News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Deadline for nominations for Max van der Stoel Award 2020 extended
Publishing date: 30 March 2020
THE HAGUE, 30 March 2020 – The deadline for receiving nominations for the Max van der Stoel Award 2020 has been extended to 30 April 2020. The award of 50,000 euros recognizes extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of national minorities in the OSCE participating States...
Newly declared states of emergency must include a time limit and parliamentary oversight, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 30 March 2020
WARSAW, 30 March 2020 – Emergency legislation being adopted by governments across the OSCE region must include a time limit and guarantee parliamentary oversight, said the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) ahead of a vote in Hungary to extend emergency measures earlier adopted in the EU member state. ODIHR is systematically monitoring the content and consequences of the states of emergency being declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic...
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 74/2020 issued on 28 March 2020
Publishing date: 28 March 2020
Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. The SMM saw that the entry-exit checkpoints near
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 73/2020 issued on 27 March 2020
Publishing date: 27 March 2020
Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying over areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk region. The Mission continued
OSCE Media Freedom Representative welcomes swift reaction of Armenian Government in addressing his concerns on State of Emergency Decree
Publishing date: 27 March 2020
VIENNA, 27 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, welcomed today the swift reaction of the Armenian Government in addressing his concerns about the Decree on the State of Emergency, adopted on 23 March, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic...
OSCE Media Freedom Representative urges public officials in Slovenia to refrain from pressure on independence of public broadcaster
Publishing date: 27 March 2020
VIENNA, 27 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding the accusations against, and pressure on, the public service broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVS), by the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Janša.
Briefed by Lombardy Region President, OSCE PA leadership discusses steps forward during coronavirus crisis
Publishing date: 27 March 2020
COPENHAGEN, 27 March 2020 – In a series of virtual meetings this week with leaders and staff of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, members discussed the way forward in the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The OSCE parliamentarians were briefed by the President of the hard-hit Lombardy Region of Italy, who appealed for assistance.