News and press releases

As the ongoing war against Ukraine causes damage to industrial facilities across the country, it heightens the risks of release of toxic chemicals, posing a serious danger for people and environment. To help diminish threats to health and lives of people, the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (the SPU) produced and delivered to the country’s State Emergency Service (the SESU) the awareness-raising materials, designed to inform the public about safety rules for chemical emergencies.

The OSCE trained Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) instructors to support Ukraine’s capacity in the detection and disposal of explosives through a three-week training course. The training of EOD instructors from the National Police of Ukraine (NPU) was held at the training site near Bristol, the United Kingdom, from 24 July to 11 August.

The breach of the dam at Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant on 6 June 2023, the resulting overflow of Kakhovka reservoir and the flooding of downstream territories have had a widespread and devastating impact, including potentially long-lasting environmental damage, according to research conducted by the Centre for Environmental Monitoring and supported by the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine.

OSCE-supported Youth Camp for young social workers and psychologists provided an opportunity for 26 participants to dive into four days of interactive training, coaching and discussions under the guidance of the experts in the field of combating gender-based violence.

As the war displaced millions of Ukrainians or pushed them to the verge by destroying homes and businesses, the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, marked on 30 July each year, provided yet another occasion for the OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) to join efforts of state agencies, civil society and international organizations in campaigning to warn people about growing risks to fall victim of human trafficking.

WARSAW, 17 July 2023 – Allegations of arbitrary imprisonment and enforced disappearances of civilians living in areas under occupation are occurring with alarming frequency, with widespread reports of the use of torture and ill-treatment, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today in a new report summarising its ongoing monitoring of violations of international law following Russia’s military attack in Ukraine. According to the many credible testimonies, torture and ill-treatment have been widespread in detention in all Russian-occupied areas.

The joint session, organized under the Bulgarian FSC Chair and 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia, provided a platform to explore the role the FSC can play in the environment-security nexus and how the OSCE can best address issues such as protection of the environment during armed conflicts. The discussion was designed to raise awareness and foster further co-operation on the subject.