News and press releases

VIENNA / WARSAW, 25 November 2016- On the occasion of today’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Michael Georg Link today called on OSCE participating States to step up their efforts to eradicate violence against women...

TBILISI, 25 November 2016 – A five-day regional training course for 16 law enforcement representatives from Azerbaijan and Georgia focusing on investigation of serious crimes facilitated by the use of Darknet, a part of the Internet configured to hide the communication inside it, and by use of virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, concluded today in Tbilisi, Georgia...

Seven students from the Central Asian Youth Network (CAYN) learned about the work of the OSCE and its institutions during a two-day study visit to Vienna, which concluded on 25 November 2016...

A two-day training seminar supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana for social welfare workers and police officers on proper care and the provision of social services for victims of domestic violence, concluded in Kazakhstan’s capital on 25 November 2016...

TAJIKISTAN, 25 November 2016 – As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence global campaign, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan launched a nationwide awareness-raising drive in five target regions with a special focus on remote areas. The campaign, from 25 November to 10 December 2016, will reach 42 settlements and the events include mobile theatre performances, television and radio programmes, interactive information sessions as well as thematic meetings...

On 24 November 2016 at 06:34 (Moscow time), the 56th Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 17 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guards and customs services prior to them crossing into Ukraine. All of the 17 vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 14:30 hrs on 24 November...

More than 30 human rights defenders took part in a workshop on human rights monitoring for civil society in Ukraine concluding a series of similar training and capacity building events carried out in the country since 2015 by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The workshop took place in Chernihiv from 22 to 24 November 2016.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission recorded multiple rockets in flight in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. It continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and was restricted in its movement on three occasions.* The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on a further five instances. The SMM monitored three border areas not controlled by the Government. The SMM facilitated and monitored repair works on both sides of the contact line...

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro and its international partners organized a two-day workshop on Lessons Learned after the 2016 Parliamentary Elections, for staff of the State Election Commission (SEC) and of the Municipal Election Commissions (MEC) on 21-22 November 2016 in Budva. The event was followed by three-day training on International Standards in Election Administration...

MINSK, 23 November 2016 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Martin Sajdik made the following press statement after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 23 November 2016:

VIENNA, 23 November 2016 – On the 5th anniversary of the death of Azerbaijani writer and newspaper columnist Rafiq Tagi, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović reitirated her call to Azerbaijan and all other OSCE participating States to ensure journalists’ safety and end impunity for crimes against them...

VIENNA, 23 November 2016 – The need to gender mainstream operational responses by the security sector in countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) was highlighted during a two-day technical expert meeting of more than 80 law enforcement and government officials from across the OSCE region, which concluded today in Vienna...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations both in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. In Donetsk region most ceasefire violations concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata area and areas north-east and east of Mariupol. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM’s freedom of movement was further restricted on seven occasions (three in government-controlled areas and four in areas not under government control). In Marinka the SMM saw school children and staff moving from classrooms to a shelter after they had heard explosions; during its observation in the school the SMM also heard explosions in close proximity. The SMM monitored two border areas currently not under government control. On the evening of 21 November in Kyiv, the Mission continued to monitor a public gathering, where incidents were registered...

CHISINAU, 23 November 2016 – Representatives of OSCE participating States in Central and Eastern Europe as well as international organizations and civil society concluded a three-day workshop today in Chisinau on contemporary trends in labour migration and gender in Central and Eastern Europe...

An anti-corruption youth-public-private partnership forum offering practical knowledge and know-how in the fight against corruption was held on 18 20 November 2016 in Aghveran, Kotayk region of Armenia with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan...

The OSCE Programme Office in Astana organized a study visit to the Austrian Energy Institute in Vienna, Austria and the Green Technologies Centre Umweltarena in Spreitenbach, Switzerland for a group of three high-level Energy Ministry officials and one civil society expert to familiarize with the operations of green technologies centres from 21 to 23 November 2016...

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with 20 November, most of them concentrated in the Avdiivka-Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with 20 November. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* It observed queues at entry-exit checkpoints near Stanytsia Luhanska during the morning hours. The SMM monitored the withdrawal of weapons. It monitored repairs to essential infrastructure in Krasnyi Lyman. In Kyiv, Kharkiv and Ivano-Frankivsk the Mission observed two peaceful public gatherings...

Journalists, parliamentarians, media association representatives and experts discussed the key issues concerning Albanian media at the second Media Development Forum on 22 November 2016 in Tirana...

ASTANA, 22 November 2016 – Election observers and Members of the Central Election Commission (CEC) took part today in Astana in an OSCE-supported training seminar on various aspects of the electoral rights of people with disabilities and the elderly...

NEW YORK, 22 November 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today wrote to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Igor Crnadak, requesting that responsible institutions conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the death threats against Slobodan Vasković, a journalist based in Banja Luka...

A five-day training course on project cycle management for representatives of youth civil society organizations from Serbia and Albania, started on 21 November 2016 in Zlatibor, Serbia, as part of a wider project on enhancing regional connectivity among youth actors from the two states...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region during the period between the evenings of 18 and 19 November, and fewer ceasefire violations during the period between the evenings of 19 and 20 November, compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations during the period between the evenings of 18 and 19 November, and during the period between the evenings of 19 and 20 November, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling in Lebedynske, Lobacheve, Bezimenne, Styla, and Sakhanka and of civilian casualties in Krasnohorivka and Zaitseve. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The Mission followed up on reports about interrupted water supply from the Donetsk water filtration station due to shelling. The SMM monitored four border areas currently not under government control...

WARSAW, 21 November 2016 – Promoting effective justice systems and, in particular, ensuring the independence and quality of judiciaries are vital to the promotion of human rights and democratic societies, participants at the opening of an OSCE meeting in Warsaw said today...

Protecting human rights while countering terrorism was the focus of two OSCE training courses organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 14-15 November and 17-18 November 2016 in Madrid...

WARSAW, 21 November 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed today his strong concern over increased reports of hate incidents following the 8 November election in the United States of America...

VIENNA, 21 November 2016 – Green economy and resource efficiency are the focus of the OSCE-organized Aarhus Centres Annual Meeting which opened today in Vienna...

Legal aspects and international judicial practice relating to claims for compensation for moral damages in civil and criminal proceedings were the focus of a two–day seminar launched on 18 November 2016 in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan...

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Andrea Orizio, on 21 November 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic Public Prosecutor of Serbia on the donation of two vehicles and IT equipment to the Task Force on Migration...

Twenty officers from the Tajik Border Troops completed an advanced three-week training course on operational planning at the Gissar Training Centre, Tajikistan on 18 November 2016...

A five-day workshop for 16 border and customs officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan on best practices in conducting border checks concluded on 18 November 2016 at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe with support from the OSCE Transnational Threats Department...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling in Pikuzy. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM monitored the withdrawal of weapons. It observed long queues at entry-exit checkpoints on both sides of the contact line. The SMM heard small-arms fire in the area where it was flying an unmanned aerial vehicle in Vyskryva. In Kyiv, the Mission continued to monitor a peaceful public gathering outside the National Bank of Ukraine...

BERLIN, 18 November 2016- When it comes to peace and security in the world, what role should and must women play? This and other questions were discussed today at a conference held under Germany’s OSCE Chairmanship in the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. The event under the title "A Case for Inclusive Peace and Security: How to Accelerate the Implementation of UNSCR 1325?" was co-organized by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and the German Foreign Office...

As part of its multi-year project to establish women-to-women mentor networks in the OSCE region, the OSCE Secretariat’s Gender Section organized a training course on 16 and 17 November 2016 in Kyiv for fifteen women activists from the Roma community in Ukraine...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period, most of them concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and damage to houses. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske, and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* The SMM monitored the withdrawal of weapons. It observed long queues at entry-exit checkpoints near Stanytsia Luhanska during the morning hours. It monitored repairs to essential infrastructure in Krasnyi Lyman. In Kyiv, the Mission observed four peaceful public gatherings outside the National Bank of Ukraine, the Parliament and the Constitutional Court...

Education professionals joined up with representatives of government and civil society to  explore policies and tools to address anti-Semitism within educational systems, as well as how to address needs and gaps in existing policies and resources, at a workshop and meetings organized in Belgrade

The Albanian public broadcaster held on 18 November 2016 a consultation meeting on the new draft statute with the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Media, the Audio-Visual Media Authority, media organizations and academia. A final draft of the first ever editorial guidelines for the Albanian public broadcaster was also presented at the meeting, before undergoing a final vote by the Albanian Radio Television’s Steering Board...

Around 100 policy- and lawmakers, academics, justice professionals and civil society representatives from Central Asia and other parts of the OSCE region discussed current challenges and good practices in criminal justice reform at a forum organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions

The OSCE Mission to Moldova, in co-operation with the country’s Ministry of Justice, held a practical workshop on 15 November 2016 for 34 representatives of state institutions, civil society and international organizations on how to accurately evaluate progress on justice reforms...

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on 16 November 2016 adopted a Concept for the development of E-services, which was elaborated with the support of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine...

An OSCE-supported training seminar on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) for some 40 representatives of Kazakhstan’s government authorities, self-regulatory bodies as well as Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions took place on 18 November 2016 in Astana...

VIENNA, 18 November 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović warned today that the United Kingdom’s Investigative Powers Bill could severely threaten the confidentiality of journalists’ sources and investigative reporting when it becomes law...

Enhancing the capacity of Austrian civil society groups working on intolerance against Muslims to monitor, report and respond to hate crimes was the focus of training organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 15 and 16 November in Vienna. “Good qualitative

VALETTA, 17 November 2016 – Successful models of regional co-operation to address border challenges were highlighted at a three-day OSCE workshop held in Valetta, Malta from 15 to 17 November 2016, bringing together 80 experts from national authorities and international organizations from OSCE Mediterranean Partner for Co-operation countries and OSCE participating States...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period; most of them were concentrated in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata Donetsk airport area. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with none recorded in the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of shelling and civilian casualties. The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske and faced restrictions of its freedom of movement in all three areas.* It observed long queues at the entry-exit checkpoints near Stanytsia Luhanska during the morning hours. In Kyiv, the Mission observed peaceful public gatherings outside the National Bank of Ukraine, the Parliament and the Ministry of Infrastructure with a total of some 1,500 people in attendance...

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights presented their Commentary on the country’s Law on Gender Equality on 16 November 2016 in Podgorica...

WASHINGTON D.C., 17 November 2016 – Best practices and know-how technologies for preparing and responding to natural disasters and environmental emergencies were the focus of an OSCE-organized study visit of Turkmen officials to the United States that concluded in Washington D.C. today...

YEREVAN, 17 November 2016 – Some 58 young people from Armenia gathered today in Yerevan for the start of a two-day simulation of the OSCE’s Permanent Council, one of the key decision-making bodies of the Organization, to build their skills in negotiation, diplomacy, conflict prevention and to learn more about the OSCE...

BRUSSELS, 17 November 2016 – Following steps in Azerbaijan to expand criminal insult provisions, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today reiterated her call on the authorities to reform the country’s defamation legislation...

Countering the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes was the focus of a two-day regional workshop organized in Skopje on 16-17 November 2016 by the OSCE in co-operation with the National Academy for Judges and Public Prosecutors...