News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Stability, security and respect for human rights are shared UN and OSCE values, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon tells OSCE Permanent Council
Publishing date: 4 November 2014
VIENNA, 4 November 2014 – The OSCE plays a pivotal role in easing divisions, healing wounds and managing change, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, and emphasized the close UN-OSCE partnership in enhancing conflict prevention and resolution...
Participants at OSCE meeting stress need for increased commitment to protecting human rights in times of economic crisis
Publishing date: 30 October 2014
VIENNA, 30 October 2014 – While times of economic crisis can impose severe budgetary conditions on States, addressing these constraints cannot come at the cost of ignoring the responsibilities States have for the protection and promotion of human rights, participants said today at the opening of a two-day OSCE meeting in Vienna...
Swiss OSCE Chairmanship concludes series of four regional civil society workshops with a two-day event in Tbilisi
Publishing date: 8 September 2014
Some 40 representatives from regional civil society organizations of the South Caucasus and international NGOs took part in a discussion in Tbilisi on 3 and 4 September 2014, organized jointly by the 2014 Swiss OSCE Chairmanship and the Georgian NGO Analytical Center for Interethnic Cooperation and Consultations. The focus of the event was on the prevention of torture, the independence of the judiciary, and the institutional and legal framework to combat discrimination...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office expresses gratitude to outgoing ODIHR Director Lenarčič
Publishing date: 30 June 2014
BERN, 30 June 2014- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, today expressed his gratitude to Ambassador Janez Lenarčič of Slovenia, the outgoing Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), for his work over the last six years...
Azerbaijan’s President, OSCE Chair-in-Office open OSCE PA Annual Session
Publishing date: 28 June 2014
BAKU, 28 June 2014 – The 23rd OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Annual Session has begun in Baku, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Swiss President and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter addressing nearly 300 parliamentarians from more than 50 nations...
Political will the key to ensuring the protection of human rights defenders, say participants at OSCE conference in Bern
Publishing date: 10 June 2014
BERN, 10 June 2014 – Political will on the part of states and genuine partnership with civil society are necessary to ensure that human rights defenders can effectively play their vital role in ensuring and promoting respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law in the OSCE area, said participants at an OSCE conference in Bern today...
Swiss OSCE Chairmanship, ODIHR and Civic Solidarity provide a platform for civil society dialogue on prevention of torture, right to privacy and non-discrimination issues
Publishing date: 8 April 2014
VIENNA, 08 April 2014 – A three-day Civil Society Forum in Vienna opened yesterday, gathering civil society representatives from North America, Western, Central and Eastern Europe. The topics to be discussed include the prevention of torture, the right to privacy and non-discrimination.