News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
On World Day against the Death Penalty abolition should remain a priority, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 10 October 2019
WARSAW, 10 October 2019 – In line with commitments by all OSCE countries, political leaders have a responsibility to promote a discussion about abolishing the death penalty, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on World Day against the Death Penalty.
ODIHR launches first ever guidance on preventing sexual violence in detention
Publishing date: 23 September 2019
Understanding the root causes of, and dynamics involved in, sexual and gender-based violence in the context of detention in order to improve protection strategies was the focus of an event held on 23 September 2019 in Warsaw on the margins of the OSCE’s annual human rights conference, the Human
ODIHR Women’s power breakfast highlights importance of women’s participation to peace and security
Publishing date: 20 September 2019
The continuing – and in some places increasing – exclusion of women from participating in security strategies and implementation were the focus of the annual Women’s Power Breakfast organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 20 September 2019, on
ODIHR provides new guidance on freedom of religion or belief and security
Publishing date: 19 September 2019
Amidst increasing security-driven restrictions on the right to freedom of religion or belief in the OSCE region, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) published Freedom of Religion or Belief and Security: Policy Guidance on 19 September 2019. This new publication,
The right to freedom of peaceful assembly focus of ODIHR event in Warsaw
Publishing date: 19 September 2019
The latest challenges to the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in the OSCE region were discussed at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 19 September 2019 during ODIHR’s annual human rights conference, the Human Dimension Implementation
Remembering the peaceful revolutions of 1989 to protect our democracies for the future: OSCE annual human rights conference
Publishing date: 16 September 2019
WARSAW, 16 September 2019 – The velvet revolutions that swept Central Eastern Europe 30 years ago gave rise to a time of optimism that we need to recapture as threats to our democracies multiply, key speakers stressed as the annual human rights conference* hosted by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) opened in Warsaw today.
To combat religious hatred, we must recognize its link to other human rights abuses, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 21 August 2019
WARSAW, 22 August 2019 – Amid increasingly violent outbreaks of religious intolerance, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) welcomes the first-ever United Nations International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion today, and calls on governments to promote the interfaith dialogue and education needed to combat hatred and violence.