News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Greater efforts needed to ensure digital technologies empower human rights, OSCE leaders say
Publishing date: 13 July 2021
VIENNA/WARSAW, 13 July 2021 — Understanding the implications of digital technology is key to the protection and promotion of human rights in the 21st century, OSCE leaders said as a two-day online conference concluded on the opportunities and challenges of the digital age for human rights and democracy.
Holistic approach needed to eliminate torture, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 25 June 2021
WARSAW, 25 June 2021 – OSCE countries need to honour their recent commitment to uphold the absolute prohibition of torture after acknowledging the practice to be “one of the most flagrant violations of human rights and human dignity”, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the occasion of tomorrow’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture...
Televised “confessions” further example of widespread rights violations in Belarus, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 4 June 2021
WARSAW, 4 June 2021 — The televised “confessions” of independent journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega, his partner, raise further concerns regarding the Belarus authorities’ failure to meet obligations to respect the right to a fair trial and the absolute prohibition of torture in the wave of arrests since last August’s presidential election, says the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Role of law enforcement officials vital to prevent torture, say participants at dedicated conference
Publishing date: 2 June 2021
The crucial role played by the police and other law enforcement officials in serving their communities and preventing torture and other ill-treatment of people in the criminal justice system is the focus of a dedicated conference today. Despite the timely reaffirmation by OSCE countries last year
Children’s rights need better protection in Ukraine’s criminal justice system, finds OSCE-supported report
Publishing date: 1 June 2021
Multiple interrogations, lack of psychological support, lengthy proceedings, these are just a few of the problems children face in Ukraine’s criminal justice system according to a new OSCE-supported report presented on 1 June 2021.
Journalists and political analysts in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be able to do their job without pressure and intimidation
Publishing date: 26 May 2021
SARAJEVO, 26 May 2021- The OSCE Mission to BiH and the Swedish Embassy in BiH on behalf of the OSCE 2021 Swedish Chairpersonship, the OHR, the EU Delegation to BiH/EUSR, the German Embassy in BiH, the U.S. Embassy to BiH, and the British Embassy to BiH strongly condemn the latest attacks on the personal and professional integrity of Banja Luka-based political analyst and journalist Tanja Topić by the Chairman of the BiH Presidency Milorad Dodik...
Efforts by prosecutors and law enforcement to address hate crime in Armenia: ODIHR seminar
Publishing date: 25 May 2021
On 25 May 2021, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) organized an online awareness-raising seminar on improving the ability to recognize, investigate and prosecute hate crimes, involving criminal justice authorities and civil society in Armenia. The event launched