News and press releases

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.

The first group of civil servants and local self-government officials has enhanced their qualifications under the programme “Conflict Management in Public Institutions” developed by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service and the High School of Public Governance with the support of the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine. The programme consists of an online course and a 3-day on-site practical training event.

VIENNA/VALLETTA, 13 May 2024 — The OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta, Ian Borg, will visit Azerbaijan on 14 May.

VIENNA/VALLETTA, 12 May 2024 — The OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta, Ian Borg, will visit Armenia on 13 May.

PODGORICA, 10 May 2024 – Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), concluded her official visit to Montenegro. During her visit, Ribeiro engaged in constructive discussions with high-level officials, including President Jakov Milatović, Speaker of Parliament Andrija Mandić, Minister of Foreign Affairs Filip Ivanović, Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović, Minister of Interior Danilo Šaranović and Supreme State Prosecutor Milorad Marković. The Representative also had productive exchanges with Director of the Agency for Electronic Media Sunčica Bakić, Ombudsperson of Montenegro Siniša Bjeković, and investigative journalist Olivera Lakić, as well as several other journalists and civil society representatives.

Border guards from Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service honed their skills in detecting impostors and forged documents at border crossing points during an expert-led study visit in the United Kingdom organized by the OSCE Secretariat Transnational Threats Department from 7 to 10 May 2024.

Sarajevo- The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) expresses its deepest condolences to the victims and family of the 8 May femicide in Gradačac, as well as to the community impacted by this horrific tragedy.    This terrible and recurring violence evidences the need for continued and

On 8 May 2024, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, concluded a training of trainers’ course aimed at empowering experts from Montenegro with essential skills and knowledge to counter the financing of terrorism. This marked the launch of a comprehensive training initiative for the country.

SKOPJE, 9 May 2024 – North Macedonia’s presidential run-off and parliamentary elections were competitive and an extensive and pluralistic campaign helped voters to make an informed choice, but marred by negative rhetoric with nationalistic slogans, as well as shortcomings in the legislation and insufficient oversight of campaign finances, international observers said in a statement today.

The OSCE supports Ukraine in addressing the problem of illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives by providing specialized vehicles and equipment to its law enforcement authorities.

SARAJEVO, 8 May 2024- Following the unfortunate interruption of regular programming on Federal Television, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) calls upon BHRT and RTVFBiH to find an urgent and workable solution that ensures consistent and reliable access to vital information for everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In his annual address to the OSCE Permanent Council on 2 May 2024, Professor Emmanuel Decaux, President of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, presented the Court’s 2023 activity report and underscored its crucial role in the OSCE framework, advocating for its inclusion as a key instrument in the OSCE Chairpersonship's toolkit.

On 7 and 8 May, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, organized a multi-stakeholder workshop to enhance inter-agency co-operation on youth crime prevention.

On 8 May 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) donated equipment to Tajikistan’s Border Troops in Dushanbe.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek supported the development of a methodological guide titled "Organization of Activities of a Municipal Enterprise" as part of its efforts in advancing regional development in the Kyrgyz Republic. This initiative was made possible through collaboration with the State Agency for Public Service and Local Self-Governance Affairs (SAPS-LSGA).

The OSCE Asian Partners for Co-Operation Group and the participating States met today to discuss the importance of women’s full and equal participation in all phases and at all levels of conflict prevention, resolution and peace building.

Fifteen specialists from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Border Troops of the Republic of Tajikistan completed a two-week Explosive Ordnance Disposal course (EOD level 1-2) on 4 May 2024 in Bokhtar of the Khatlon region.