News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
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.
OSCE Special Representative on Gender Issues visits Albania, encourages improvement in implementation of gender-related commitments
Publishing date: 4 April 2014
TIRANA, 4 April 2014 – Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender Issues June Zeitlin and ODIHR Senior Adviser on Roma and Sinti issues Mirjam Karoly paid a three-day country visit to Albania from 2 to 4 April...
OSCE Chair says Crimean referendum in its current form is illegal and calls for alternative ways to address the Crimean issue
Publishing date: 11 March 2014
BERN, March 11 2014 – In its current form the referendum regarding Crimea scheduled for March 16, 2014, is in contradiction with the Ukrainian Constitution and must be considered illegal, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chair Didier Burkhalter said...
Swiss OSCE Chair discusses crisis in Ukraine with German Foreign Minister Steinmeier
Publishing date: 4 March 2014
BERN, 4 March 2014 – Swiss Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter today discussed the Ukrainian crisis with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier. They emphasized the capacity of the OSCE in helping to overcome the crisis...