News and press releases

Strengthening the dialogue between national human rights institutions and representatives of local authorities and civil society organizations was the aim of a series of roundtables that the OSCE Presence in Albania organized together with the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination. The roundtables took place in Peshkopi, Tropoja, Kuçova and Roskovec, from 13 November to 11 December 2024.

On 11 December, the OSCE Presence in Albania and the Central Election Commission (CEC) held a technical roundtable to discuss ways to enhance voting secrecy and prevent voter intimidation. The event emphasized safeguarding one of the fundamental electoral principles, such as the right to free and

11 December 2024, SARAJEVO – The destructive effects of corruption—wasting public resources, deterring foreign investment, and fostering apathy and distrust—are undeniable, agreed participants at a conference held in Sarajevo today. To mark International Anti-Corruption Day, the OSCE Mission to

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities jointly with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) hosted the first OSCE conference aimed at commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day, marked annually on 9 December. The conference brought together representatives of academia, civil society, international partners and governments from across the OSCE region, and sought to create a forum of dialogue among these stakeholders on their distinct yet complementary roles in the fight against corruption.

On 11 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD), in collaboration with the Agency of Land Reclamation and Irrigation and the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources Management, organized the 12th meeting of the National Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (NCID).

From 3 to 7 December 2024, a delegation from the University of Tirana conducted a research visit to two prestigious universities in the United States of America with the aim of strengthening capacities and resources to manage the Master Programme in Criminology.

10 December 2024, BANJA LUKA – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) continues to strengthen the country's capacity to combat serious crime through the consistent implementation of intelligence-led policing (ILP). As part of this effort, the Mission hosted a workshop in Banja

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in co-operation with the Authorized Person of the  Oliy Majlis  of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsperson), organised a round table titled “The Authority of the Ombudsperson of the Oliy Majlis in the protection of human rights and

From 26 to 28 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina held an interactive workshop for government and civil society representatives in Sarajevo, which focused on building local community resilience against all forms of violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT).

Op-ed by Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, on the occasion of 09 December, International Anti-Corruption Day

From 6 to 7 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe conducted a workshop titled “Adaptation for All: Rights of Persons with Disabilities During Natural Disasters” in Khujand, the Sughd region. The event was organized in partnership with the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan, the public organization “Mehrbakhsh,” and several other organizations that represent individuals with disabilities.

VALLETTA, 6 December 2024 — The 31st OSCE Ministerial Council concluded today in Malta, bringing together foreign ministers and senior officials from the OSCE’s 57 participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation. The Council adopted key institutional decisions aimed at strengthening the Organization’s capacity to address pressing threats and adapt to an increasingly complex security environment.

From 3 to 6 December 2024, the Magtymguly Turkmen State University (TSU) hosted an OSCE-organized course on international human rights standards during pre-trial stages of criminal proceedings and investigations. The course brought together over eighty students and teachers from TSU, the Institute

VALLETTA, 6 December 2024 — The 31st OSCE Ministerial Council in Malta concluded with key decisions on the appointment of four senior officials to lead the OSCE’s Secretariat and institutions. This achievement underscores a lasting commitment of the 57 participating States to strengthen the Organization’s ability to act, particularly in times of crisis and conflict.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe has successfully concluded a Tactical Field Capacity Building training course for the Tajik Border Troops at the Hamadoni Border Detachment in the Khatlon region. The course ran from 11 November to 6 December 2024, and was part of the EU-funded project "Stabilization of Tajikistan's Southern Border Region with Afghanistan."

Passenger screening and X-ray image interpretation at aviation checkpoints were the focus of an OSCE-organized training course that took place in Ashgabat from 25 to 29 November 2024. The five-day course brought together twenty participants, including representatives of the Transport Police of the

On 4–5 December, the OSCE Presence in Albania, in conjunction with the Albanian School of Magistrates, conducted a specialized training session on human trafficking, with a particular emphasis on child trafficking. The training adopted an interactive mock trial format, providing 15 magistrate

On 6 December, on the margins of the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council, the Maltese OSCE Chairpersonship, in collaboration with the incoming Finnish Chairpersonship of the OSCE and the Danish Chair of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), hosted a high-level side event to mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a study visit to Albania for eight representatives from various state institutions responsible for preventing and responding to domestic violence. This visit took place from 3 to 6 December 2024, and was facilitated by the OSCE Presence in Albania.

The conference, held on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, was hosted by the Faculty of Law at the "Džemal Bijedić" University in Mostar with support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Science and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission). It served as a vital platform for legal professionals, academics, and policymakers to tackle pressing issues in the effective administration of justice. Through in-depth discussions, participants identified gaps in criminal legislation and its implementation, fostering reform through targeted and evidence-based solutions.

A high-level side event held on 5 December on the margins of the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council in Malta focused on the vital role of free and independent media in fostering democracy and security in the OSCE region.

A high-level side-event held on 5 December on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council marked 20 years of the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality (GAP). Adopted in 2004, the GAP sets a firm political commitment and objectives to advance gender equality across the Organization and in participating States, as an essential prerequisite for peace, security, and sustainable development across the OSCE region.

Titled "Parliaments in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Citizens: The Path to Successful Partnership – Civic Initiative in Parliaments in Bosnia and Herzegovina," the conference brought together over 60 participants, including representatives from BiH parliaments, international organizations, NGOs, the academic community, and guests from the region.

On 5 December, the awarding ceremony for youth start-ups in the Khorezm province was held in Urgench. The event marked the conclusion of the capacity-building programme for youth start-ups in the Khorezm province, co-organized by the OSCE PCUz and IT-Park Uzbekistan and launched in September. The

VALLETTA, 5 December 2024 — “In times of war and multiple crises, the OSCE is needed more than ever as one of the last open channels of communication in Europe,” said OSCE Chair-in-Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta Ian Borg at the opening of the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council in Malta today. He reminded the assembled foreign ministers, state secretaries and high-level officials from the 57 OSCE participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation that the pressing security challenges in the region can only be resolved through diplomacy and political will.

From 2 to 5 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe facilitated a visit for five representatives from the Association of Women’s Councils within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Tajikistan to Chișinău, Moldova.

VALLETTA, 4 December 2024 — The 2024 OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference, held today in Malta, underscored the important role of civil society in promoting peace, security and democratic resilience across the OSCE region. Civil society representatives from across the region discussed ongoing challenges and presented actionable recommendations to OSCE leaders and participating States ahead of the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council from 5 to 6 December.

On 4 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) collaborated with the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to organize the International Scientific and Practical Conference titled "The Prevention of Corruption as a Mechanism for Protecting Human Rights and Ensuring the Efficiency of Governance: Current Status and Prospects."

Today’s joint session of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) parliamentary committees continues the dialogue on institutional responses to domestic and gender-based violence, emphasizing victim-centered services and strategies for managing perpetrators.

From 26 to 28 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Montenegrin Police Academy, organized three training courses for police cadets in Danilovgrad.

The second session of the Youth Parliament, hosted by the Parliament of Montenegro and organized by the Youth Network of Montenegro with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, was held on 2 December in Podgorica.

Two OSCE-supported surveys on the role of youth organizations in Ukraine in times of war were presented at the Youth Work Forum "United by the Light", held from 28 November to 1 December 2024 in Kyiv. The event, organized in partnership with the OSCE Support Programme for Ukraine, gathered around 300 youth representatives from across the country to discuss current challenges and exchange best practices.

From 29 November to 1 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD), in collaboration with the Agency of Land Reclamation and Irrigation, successfully held a three-day training focused on developing strategic documents for water governance and management.

WARSAW, 30 November 2024 – The action of law enforcement officials while policing peaceful protests in Georgia is of deep concern and a serious breach of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today after police used

From 25 to 29 November, the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the French Gendarmerie, the French Ministry of the Interior, and other key institutions, brought participants from the Moldovan General Police Inspectorate, General Inspectorate of the Border Police and the Customs Service to the French Gendarmerie for a study visit focused on canine (K9) capabilities.

On 29 November, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department organized a workshop on cyber incident classification for 14 cyber security policy and technical experts comprising 6 men and 8 women in Chisinau.

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) brought 19 young innovators and start-uppers from the Western Balkans to Graz, Austria from November 27 to 29 to participate in the European Young Innovator’s (EYI) festival.

In November 2024, the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Financial Monitoring Agency of Kazakhstan hosted two specialized training sessions on the criminal use of virtual assets and blockchain technology. Organized by the OSCE in collaboration with national agencies, these workshops underscored the importance of mitigating money laundering risks and enhancing investigative capacities in the digital financial realm.

On 29 November 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a one-day training course in Dushanbe titled “Perspectives and Development of Psychological Assistance to Victims of Natural and Technological Disasters,” in collaboration with the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defence of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

From 25 to 28 November, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and the Border Troops and Customs Committee of Uzbekistan held a national training course for border and customs officers to identify suspected foreign terrorist fighters and other criminals at border crossings.

The 2024 European Parliament elections were genuinely competitive, with fundamental freedoms respected. The elections were run professionally and effectively, and the bodies administering them enjoyed a high level of confidence. Aspects of electoral legislation needing further review related primarily to insufficient efforts to involve under-represented groups to form a fully inclusive parliament, differences in voting and candidacy rights across Member States that created unequal conditions for universal suffrage, disinformation and instances of political violence and threats during the campaign both against politicians and journalists, an absence of provisions allowing both citizen and international observers to access the process, and limited transparency and scope of campaign finance regulations.

From 3 to 5 December, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania, organized a targeted training session to support the launch and implementation of a pilot youth crime prevention programme in the Kamza municipality, Albania.

On 6 and 7 November 2024, more than 50 regional stakeholders gathered in Peshkopi to discuss joint approaches to reducing illegal logging in the four protected areas of Korab-Koritnik, Mavrovo, Shar Mountain and Sharri/Šara. The meeting was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania and the think tank adelphi.

BELGRADE, 28 November 2024 – The OSCE Mission to Serbia awarded the 2024 Person of the Year award to Ivana Stevanović, Executive Director of the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, Veran Matić, President of Association of Independent Electronic Media and member of the Permanent Working Group for Safety of Journalists, and Nemanja Nenadić, Program Director of Transparency Serbia at a ceremony held in Belgrade today.

On 27 and 28 November 2024, 22 officials from various government institutions in Turkmenistan, including the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance, the Financial Monitoring Agency, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, participated in a specialized workshop on preventing and investigating the criminal use of virtual assets and blockchain-based finance. The event took place in Ashgabat and was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA).

Croatia’s 2024 early parliamentary elections were competitive, offering voters a broad range of political choices. The legal framework generally provided a sound basis for holding democratic elections, and the election administration enjoyed full confidence in managing all stages of the process. While the media landscape is diverse, concerns remain about the concentration of media ownership and the political affiliation of many media outlets, including the public broadcaster, as well as the high volume of pending litigation against journalists.

On 26 and 27 November, the OSCE trained 14 staff from the Moldovan People’s Advocate Office (Ombuds institution) on the effective handling of human rights cases and inquiries into the security sector during a workshop held in Chisinau. The participants explored good practices in processing complaints related to the security sector, conducting investigations and producing reports.

On 28-29 November 2024, the expert roundtable titled “Gender-Sensitive, Child-Friendly, and Trauma-Informed Justice: Best Practices, Challenges, and Needs” was held in Tashkent. The event was organized jointly by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), the Supreme Court, the Prosecutor

On 22 November 2024, 25 government officials from Central Asia gathered in Ashgabat for a Regional Conference on “Critical Infrastructure Protection in Central Asia: Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Security”. The event was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in co-operation with the Government of Turkmenistan.

On 25-26 November, 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana (the Office), in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) and the “Union of Crisis Centers of Kazakhstan” organized a regional conference titled “Domestic Violence Counteraction Systems in Central Asia: Correctional Programs for Aggressors” in Almaty, Kazakhstan.