Montenegro, through the Judicial Training Centre.

The EU Delegation to Tajikistan and the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe extend their warmest congratulations to the Border Troops of the Republic of Tajikistan on their 30th Anniversary, a major milestone in safeguarding the country's security.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) supports the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) conferences of chief prosecutors and of court presidents, organized in Teslić on 28 and 29 May.

On 28 May, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Head of the Politico-Military Department and the SALW Borders ExB team of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek participated in the official celebration of the National Day of State Border Service in Kyrgyzstan that took place in Batken. The event, conducted with the participation of high officials, including Vice Cabinet Minister-Chairperson of the State Committee for National Security Lieutenant-General Kamchybek Tashiev, and the Director of the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic General-Major Ularbek Sharsheev, served as a platform for the presentation of the results achieved under the ExB Project on “Reducing the risk of illicit small arms and light weapons, ammunition and explosives proliferation across border of Kyrgyz Republic, implemented together with the Border Service.

As part of its ongoing efforts to empower women in the energy transition, the OSCE organized a Training of Trainers (ToT) on how to become effective mentors. The event took place on 14 May in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and was organized in partnership with the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition (GWNET).

VIENNA, 27 May 2024 – Media literacy plays a pivotal role in ensuring informed political participation and strengthening the resilience of our democracies, OSCE leaders said at the opening of a two-day conference today.

VIENNA/PODGORICA, 27 May 2024- On the 20th anniversary of the murder of Duško Jovanović, the co-founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Dan, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, and Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Ambassador Dominique Waag, urged the relevant authorities in Montenegro to proactively investigate and resolve this longstanding case. They also called for addressing the recommendations issued by the national Commission for Monitoring Investigations of Attacks on Journalists, which, among others, call the authorities to re-examine all evidence using modern technology.

A delegation from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs/Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) concluded a successful week-long program review visit to Tajikistan on May 26, 2024.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo supported today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing the Municipal Coordination Mechanism against Domestic Violence (MCMDV) in Rahovec/Orahovac municipality. The MCMDV in Racovec/Orahovac is the last mechanism to be founded – most with OSCE

From 21 to 24 May, the OSCE Secretariat, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, held the South-Eastern Europe Youth Dialogue Forum on Youth Crime Prevention in Durrës, Albania. The Forum gathered around 20 young people from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to build confidence and trust among youth in the region.

A three-day training course organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) for canine handlers concluded in Bokhtar on 24 May 2024.

From 21 to 24 May, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) delivered jointly with the Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan an introductory training course on cybercrime and digital evidence to law enforcement representatives from the country’s Anti-Corruption Agency, Financial Monitoring Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Prosecutor General's Office.

TBILISI, 23 May 2024 – During a visit to Georgia today, Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), highlighted his deep concern about the draft law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence” and stressed ODIHR’s readiness to support Georgia in providing legislative assistance and expertise.

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department, United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), International Organization for Migration, OSCE Presence in Albania and Ministry of Interior of Albania organized the fourth meeting of the Eastern European Informal Working Group on Passenger Data (EEIWG) on 22 and 23 May 2024 in Tirana, Albania.

From 15 to 17 May 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek facilitated consultations on the safety and security of critical infrastructure and public places with relevant authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic. Led by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT), the discussions were held in partnership with the OSCE and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

On 23-24 May, the PCUz convened an expert roundtable on National Referral Mechanisms (NRMs) to protect the rights of trafficked persons. Forty participants representing Central Asian state structures and civil society organizations gathered to share their experiences, promising practices and

BISHKEK, 22 May 2024- A two-day training session aimed at educating and empowering 60 girls concluded with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in partnership with the Civic Education Centre and UNICEF.

A consistent application of intelligence-led policing (ILP) will ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is well-equipped to effectively combat serious crime. To achieve this, the OSCE Mission to BiH organized a workshop in Mostar, gathering over 40 representatives from prosecutor’s offices, law enforcement agencies, and institutions across the country. The workshop, titled “Instituting and Facilitating Regular Inter-Agency Meetings and Briefings Between Agencies and Prosecution,” concluded today.

ULAANBAATAR, 21 May 2024- The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an observation mission for the 28 June parliamentary elections in Mongolia, following an invitation from the national authorities.

Sarajevo, 20 May 2024- The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) calls upon the relevant authorities in Republika Srpska (RS) not to proceed with the adoption of the Law on Special Registry and Publicity of the Work of Non-Profit Organizations, commonly referred to as the “Foreign Agents’ Law”. If enacted, this law would gravely violate fundamental freedoms in a manner that directly contravenes the international obligations undertaken by Bosnia and Herzegovina, including as an OSCE participating State, and thus of the RS.

Eight journalists representing media in different languages in Kosovo, part of the OSCE’s sixth edition of its Media Fellowship Programme on professional journalism standards and ethical reporting, concluded five-day study visit to media institutions and media outlets in Prishtinë/Priština and

Over 250 young comic artists competed for a spot in the Comic Center catalogue and exhibition taking place this summer, aiming to create comics that promote inter-ethnic understanding in North Macedonia. Through partnerships with local civil society organizations (CSOs), such as the Comic Center,

On 13 May 2024, aspiring legal professionals gathered in Astana to inaugurate an intensive legal training programme aimed at retraining potential personnel for Kazakhstan’s judicial system. The training spanned from 13 to 18 May, encompassing a comprehensive week-long educational endeavour. Prior to this, participants engaged in a two-week-long online training programme delivered by the Academy of Justice, supplemented by mock essay writing sessions, to fortify their foundational skills and knowledge.

A week-long Regional Instructor Development Training program concluded on May 17, 2024, at the Regional Explosive Hazards Training Center (REHTC) of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defense in Chimteppa, near Dushanbe.

The OSCE Mission concluded today in Prishtinë/Priština the sixth edition of its Youth Academy, marking the culmination of a transformative journey for 49 passionate young people of different backgrounds from throughout Kosovo. Over the course of five days, these motivated participants were part of

From 13 to 16 May 2024 the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Police Academy organized four one-day introductory training courses on gender-responsive policing of violence against women and girls for police cadets and young police inspectors in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

How to conduct online investigations as well as effectively identify and collect data and information from online open sources was the focus of a training course organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department in Kosshy, Kazakhstan from 13 to 17 May 2024.

On 16-17 May, the second meeting of the Interagency Steering Committee to Counter Cybercrimes (hereinafter, the Steering Committee) took place at the Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the city of Kosshy. The initiative is a part of the extrabudgetary project “Supporting the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Development of Effective Policies to Counter Cybercrimes (Phase I)” implemented by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana (hereinafter, the Office), in co-operation with the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and with the support of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The BiH Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination aligns with international human rights standards; however, persistent inconsistencies in court practices remain, notably concerning the burden of proof. To ensure the uniform implementation of the law, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

BRUSSELS, 17 May 2024 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened a Special Election Assessment Mission (SEAM) for the European Parliament elections from 6 to 9 June, following an invitation from all 27 EU member states.

Climate change poses significant challenges for energy systems across the OSCE area. To help decision-makers and energy stakeholders build resilience, on 8 and 9 May 2024 in Vienna, the OSCE hosted the workshop “Building Climate-Resilient Energy Systems in the OSCE region”. Gathering over 50 experts from 12 different countries representing Central Asia, Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean, the workshop served as a platform to present the findings of the report assessing climate change risks to energy sectors and preparedness levels of the beneficiary countries, and to jointly identify ways forward.

STRASBOURG, 17 May 2024- The leadership of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe met in Strasbourg on the margins of the 133rd Session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg on 16 and 17 May 2024. The discussions were led by OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg and the President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Dominique Hasler, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport of Liechtenstein, along with Council of Europe Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić.

ERGNETI, 16 May 2024 – The 119th 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.

Experts and participants gathered at the United Nations Office in Geneva on 13 May to explore the importance of Promoting Conflict Prevention and Building Peace through the Socio-Economic Inclusion of Minority Youth. The event attracted representatives of the UN Member States, non-governmental

On May 14th, the inaugural meeting of the Central Asia Regional Expert Council in Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees convened in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Distinguished representatives from Central Asian nations, alongside international entities such as UN agencies, the OSCE, Shanghai

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 16 May 2024 – The OSCE Mission launched today its latest thematic report “Assessment of Social Housing and Housing Construction in Kosovo 2018 – 2023”, which has reviewed the social housing situation in 34 municipalities in Kosovo in the past six years.

SARAJEVO, 16 May 2024 – The Third Review Conference on the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence, held yesterday in Sarajevo and inaugurated by the OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, emphasized the need for harmonizing laws with international standards and ensuring their full implementation.

TBILISI, 16 May 2024 – During his visit to Georgia, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Malta's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, reaffirmed the OSCE’s support for ongoing conflict resolution efforts and underlined the OSCE’s strong history of engagement in Georgia.

In recent years, all Central Asian countries have set ambitious targets for renewable energy deployment and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting these commitments in a sustainable and resilient manner will require efforts to ensure that the transition meets the needs of all segments of society, substantial investment in workforce development, particularly in renewable energy education and training, and increased participation of women in the field.

On 15 May 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) donated IT equipment to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population.

On 15 May 2024, a working group meeting on tailings safety and water pollution prevention took place in Dushanbe.

BAKU, 14 May 2024 – During his visit to Azerbaijan, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Malta's Minister for Foreign, European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, underscored the Organization's unwavering commitment to promoting and advancing sustainable peace throughout the OSCE region.

From 8 to 10 May 2024, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov visited Andorra where he learned about the country’s experience providing multilingual education in a diverse society with four predominant mother-tongue languages and three education systems. During the visit,

On 14-15 May 2024, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in co-operation with the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NHRC), conducted a two-day training to promote the leadership of women working in the judicial and security sector in Tashkent. The event was opened

With a strategic focus on further enhancing Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) capacity to combat the financing of terrorism, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) organized, jointly with UNODC’s Global Programme against Money Laundering Proceeds of Crime and the Financing of Terrorism, an awareness-raising workshop on 9-10 May 2024 in Sarajevo. The workshop was organized in partnership the Ministry of Security of BiH and the OSCE Mission to BiH.

YEREVAN, 13 May 2024 – During his visit to Armenia, OSCE Chair-in-Office, Malta's Minister for Foreign, European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, underscored the Organization's unwavering commitment to promoting and advancing sustainable peace throughout the OSCE region.