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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Moldova’s elections peaceful and efficient, but marred by sweeping restrictive measures amid national security concerns: international observers
Publishing date: 6 November 2023
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
CHIŞINĂU, 6 November 2023 – Moldova’s local elections were calm and efficiently managed with candidates mostly able to campaign freely, but the broad powers of the government commission for exceptional situations were used to restrict freedom of speech and association as well as the right to stand, while interference from abroad and widespread allegations of vote buying throughout the campaign were of concern, international observers said in a statement today.
ODIHR experts present the 2022 elections final report and discuss recommendations in Hungary
Publishing date: 19 October 2023
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented the final report on Hungary’s 2022 parliamentary elections and referendum in Budapest on 17 and 18 October 2023. The experts discussed the report’s key findings and recommendations with government
OSCE-UNHCR conference in Skopje aims to end statelessness in South-Eastern Europe
Publishing date: 18 October 2023
Content type: News
On 17 October 2023, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) with the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR), under the auspices of the 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia, organized a one-day Conference on Statelessness. The Conference was intended as an exchange forum for over eighty participants representing national authorities, civil society and international organizations, to facilitate practical and informative discussions aimed at sharing good practices to prevent and address statelessness in the South-Eastern Europe region.
OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia, UNHCR, OSCE Mission to Skopje, HCNM and ODIHR join forces to end statelessness in South-Eastern Europe
Publishing date: 17 October 2023
Content type: Press release
SKOPJE, 17 October 2023 – Resolving all known cases of statelessness in South-Eastern Europe and preventing children from being born stateless are the commitments made by the national authorities and civil society representatives at a regional conference held today in Skopje, North Macedonia.
Poland’s parliamentary elections were competitive but marked by misuse of public resources and public media bias, international observers say
Publishing date: 16 October 2023
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Elections
WARSAW, 16 October 2023 – Poland’s parliamentary elections were characterized by record high voter participation with a wide choice of political options and candidates able to campaign freely, but the campaign was tarnished by notable overlap between the ruling party’s messages and government information campaigns. Together with distorted and openly partisan coverage by the public broadcaster, this provided a clear advantage to the ruling party, undermining the democratic separation of state and party, international observers said in a statement today.
Women and child trafficking during armed conflict and ongoing challenges in protection the focus of ODIHR discussion in Warsaw
Publishing date: 13 October 2023
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings, Human rights
The increased risks of trafficking of women and children during armed conflict and the protection of victims of trafficking were discussed at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 12 October 2023. The discussion took place at the
The human rights situation of displaced Ukrainian Roma raises concerns amidst continuing prejudice
Publishing date: 12 October 2023
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Tolerance and non-discrimination
Roma fleeing the armed conflict in Ukraine continue to experience prejudice when seeking support or aid, said participants at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 11 October 2023, on the margins of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.