News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Mission to Moldova involves men and boys in combating gender-based violence
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
CHISINAU, 25 November 2011 – The OSCE Mission to Moldova started its 16-Day Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence today with a series of activities aimed at raising awareness, including a workshop to engage young men and boys in combating gender-based violence...
OSCE Office organizes police open days in Armenia
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
VANADZOR, Armenia, 25 November 2011 – The first in a series of police open days to enhance trust between the police and the public will be held tomorrow in Vanadzor, a northern city in Lori province of Armenia...
OSCE Centre helps improve environmental reporting in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
PAVLODAR, Kazakhstan, 25 November 2011- An OSCE-supported training course on environmental reporting for journalists began yesterday in Pavlodar, Northern Kazakhstan...
OSCE Academy helps Kyrgyzstan’s officials enhance skills in developing international trade policy
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
Kyrgyzstan’s international trade policy priorities were the focus of a 5-day training seminar for top governmental officials from 21 to 25 November jointly organized by the OSCE Academy in Bishkek and the National Institute of Strategic Studies...
OSCE Presence in Albania helps raise awareness to fight discrimination
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth, handed over OSCE Presence-funded information materials on anti-discrimination to the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, Irma Baraku, on 25 November 2011...
Human rights in criminal justice the focus of OSCE lectures at Turkmen State University
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
ASHGABAT, 26 November 2011- Some 40 students of the Law Faculty at the Magtymguly Turkmen State University discussed international human rights standards in the administration of criminal justice during an OSCE-organized series of lectures that concluded in Ashgabat today...
OSCE Centre in Astana supports conference on domestic violence
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
ASTANA, 25 November 2011 – A conference to review the implementation of Kazakhstan’s 2009 Law on the Prevention of Domestic Violence and discuss possible amendments began in Astana today...
OSCE Office in Tajikistan helps Ombudsman and civil society prepare for joint monitoring of closed institutions
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
DUSHANBE, 25 November 2011- Monitoring closed institutions was the focus of a five-day training course for 30 civil society representatives and staff of the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman that concluded in Dushanbe today...
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine opens interactive classroom for police cadets
Publishing date: 25 November 2011
KYIV, 25 November 2011 – A specially equipped classroom for training police cadets in dealing with domestic violence cases was opened today at the Kyiv Academy of Interior with support from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU)...
OSCE media freedom representative highlights journalists’ safety in report to Permanent Council
Publishing date: 24 November 2011
Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, stressed the importance of journalists’ safety in her report on her Office’s work to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 24 November 2011...
OSCE helps to prevent violent extremism and radicalization in Kyrgyzstan's prisons
Publishing date: 24 November 2011
BISHKEK, 24 November 2011 – Representatives of prison staff will learn about and develop skills in detecting radical tendencies that can lead to violence among detainees during a three-day training seminar that started today in Bishkek...
Winners of OSCE-supported competition on human rights announced in Yerevan
Publishing date: 24 November 2011
YEREVAN, 24 November 2011 – Six school students from Yerevan received prizes today after winning an OSCE-supported contest on human rights...
OSCE Chairperson expresses dismay over conviction of Belarusian rights defender, calls for immediate release
Publishing date: 24 November 2011
VILNIUS, 24 November 2011- The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, today expressed profound dismay over the conviction of prominent Belarusian human rights defender Aliaksandr (Ales) Bialiatski...
San Marino Foreign Minister addresses OSCE, says international co-operation crucial for small states
Publishing date: 24 November 2011
VIENNA, 24 November 2011 – The Minister of Foreign and Political Affairs of the Republic of San Marino, Antonella Mularoni, in her address to the OSCE Permanent Council today, stressed the unique role of the Organization in promoting confidence among all 56 participating States...
OSCE Project Co-ordinator promotes transparency through e-governance in Ukraine
Publishing date: 24 November 2011
ODESSA, Ukraine, 26 November 2011 – The use of e-governance in enhancing the transparency of state institutions in dealing with domestic and foreign investors is the focus of a national conference that was held in Odessa today with the support of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator (PCU) in Ukraine...
OSCE promotes green economy principles in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 24 November 2011
ASTANA, 24 November 2011 – A three-day workshop on establishing a green economy in Kazakhstan began today in Astana...
OSCE media representative saddened by Azerbaijani writer’s death
Publishing date: 23 November 2011
VIENNA, 23 November 2011 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, said today she was deeply saddened by the death of Azerbaijani writer and newspaper columnist Rafiq Tagi and hopes that all those responsible will be brought to justice...
ODIHR promotes increasing accuracy of voter lists in Georgia
Publishing date: 23 November 2011
Measures to further increase the accuracy of voter lists was the focus of a roundtable discussion organized by the Central Election Commission of Georgia, in co-operation with ODIHR and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) on 22 November in Tbilisi...
OSCE Centre in Astana promotes dialogue on further reform of Kazakhstan’s penitentiary system
Publishing date: 23 November 2011
ASTANA, 23 November 2011 – The future of Kazakhstan’s penal system was the focus of an OSCE-supported conference in Astana today...
Untapped potential for increasing security co-operation, says OSCE Chairperson to NATO North Atlantic Council
Publishing date: 23 November 2011
BRUSSELS, 23 November 2011 – NATO and the OSCE have complementary roles to play in promoting security in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian region as well as in Asia and the Mediterranean, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, in an address to NATO’s North Atlantic Council in Brussels today...
OSCE Project Co-ordinator promotes professional information services in Uzbekistan
Publishing date: 23 November 2011
From 21 to 23 November 2011 the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, held a training seminar to enhance the skills of officials in the information services of state agencies and public organizations...
OSCE/ODIHR begins assessment of early parliamentary elections in Slovenia
Publishing date: 23 November 2011
LJUBLJANA, 23 November 2011 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election assessment mission for the early parliamentary elections to be held in Slovenia on 4 December...
OSCE Mission to BiH condemns violence against women and calls for increased protection
Publishing date: 23 November 2011
SARAJEVO, 23 November 2011- Fletcher M. Burton, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, speaking ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, condemned violence against women and called for the effective protection of victims...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities calls for regional co-operation to prevent risk of statelessness
Publishing date: 23 November 2011
The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, called for OSCE participating States to remain committed to tackling the risks of statelessness by addressing the lack of registration and civil documentation in South-Eastern Europe, speaking before the OSCE Permanent Council on 17 November 2011...
OSCE supports Ukraine study visit for journalists, civil society experts from Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 22 November 2011
A group of journalists and civil society experts from Kazakhstan began an OSCE Centre-supported study tour to Ukraine on 21 November 2011 to discuss access to government information, public participation in decision making and media freedom...
17th IPRM meeting takes place in Dvani
Publishing date: 22 November 2011
DVANI, 22 November 2011- On 22 November, the 17th IPRM meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office welcomes meeting and joint declaration between Moldovan and Transdniestrian leaders
Publishing date: 22 November 2011
VILNIUS, 22 November 2011 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, today welcomed the 21 November meeting and joint declaration between Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and Transdniestrian Leader Igor Smirnov...
OSCE media freedom representative’s office to participate in events marking International Day to End Impunity
Publishing date: 22 November 2011
The Director of the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Andrey Rikhter, and Principal Adviser Roland Bless will take part in activities marking International Day to End Impunity on 23 November 2011 in Vienna...
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan holds training course on juvenile justice, opens educational centers at Police Academy
Publishing date: 22 November 2011
TASHKENT, 22 November 2011- A three-day OSCE-supported training course for the Uzbekistan’s Police Academy teachers on the system of juvenile justice began today in Tashkent...
Statement by OSCE Mission to Montenegro on attack against TV Vijesti
Publishing date: 21 November 2011
The OSCE Mission to Montenegro issued the following statement on the attack against a television crew from TV Vijesti on 18 November 2011:
OSCE Project Co-ordinator supports improvement of citizen-state relations in Ukraine
Publishing date: 21 November 2011
A training seminar on citizen-state relations for representatives of civil society organizations opened on 21 November 2011 in Boryspil, Ukraine...
OSCE Mission, Education Ministry, launch education legislation website
Publishing date: 18 November 2011
The OSCE Mission to Skopje, together with the Ministry of Education and Science, launched a series of presentations in Struga on 17 November 2011 to promote a new website providing easy access to education-related legislation...
OSCE promotes discussion on human trafficking challenges in southern Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 18 November 2011
The results of an OSCE-supported survey to address vulnerability to human trafficking in the south of Kyrgyzstan were presented at a roundtable discussion on 18 November 2011...
Turkmenistan military officials visit UK to review small arms and light weapons and stockpile management practices
Publishing date: 18 November 2011
ASHGABAT, 18 November 2011 – Four representatives of Turkmenistan's Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Defence participated in a five-day study visit to the United Kingdom that concluded in London today...
Vilnius Ministerial Council an opportunity to set clear course for security of OSCE region, says Lithuanian Chairmanship
Publishing date: 18 November 2011
VIENNA, 18 November 2011 – The forthcoming Ministerial Council in Vilnius offers OSCE States the chance to consolidate progress and chart a way forward to address urgent security matters in the region, said Ambassador Rytis Paulauskas, the Head of the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship Task Force, at a reinforced Permanent Council session in Vienna today...
OSCE promotes democratic principles of public order management in Armenia
Publishing date: 18 November 2011
YEREVAN, 18 November 2011 – Two OSCE-supported guidebooks on police conduct, use of force and negotiation techniques in public order management were presented today in Yerevan...
OSCE helps schools to monitor water quality in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 18 November 2011
BISHKEK, 18 November 2011 – Teachers from 20 schools in Kyrgyzstan will learn about “green chemistry” as part of a two-day training course in measuring water quality organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Regional Ecological Centre for Central Asia that started in Bishkek today...
OSCE Mission in Kosovo helps improve public participation in municipal decision making
Publishing date: 18 November 2011
A workshop on public participation in municipal affairs concluded in Mavrovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on 18 November 2011. The event was organized by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo...
Cyber security focus of Model OSCE Conference in Yerevan
Publishing date: 18 November 2011
YEREVAN, 18 November 2011 – Around 60 students from Armenia embarked on discussions and negotiations on the importance of cyber security in a globalized world, and possible OSCE action at a two-day Model OSCE Conference that started today in Yerevan...
OSCE media representative welcomes Russia’s landmark legislation to decriminalize defamation and protect safety of journalists
Publishing date: 17 November 2011
VIENNA, 17 November 2011 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, welcomed today amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation to decriminalize libel and insult, and specifically punish threats or violence against journalists as a professional group...
Head of OSCE Presence in Albania commends decision to establish committee on electoral reform
Publishing date: 17 November 2011
TIRANA, 17 November 2011- The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania Ambassador Eugen Wollfarth issued the following statement today:
Judicial independence focus of OSCE meeting in Moldova
Publishing date: 17 November 2011
The importance of fair selection and accountability of judges was the focus of a roundtable meeting on the independence of the judiciary held by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Mission to Moldova and the Moldovan Superior Council of Magistrates on 14 November 2011 in Chisinau...
OSCE facilitates addition of “green economy” course to university curricula in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 17 November 2011
BISHKEK, 17 November 2011- University students in Kyrgyzstan will be able to study “green economy” in the framework of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) course from 2012 on, it was announced today at a conference organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek with UNDP, the Regional Ecological Centre for Central Asia and the Public Foundation “ECOIS”...
OSCE Mission to BiH concerned by manifestations of intolerance
Publishing date: 16 November 2011
SARAJEVO, 16 November 2011 – Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina Andrea Cellino, marking the International Day for Tolerance, highlighted today the continuing need to promote tolerance and non-discrimination in all spheres of life in the country...
OSCE in Tajikistan helps develop university curriculum on international water law
Publishing date: 16 November 2011
DUSHANBE 16 November 2011- Principles for sharing water resources, best practices in river basin management, and tools to prevent and solve conflicts in international water law are the focus of an OSCE-supported workshop that ended today in Dushanbe...
ODIHR co-organizes training sessions on women’s security in Serbia
Publishing date: 16 November 2011
Increasing awareness of women’s security issues at the local level was the focus of three training sessions organized in Serbia by OSCE/ODIHR with the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) and the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities on 10-15 November...
Head of OSCE Mission to Montenegro meets editors to build co-operation in media development
Publishing date: 16 November 2011
In a visit to the office of the daily newspaper “Pobjeda” on 15 November 2011, the Head of the OSCE Mission, Šarunas Adomavičius, discussed issues on the state of the media in Montenegro and the prospects for the privatization of ''Pobjeda'' with the newspaper's Editor, Srđan Kusovac, Chief Executive Lav Lajović and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Miodrag Ivanović.
OSCE Office supports discussions to strengthen access to justice, legal profession
Publishing date: 16 November 2011
BAKU, 16 November 2011 – A two-day OSCE-supported workshop on strengthening the legal profession and improved access to justice started today...
Hate crimes remain serious problem across OSCE region, ODIHR report says
Publishing date: 16 November 2011
WARSAW, 16 November 2011 – Hate crimes continue to be a serious problem across the OSCE region, concludes a report released by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today, on the International Day for Tolerance...
OSCE completes removal of toxic rocket fuel component from Western and Central Ukraine
Publishing date: 16 November 2011
BILA TSERKVA, Ukraine, 16 November 2011- The final shipment of a toxic rocket fuel component stored in deteriorating containers at a military base in Central Ukraine was loaded on to railways tanks today as part of an OSCE-supported project...