News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Awards for promoting universal rights in Armenia presented by OSCE and international partners
Publishing date: 24 June 2016
Armenia’s civil rights activists, government officials, representatives of media and civil society were presented with awards in recognition of their outstanding efforts to promote human rights, rule of law, government reforms and free speech in the country on 23 June 2016 in Yerevan...
On World Refugee Day, OSCE parliamentarians and human trafficking representative call for more humane response to crisis
Publishing date: 20 June 2016
LAMPEDUSA, 20 June 2016 – On the occasion of World Refugee Day, OSCE parliamentarians called on countries across the OSCE region to more equitably share responsibilities towards refugees and migrants, as well as to improve integration measures to ensure that they can contribute to society...
States must protect human rights of refugees and work for sustainable solutions, say OSCE Secretary General Zannier and ODIHR Director Link
Publishing date: 20 June 2016
VIENNA / WARSAW, 20 June 2016 – On the occasion of World Refugee Day, Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), emphasized that any solutions to the refugee crisis in Europe must ensure the dignified treatment and protection of the human rights of all refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons and migrants...
OSCE human rights chief calls for greater efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict and to support victims
Publishing date: 17 June 2016
WARSAW, 17 June 2016 – Today, ahead of Sunday’s International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), reminded states that addressing sexual violence has to be at the centre of conflict-resolution efforts...
Protection of rights of persons detained in psychiatric institutions discussed at OSCE-supported training courses in Kyrgyzstan
Publishing date: 17 June 2016
BISHKEK, 17 June 2016 – To mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with the Centre for the Support of International Protection today concluded training courses in Osh and Bishkek on the human rights of persons subjected to involuntary medical treatment in psychiatric institutions...
Statement by OSCE PA President Kanerva on the murder of British MP Jo Cox
Publishing date: 17 June 2016
COPENHAGEN, 17 June 2016 – In response to yesterday's murder of Jo Cox, a member of the British House of Commons, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland), issued the following statement...
Crisis of leadership in human rights to be debated at OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 25th Annual Session
Publishing date: 16 June 2016
COPENHAGEN, 16 June 2016 – Stressing that a revitalization of the OSCE’s commitment to the human dimension of security is needed at a time when a “crisis of leadership and ideas” is coinciding with a humanitarian emergency related to Europe’s refugee and migrant crisis, a report and draft resolution authored by Serbian parliamentarian Gordana Comic offer fresh approaches to ensuring human rights commitments are upheld by OSCE participating States...