News and press releases

On 21 September, 40 participants representing municipalities, civil society organizations, and academia from South-Eastern Europe convened in Sarajevo to discuss the impacts of climate change and air pollution on health, and to explore local solutions. The meeting was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Jahorina, 24 September 2023 – From 20 to 25 September, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union in BiH and the Law School of the University of Sarajevo held in Jahorina the 3rd Media Law School on “The right to privacy in the digital era”.

On 24 September 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) wrapped up a two-week training course for 20 Tajik rescuers from Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence. The training course “Refugee and internally displaced persons camp planning and operation” was conducted in Zolizar village of Jalolidini Balkhi district (Khatlon region) and organized in co-operation with the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence.

From April to September 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) supported the Ministry of Interior Public Councils in conducting a series of sports initiatives, contests, and tournaments. The events took place across 24 districts of the Sughd and Kulob regions of Tajikistan and concluded on 23 September.

Open letter by Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, to the members of the Republika Srpska National Assembly

The Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Thomas Busch, paid a three-day visit to Srebrenica, Lukavac, Lopare and Skelani. During his trip, he attended the 20th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial Centre, met with officials and members of the Majevica Inter Municipal Working Group and the EUFOR LOT Vlasenica, and handed over equipment for a school playground in Skelani.

Some forty-five students from the Turkmen State Institute of Finance attended an OSCE-organized training course on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) that took place in a hybrid format from 18 to 22 September 2023. The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan supports a “National Cyber Incident Classification” workshop for representatives of participating States from Central Asia and South Caucasus as well as from Mongolia on 21 and 22 September 2023 in Tashkent. The workshop is organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in co-operation with the Cyber Security Center Uzbekistan.

Prishtinë/Priština, 21 September 2023 –The OSCE Mission published today a set of guidelines for reporting on courts to assist journalists in Kosovo in their work and contribute to responsible and informed journalism. The guidelines offer comprehensive support for journalists navigating the Kosovo court system and emphasize ethical and legal considerations in reporting on the judiciary.

On 20 September, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro concluded a two-day workshop on ecology and climate change for the staff of parliamentary working bodies, with a focus on quality of water and environmental monitoring.

The regional conference on Promoting Women's Participation in Law Enforcement in Central Asia, held on 14 and 15 September 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan, marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to empower women in the region's law enforcement agencies. It brought together representatives of national authorities, including the Ministry of Interior, Police Academies, Prosecutor Offices, Policewomen Associations, and other relevant law enforcement agencies, alongside OSCE structures and field operations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international organizations.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina held a final workshop for law enforcement agencies on increasing awareness of managers and operational staff on core components and significant benefits of intelligence-led policing principles.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov visited Serbia from 12 to 15 September 2023 to chair the Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Bujanovac Department of the Subotica Faculty of Economics of the University of Novi Sad and to hold consultations with Serbian authorities on the

OSCE Chairman-in-Office Osmani calls for de-escalation and return to dialogue after meeting Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan

In order to improve institutional response to cases of violence against women, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, in co-operation with the Supreme Court, is hosting a three-day workshop that simulates criminal procedure in respect of charges based on serious allegations of gender-based violence. The workshop takes place in Budva from 19 to 21 September.

How a police officer prepares to interview a victim of human trafficking and assess their general health are some of the most important elements in the interview process, discussed at the third workshop organizes by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro with the support of the Ministry of Interior’s Department for Combating Human Trafficking. Nineteen police officers participated in this workshop in Bijelo Polje on 18 and 19 September. Previously two workshops were organized in April and May in Budva and Bar.

On 18 September, the OSCE Presence in Albania organized its ninth annual Media Development Forum, a platform for dialogue among media, public institutions and civil society. This year’s Forum focused on journalist safety, media legislation, and effects of artificial intelligence on the work of

Belfast and Prishtinë/Priština, 18 September 2023- Eight alumnae from the OSCE-established Dialogue Academy alumnae network which gathers young women from Pristina and Belgrade, concluded today a one-week study visit to Northern Ireland.

From 15 to 16 September, the Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) supported the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner in organizing a two-day training on Human Rights. The training brought together 20 (19 women and 1 man) human rights teachers from secondary schools of Khorog (GBAO) and surrounding areas.

VIENNA/PRAGUE, 15 September 2023 – Promoting security and stability across the OSCE region through sustainable development and inclusive economic growth were in focus at the 2023 Forum on the Economic and Environmental Dimension of the OSCE, which took place in Prague from 14 to 15 September.

WARSAW, 15 September 2023 – To make our societies and institutions more resilient and strengthen our commitment to democratic values, it is vital to ensure the full participation of all groups in society and include their opinions and needs when decisions are taken that affect all our futures, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on today’s International Day of Democracy.

On 15 September 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) in co-operation with Tajikistan’s Border Troops concluded a one-month training course “Sustaining Field Operational Capacities” (SFOC). The course was conducted by a national expert and supported by assistant instructors from the Tajik Border Troops, leveraging local expertise while fostering sustainable internal training capacities.

VIENNA 15 September 2023 – On the International Day of Democracy, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, underscores the mutually reinforcing nature of democracy, the rule of law, and media freedom. “Advancing and sustaining democratic, resilient, and inclusive societies requires a steadfast commitment to media freedom,” says Teresa Ribeiro.

From 13 to 14 September, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) arranged a two-day training on the basics of international trade and logistics for the representatives of line ministries and agencies. The event aimed at promoting a better understanding of the policies and regulations governing international trade with a focus on geographically landlocked countries, which includes Tajikistan.

From 12 to 14 September 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) in co-operation with the office of the Human Rights Commissioner in the Republic of Tajikistan organized a three-day training in Khorog (GBAO) for governmental Human Rights Focal points. The training brought together 23 participants (15 women and 8 men), including from remote districts of the GBAO region.

VIENNA, 13 September – Today, Canada assumed the Chairpersonship of the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) until December 2023. During the opening session, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Bill Blair, underlined the importance Canada attaches to the role of the FSC and to dialogue on security across the OSCE region.

As part of its ongoing multi-year programme to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department implemented the third in a series of regional interactive workshops on combatting illicit trafficking of art, antiquities and cultural property in Pula, Croatia from 11 to 15 September. The training course was held for law enforcement, border management officers, and museum experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.

In the heart of the picturesque Talas province, nestled within the north-western part of Kyrgyzstan's magnificent landscapes, lives a remarkable woman with a mission to preserve the Kyrgyz traditional art. Nuria Isakova, a 54-year-old mother of four and grandmother to ten, has embarked on a journey of economic empowerment that is not only transforming her own life but also igniting a beacon of hope for women across the country.

ERGNETI, 3 July 2023 — The 113th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held today in Ergneti, under the co-facilitation of the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Dimitrios Karabalis, and the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Viorel Moşanu.

SKOPJE/VIENNA, 12 September 2023 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, and Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid reinforced their repeated calls for the immediate release of three Ukrainian OSCE officials that have been in detention in Donetsk and Luhansk for more than 500 days.

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek is providing support for a comprehensive training course on safety regulations for working on glaciers in the Kyrgyz Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay regions.

The Kyrgyz Association of Women in the Security Sector in collaboration with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek has successfully completed a three-day training course aimed at addressing gender-based and family violence.

The Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the Council of Europe’s Anti-Trafficking Division organized a joint roundtable in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 7 to 8 September 2023, which focused on strengthening the role of the private sector, particularly financial institutions, in preventing and combating human trafficking.

PODGORICA, 8 September 2023 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded her visit to Montenegro today. During her visit, she met with high-level government officials and representatives of civil society organizations.

On 5-7 September 2023, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department, with the support of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMiK) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), organized a three-day training course in Pejë/Peć on how to use financial intelligence to effectively cut off terrorism financing channels.

SKOPJE/WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 7 September 2023- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pia Kauma and the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Matteo Mecacci, condemn the Russian Federation’s holding of so-called “elections” in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories.

Developing strategies for the inclusion of women in formal negotiation processes was the focus of a side event organized by OSCE 2023 Chairpersonship of North Macedonia with the Secretariat's Gender Issues Programme during the Chairpersonship’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Conference in Tetovo on 5 September.

VIENNA, 7 September 2023 – Teresa Ribeiro, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, issued a communiqué today on the use of digital surveillance technology on journalists. The document underscores the significant negative impact such technology can have on media freedom within the OSCE region.

TETOVO, 6 September 2023- Strengthening global partnership and taking collective action to further promote gender equality across the OSCE region was the focus of the first Chairpersonship’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Conference, which took place on 5 and 6 September in Tetovo, North Macedonia.

On 5-6 Sept 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Office) in partnership with the Red Crescent Society Tajikistan organized a training for residents of Sarichashma village in the disaster-prone Muminobod district.

On 6 September 2023, The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) supported the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in organizing the second meeting of the Working Group on Regulation Mechanisms to Prevent Domestic Violence. The event was attended by 28 (16 men, 12 women) representatives of Tajikistan's government and civil society organizations with roles in the field of preventing and combatting domestic violence, and providing support services to victims.

The Eurasian Group (EAG) on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) convened its third annual forum in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan

The scourge of domestic violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina demands an urgent response. On August 29, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted a distinguished gathering of ministers and other key leaders from across the country. We were pleased to host the Speaker of the BiH Parliament, the President of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of BiH, the Federation Minister of the Interior, Cantonal Ministers of Justice and Interior, police representatives from relevant agencies and others together around one table. Their joining us in such numbers reflected our shared recognition of a serious problem facing this country: the terrible scourge of domestic abuse. We spoke not as bureaucrats but as people facing a challenge that harms many among us.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Institution of Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina organized the promotion of the Guidelines for Improvement of Everyday Communication with Persons with Disabilities in Široki Brijeg today.

WARSAW, 4 September 2023 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened a limited election observation mission for the 15 October 2023 parliamentary elections in Poland, following an invitation from the national authorities.

From 28 August to 1 September 2023, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) organized a five-day training of trainers for the Institute for advanced training under the General Prosecutor’s Office in Dushanbe. The training brought together 8 participants, including seven management and teaching staff of the Institute for advanced training of prosecutors in Tajikistan and a representative from the General Prosecutor’s Office.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo concluded today its fourth edition of the multiethnic tennis camp organized in co-operation with the municipality of Gračanica/Graçanicё, gathering youth from different communities for practice and games. 20 youth from Kosovo Albanian, Kosovo Serb and Kosovo Ashkali

More than 90 young legal professionals, students of law and post-graduates, including 53 women and 40 men, had a chance to upgrade their professional knowledge during a series of four summer schools, organized in August by the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (the SPU).

The March 2023 parliamentary elections in Estonia were competitive and pluralistic and the election process, including internet voting, was administered efficiently, with minor technical difficulties. While trust in the internet vote remains high, some parties publicly questioned its integrity,

SKOPJE, 30 August – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, held a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.