News and press releases

Geneva/Strasbourg/Vienna/Warsaw, 19 March 2021 – The pandemic poses unprecedented challenges for governments, health systems and societies at large, with many people in despair. We also witnessed solidarity with generosity, care and commitment towards the most vulnerable. This crisis offers us a unique opportunity to create more inclusive and equal societies, said the heads of four human rights institutions ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Summary In Donetsk region, the Mission recorded 44 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 30 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it also recorded no ceasefire violations in

Law enforcement agencies’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and international best practices were the focus of an online OSCE workshop for Ministry of internal affairs officials, law enforcement officers and health authorities in Kazakhstan held on 18 March 2021.

How vaccine “passports” could impact border security agencies’ operations in the OSCE area was the focus of an online roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE on 18 March 2021.

KYIV, 17 March 2021 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

YEREVAN, 16 March 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, concluded a working visit to Armenia today.

BAKU, 15 March 2021 — OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, paid a working visit to Azerbaijan today.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 30 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 93 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded one ceasefire violation in the

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 93 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it also recorded 93 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded one ceasefire violation. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 30 ceasefire violations in the region. The

VIENNA, 16 March 2021 – Post-COVID-19 recovery, opportunities and challenges for security and regional co-operation, was the focus of today’s OSCE Mediterranean Partnership of Co-operation Group meeting, the first under the Polish Chairmanship, chaired by Ambassador Adam Hałaciński, Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE...

ASHGABAT, 16 March 2021- Encouraging an inclusive dialogue on the role of women in maintaining peace and promoting trust was the aim of an OSCE-supported regional forum that took place today virtually.

On 2 March 2021, the government of Lithuania appointed its conciliators, the arbitrator and his alternate for a new mandate of six years, in accordance with articles 3 and 4 of the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE...

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

On 12 March, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Janusz Urbańczyk, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the OSCE, to discuss current challenges and threats to media freedom in the OSCE region.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 12 and 14 March, the SMM recorded 143 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 79 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 12 and 14 March, the Mission recorded 31 ceasefire

On the morning of 15 March, an SMM patrol consisting of two vehicles and four mission members arrived at the checkpoint of the armed formations near Olenivka (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) to cross to government-controlled areas. At 11:23, while at the checkpoint, a member of the armed formations approached the patrol and asked the SMM to open the doors and trunks of both its vehicles, as well as its trailer, for a visual inspection. The patrol refused the request. At 12:22, another member of the armed formations approached the patrol and requested the same, which the Mission again refused...

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (the Office) organized a two-day roundtable discussion on the role of women in law enforcement agencies with a focus on empowering women in the police sector. The event, co-organized with Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry and the Japan International Co-operation Agency, took place on the outskirts of Dushanbe on 12 and 13 March.

On 12 March, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Frédéric Labarrère to discuss media freedom in the Principality of Monaco and in the broader OSCE region...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 79 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 13 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 202 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 14 ceasefire violations in the

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe completed a four-week training course on Sustained Field Operation Capacity for representatives of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (Committee) in Bokhtar city of the Khatlon region on 12 March 2021...

The OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, based in Geneva, has published its annual report for the year 2020. The report gives an account of the activities undertaken throughout the year...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 13 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 45 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 14 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 70 ceasefire violations in the

Over 180 participants, experts and high-level officials from around the OSCE region gathered for the OSCE webinar titled, “Terrorist Use of the Internet: Designation of Illicit Content Online and Gaps in Regulatory Frameworks”, held on 12 March 2021.

On 11 March, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met with Ambassador Didier Nagant de Deuxchaisnes to discuss media freedom in the OSCE region and in Belgium...

The OSCE-supported “Safer Communities in Kazakhstan” Forum took place on 12 March 2021 in Nur-Sultan. The event focused on unifying the efforts of government bodies and NGOs in developing sustainable and safe communities in Kazakhstan.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 45 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 128 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 70 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 26 ceasefire violations in the

OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid presented annual Gender Equality Champion awards at the Permanent Council on 11 March. Empowering women leaders in Uzbekistan, combating COVID 19-related domestic violence in Ukraine, dispelling discriminatory rumours in North Macedonia and working for gender parity in OSCE executive structures were among the achievements recognized.

PODGORICA/VIENNA, 10 March – Increased participation of women in the police sector contributes to enhancing public confidence in the police. This was the conclusion of an online event of the OSCE project “Increasing and Supporting the Participation of Women at all Levels of Policing” held on 10 March 2021.

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 128 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period it recorded 105 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 26 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 20 ceasefire violations in the

VIENNA, 10 March 2021 — Progress has been made since the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security more than 20 years ago, but more concrete actions are needed, said participants at the joint meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and the OSCE Permanent Council held online today to mark International Women’s Day this week.

SKOPJE, 10 March 2021 – The OSCE Mission to Skopje launched today a new project aimed at assisting North Macedonia in reducing the risk of trafficking and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW), which pose security risks to the country and the wider region...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 105 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours it recorded nine ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 20 ceasefire violations. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region. The SMM

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in co-operation with the Centre for Retraining of Journalists and with the support of the British Embassy in Tashkent, is organizing a train-the-trainers workshop on 10 and 11 March 2021 in Tashkent. Thirty-five local media professionals will be trained as instructors in the use of social media, in legislative and regulatory developments related to social media, and in journalistic ethics and the rights of journalists and bloggers.

VIENNA, 9 March 2021 – Ensuring both equal opportunities and equal safeguards for women and men is key to an independent and diverse media landscape, which is vital for open societies based on the principles at the heart of OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy, participants said at a two-day OSCE meeting that ended today.

A roundtable event to discuss and co-ordinate activities on the effective implementation of the National Strategy on Penal Reform for 2020-2030 took place on 4 March 2021 in Dushanbe.

Summary In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 5 and 7 March, the SMM recorded 106 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 59 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 5 and 7 March, the Mission recorded 12 ceasefire violations.

SKOPJE, 8 March 2021 – Today, on the occasion of International Women’s day, the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia published a Mission-supported analysis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender and diversity. The analysis shows that the pandemic, and the response to it, has had a disproportionally negative effect on women in all sectors and age groups...

On the occasion of the Month of Roma Women’s Activism, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will support the campaign of Roma women’s network “Success”...

STOCKHOLM/VIENNA/WARSAW, 8 March 2021 – The role of women as leaders, particularly in peace building and conflict prevention, is essential to achieve prosperous and peaceful societies, and to guarantee the strength of our democracies, say OSCE officials on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

The first Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting of 2021 will provide a platform for an exchange of views among OSCE participating States, OSCE institutions and other executive structures, and a variety of international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders on the implementation of commitments related to the promotion of media freedom and gender equality...

KYIV, 8 March 2021 — International Women’s Day provides a timely reminder of women’s ongoing and critical contributions to sustainable peace and security.

On the morning of 7 March, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was flying over government-controlled areas of Donetsk region. At about 12:00 Kyiv time, while the UAV was near Opytne (government-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk), it experienced a dual GPS technical failure...

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 59 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 11 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 46 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 36 ceasefire violations. The SMM

Summary In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 11 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 102 ceasefire violations in the region. In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 36 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations. The SMM

The parliamentary elections in Georgia were competitive and administered efficiently despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, widespread allegations of pressure on voters and the blurring of the line between state and ruling party reduced public confidence in some areas of

The OSCE held an online workshop on international co-operation in asset recovery and cross-border collaboration for 11 criminal justice practitioners from Bosnia and Herzegovina from 3 to 5 March 2021.

Twenty border officers from Tajikistan’s Border Troops completed a three-week operational planning course on 5 March 2021 in the Hamadoni district of the Khatlon region. The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe in co-operation with the Border Troops and funded by the European Union.

ERGNETI- On 5 March 2021, the 98th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Annika Söder, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ergneti IPRM was accompanied by all necessary precautionary health measures.

SKOPJE, 5 March 2021- With an aim to enhance professional standards of online media, the OSCE Mission to Skopje supported the Council of Media Ethics (CMEM) in developing ethical guidelines for online media outlets, publicized in Skopje today...