News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
States of emergency stress-testing democracy, OSCE parliamentarians hear in COVID-focused webinar
Publishing date: 8 May 2020
COPENHAGEN, 8 May 2020 – More than 50 members of parliament from across the OSCE region participated in an online discussion today focused on the human rights consequences and democratic challenges posed by responses to the COVID-19 pandemic...
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan provided personal protection equipment for the staff of the Ombudsperson’s Secretariat and Regional Representations
Publishing date: 6 May 2020
On 5 May, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, John MacGregor handed over personal protection equipment (PPE) to the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsperson), Mr Ulugbek Mukhammadiev. The PPE is intended to help protect the staff of the Ombudsperson’s Secretariat and Regional Representatives from contracting COVID-19 when performing their official functions. This may include visiting and monitoring closed institutions, including quarantine facilities and penal colonies.
Don’t forget those behind bars during coronavirus pandemic, OSCE PA human rights leaders say
Publishing date: 29 April 2020
COPENHAGEN, 29 April 2020 – As COVID-19 continues spreading quickly in many jails and prisons, some countries are releasing inmates on humanitarian grounds, a move welcomed today by leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee. The parliamentarians echoed calls by United Nations officials and the World Health Organization for governments to drastically reduce prison populations...
Comprehensive security approach needed for global response to COVID-19, OSCE leaders say ahead of International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
Publishing date: 23 April 2020
TIRANA/COPENHAGEN/VIENNA/WARSAW/THE HAGUE, 23 April 2020 – The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace tomorrow will be marked with a heightened appreciation for the importance of comprehensive security and greater sense of urgency for the need to strengthen international co-operation, said the Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council and heads of OSCE institutions in a statement today...
Parliaments vital for strong democracies in times of crisis, OSCE human rights and parliamentary heads say
Publishing date: 21 April 2020
Warsaw/Copenhagen, 21 April 2020 – A strong role for parliaments is crucial to the transparency and accountability of government measures as the COVID-19 pandemic puts our democracies to the test, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said in a statement today...
Inclusion and not hatred needed to overcome the common crisis we face, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 17 April 2020
WARSAW, 17 April 2020 – It is only through the strength of our diversity that we will overcome the health crisis we are facing as well as the economic and social challenges likely to follow, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today in response to the spate of racist slogans and attacks that have followed the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic...
OSCE held a training on human rights and gender mainstreaming for young officers of Tajikistan’s Drugs Control Agency
Publishing date: 9 April 2020
The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a three-day training seminar for officers of the Drugs Control Agency of Tajikistan (DCA) from 7 to 9 April 2020 in Dushanbe. The course trained participants on how to protect human rights and promote gender aspects in the daily work of law enforcement agencies. Some 25 young officers from DCA participated. This initiative was part of a 15-day special training for young employees of the DCA, who recently started their career in the law enforcement sector.