Newsroom
News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Special Representative, at conference in Vienna, links inequality, globalization and trafficking
Publishing date: 25 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings
VIENNA, 25 June 2013 – The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, today discussed financial, social and legal factors related to migration, inequality and trafficking at an OSCE-hosted conference on preventing modern-day slavery...
ODIHR supports Ukrainian parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights in protecting and promoting women’s rights
Publishing date: 25 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Gender equality
Strategies for advancing women’s rights and gender equality in Ukraine were highlighted by experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at a workshop for officials from the office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, in Kyiv on 25 June 2013...
Public confidence in electoral process could be strengthened, OSCE/ODIHR final report on Montenegro’s April 2013 presidential polls concludes
Publishing date: 25 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
Montenegro’s presidential election on 7 April 2013 was professionally and efficiently administered but further steps are required to increase public confidence in the electoral process, concludes the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)...
Deputy Head of OSCE Mission welcomes greater regional co-operation among Ombudsman Institutions
Publishing date: 25 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
What we do: Human rights
SARAJEVO, 25 June 2013 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina facilitated today a workshop to promote collaboration between Ombudsman Institutions across Southeast Europe, which are responsible for upholding and defending human rights...
National preparatory conference for OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum held in Astana
Publishing date: 25 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Programme Office in Astana
What we do: Economic activities, Environmental activities
ASTANA, 25 June 2013 – A two-day OSCE-supported national high-level conference dedicated to improving the environmental footprint of energy-related activities, assisting Kazakhstan’s strategy of transition to a green economy and marking the 15th anniversary of the Aarhus Convention on environmental democracy, began today in Astana...
PA President introduces amendment in support of OSCE/ODIHR
Publishing date: 24 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 24 June 2013 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Wolfgang Grossruck has called for an increase in funding to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in an amendment before the Assembly's human rights committee.
Albania’s elections active and competitive, but mistrust between political forces tainted the environment, international observers say
Publishing date: 24 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
TIRANA, 24 June 2013 – Albania’s parliamentary elections on 23 June were competitive with active citizen participation throughout the campaign and genuine respect for fundamental freedoms...
In Turkey, MPs to debate rule of law, free expression, assembly and political prisoners
Publishing date: 24 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 24 June 2013 (FRE | RUS | TR)—The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session will convene in Istanbul with a focus on basic human rights less than a month after thousands of people took to the streets across Turkey in the country's largest demonstrations in a decade.
Albania's elections active and competitive, but mistrust between political forces tainted the environment, international observers say
Publishing date: 24 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
TIRANA, 24 June 2013 – Albania's parliamentary elections on 23 June were competitive with active citizen participation throughout the campaign and genuine respect for fundamental freedoms. However, the atmosphere of mistrust between the two main political forces tainted the electoral environment and challenged the administration of the entire electoral process, international observers said in a statement today.
OSCE trains Tajik counter-terrorism teams in VIP protection
Publishing date: 24 June 2013
A ten-day field training course for Interior Ministry counter-terrorism teams on VIP protection, facilitated by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, concluded on 19 June 2013 in the central district of Garm...
Iceland parliamentary elections pluralistic and transparent, says OSCE/ODIHR final report, recommends measures to strengthen legal framework
Publishing date: 24 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
The 27 April 2013 parliamentary elections in Iceland were conducted in a pluralistic and transparent manner, but certain aspects of the electoral legal framework could benefit from further review, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) says in its final report, which was released on 24 June 2013...
Armenia’s higher education system discussed at OSCE-supported seminar
Publishing date: 24 June 2013
YEREVAN, 24 June 2013 – Reforms and recent improvements in higher education as well as measures to fight corruption, to encourage students’ participation and ensure quality education are among the topics of an OSCE-supported event that started today in Yerevan...
OSCE Mission to Skopje supports police trainer development
Publishing date: 24 June 2013
The OSCE Mission to Skopje is organizing a training course on curriculum design for 15 police trainers from 24 to 28 June 2013...
35th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting takes place in Ergneti
Publishing date: 21 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
ERGNETI, 21 June 2013- The 35th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti today, co-facilitated by the OSCE and EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM)...
Joint pre-election statement by parliamentary observer leaders- Albania
Publishing date: 21 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
TIRANA, 21 June 2013 (shqip) – The Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE election observer mission, and the Heads of the Parliamentary delegations of the OSCE and the Council of Europe observing the 23 June parliamentary elections in Albania, call on all political leaders to use the remaining days to engage in a constructive process to ensure that the elections can proceed unhindered.
International election observer mission in Albania to hold press conference on Monday
Publishing date: 21 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
TIRANA, 21 June 2013 – The international observers monitoring the parliamentary elections in Albania will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 24 June, in Tirana.
OSCE trains Tajik border and customs officers on combating transborder organized crime
Publishing date: 21 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe
What we do: Border management
DUSHANBE, 21 June 2013 – Twenty-five officers from the Tajik border troops and national customs service completed today a two-week training course on combating transborder organized crime organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan...
OSCE trains civil society activists on data journalism
Publishing date: 20 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
What we do: Media freedom and development
On 20 June 2013, civil society activists completed a four-day training course on data journal-ism and information activism in Sarajevo...
OSCE supports Afghan-Central Asia co-operation to fight drugs trade
Publishing date: 20 June 2013
Five senior Afghan law enforcement officials attended a two-day study visit on fighting drugs trafficking from 20 to 21 June 2013 in Tashkent. The visit was organized by the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department in co-operation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan...
OSCE Mission to Serbia promotes application of modern tools of criminal procedure
Publishing date: 20 June 2013
BELGRADE, 20 June 2013 – An OSCE-facilitated regional conference on the simplified forms of criminal procedure, which started today in Belgrade brought together some 130 participants...
OSCE Secretary General discusses security challenges with Foreign Minister Bildt
Publishing date: 20 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Secretary General
The OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier met Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on 20 June 2013 in Vienna to discuss current security issues in the OSCE region.
Illegal organ transplants and commercial child adoption focus of anti-trafficking training co-organized by OSCE in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 20 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Programme Office in Astana
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings
ALMATY, 20 June 2013- A two-day training seminar for police officers on best practices in combating the trafficking in human beings began today in Almaty. Participants discussed the detection and exposure of illegal organ transplants, child adoption for commercial purposes, and human trafficking for labour and sexual exploitation...
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine supports exchange of experience on human rights protection through constitutional justice
Publishing date: 20 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (closed)
What we do: Rule of law
YALTA, Ukraine, 20 June 2013- Ways of protecting the rights of individuals through constitutional justice are the focus of an international conference that started in Yalta in the south of the country, today with the support of OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU)...
OSCE Mission to BiH signs partnership agreements with entity Associations of Municipalities and Cities
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina signed partnership agreements with the Associations of Municipalities and Cities (AMC) of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska on 19 June 2013 that will strengthen the Associations’ co-operation with municipal assemblies and councils, and intensify inter-municipal and inter-institutional co-operation in the country...
OSCE loans satellite phone to Albanian police as technical election assistance
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
The OSCE Presence in Albania loaned satellite phones to the Albanian State Police to support their work in remote rural areas during the parliamentary elections on 23 June 2013...
Experts discuss women’s role in conflict cycle at OSCE security conference
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
Vienna, 19 June 2013 – On the margins of the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference, the Organization’s Gender Section today held a discussion on why women can make a difference in all stages of the conflict cycle...
Resolution urges countries to join Convention on Cybercrime
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 19 June 2013 (FRE | RUS | TR) – Cyber attacks should be viewed as equal to conventional acts of aggression according to a resolution now pending at the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE, the world's largest regional security organization.
Presidential statement on situation in Turkey: Grossruck calls for respect of peaceful expression, proportionate response to violence
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 19 June 2013-- OSCE PA President Wolfgang Grossruck today released the following statement regarding the situation in Turkey, which is scheduled to host the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly beginning 29 June in Istanbul.
OSCE organizes seminar on civil society development in Transdniestria
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
The OSCE Mission to Moldova, together with the Tiraspol-based non-governmental organization, Independent Institute for Law and Civil Society, organized on 18 June 2013 a seminar for civil society in Transdniestria to discuss challenges and best practices in civil society development from both the local and regional context...
Collective effort, political commitment required to address conflicts, transnational threats, say participants at OSCE Annual Security Review Conference
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, Forum for Security Co-operation
Finding common responses to security threats and challenges as the Organization moves towards a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian security community was the topic of the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference that started in Vienna on 19 June 2013...
Trainers in Ukraine prepared by OSCE will teach social service providers to assist trafficking victims
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (closed)
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings
KYIV, 19 June 2013- Twenty-four trainers were prepared to upgrade skills and knowledge of social services staff, including state officials and NGO activists, in providing assistance to victims of human trafficking at an event in Kyiv, organised by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) from 17 to 19 June 2013...
OSCE trains border staff in Kazakhstan on anti-crime and terrorism strategies
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
Some 20 border and customs officials from Kazakhstan were trained in best practices to combat organized crime and terrorism during a three-day seminar that began on 19 June 2013 in Aktau, Mangystau Region...
OSCE Centre supports better extra-judicial dispute resolution, reconciliation in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 19 June 2013
Development of the mediation practice in criminal and civil processes in Kazakhstan was the main topic of an international conference held in Astana on 18 June 2013 with the OSCE support...
Joint statement on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, by the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: Minsk Group
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
ENNISKILLEN, United Kingdom, 18 June 2013- Joint Statement on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict by Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and Franсois Hollande, President of the French Republic...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, on his visit to Georgia, expresses concern over obstacles to freedom of movement along Administrative Boundary Line with South Ossetia
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
TBILISI, 18 June 2013- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, on a two-day visit to Georgia, today discussed with President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze a number of issues, focusing on the OSCE agenda...
OSCE/ODIHR renews work of its advisory panel on freedom of religion or belief
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Tolerance and non-discrimination
The new 12-member Advisory Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) met for the first time in Warsaw on 18 June 2013 to map out the Panel’s role in providing assistance to OSCE participating States...
Consolidation of Serbian legislation and ensuring better public access to laws in focus at OSCE/ODIHR workshop
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
Content type: News
What we do: Democratization
Better public access to domestic Serbian laws, the consolidation of national legislation, and its harmonization with international standards were the focus of a workshop in Belgrade organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Serbian National Assembly and the OSCE Mission to Serbia on 17 and 18 June 2013...
Parliamentarians to vote on approach to crisis in Syria
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 17 June 2013 – When more than 250 parliamentarians from across the Northern Hemisphere gather in Istanbul for the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly this month, many will be looking to send a collective message to the United Nations about the need for an international response to the crisis in Syria...
OSCE to train Kosovo Police on protection of cultural and religious heritage
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 18 June 2013 – The OSCE Mission will organize tomorrow a first training session for the members of the newly established Kosovo Police unit responsible for the protection of cultural and religious heritage sites in the Prishtinë/Priština region...
Azerbaijani MP proposes vote on greater role for civil society
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 17 June 2013 – A parliamentarian from Azerbaijan has called for OSCE countries to show more openness and greater engagement with civil society in a resolution now pending before the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly...
Skopje city administrators to be trained on new assessment technique, with OSCE’s help
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
SKOPJE, 18 June 2013 – Staff at Skopje’s city administration will be introduced today to a new quality measurement standard aimed at improving work processes and professional performance at a training course initiated by the Ministry of Information Society and Administration and supported by the OSCE...
OSCE Mission to Skopje supports workshops on local elections
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
Identifying lessons to be learned from the March local elections was the aim of four regional workshops for local election administration bodies organized from 13 to 18 June 2013 by the OSCE Mission to Skopje...
OSCE trains Tajik investigators on corruption disclosure and investigation techniques of corruption-related crimes
Publishing date: 18 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe
What we do: Good governance
DUSHANBE, 18 June 2013 – A training on corruption disclosure and investigation techniques of corruption-related crimes ended at the OSCE Office in Tajikistan today...
Libya applies to become OSCE partner
Publishing date: 17 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Secretary General
Libyan Foreign Minister, Mohamed Imhammed Abdul-Aziz submitted his country's application to become an OSCE Partner for Co-operation during the Security Days conference in Vienna on 17 June 2013...
Human rights compatible with security, OSCE media freedom representatives tells Tunis meeting participants
Publishing date: 17 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, told participants on at an Internet freedom conference in Tunis on 17 June 2013 that cyber security and human rights can go hand-in-glove and not be considered as competing values...
Media freedom must be upheld during protests in Turkey, says OSCE media freedom representative
Publishing date: 17 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Safety of journalists
TUNIS, 17 June 2013 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, warned today that the recent detentions and intimidation of journalists are endangering the right to free expression in Turkey.
OSCE Chair calls on the parties of the Transdniestrian settlement to refrain from unilateral actions impeding the negotiation process
Publishing date: 17 June 2013
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Mission to Moldova
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
KYIV, 17 June 2013 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara expressed his concern over the negative implications for the Transdniestrian settlement process caused by the recent adoption by the Transdniestrian side of the so-called legal act on the border.
OSCE’s role is to bridge diverging perceptions of security, says Ukrainian Chairmanship representative
Publishing date: 17 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
“One of the OSCE’s main functions lies in managing and bridging diverging perceptions of security through its co-operative approach,” said Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk, speaking on behalf of the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship at the opening of the 2013 Security Days event on 17 June 2013...
Security Days event starts with calls for frank and open discussion on security
Publishing date: 17 June 2013
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Secretary General
Opening the two-day Security Days conference on 17 June 2013, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier called for a broad and open discussion on security issues in the OSCE region and invited members of academia, think tanks and civil society to share their ideas...
OSCE helps advance human rights education in Armenia
Publishing date: 17 June 2013