News and press releases

COPENHAGEN, 8 April 2020 – As countries across the OSCE region are gathering data, including on people’s geographical movements, the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee called for careful consideration to privacy concerns.

SKOPJE, 6 April 2020- The OSCE Mission to Skopje, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of North Macedonia and the National Network to End Violence against Women and Domestic Violence call upon the relevant actors to make additional efforts to prevent domestic violence during the COVID-19 crisis and to put in place effective victim protection mechanisms...

VIENNA / COPENHAGEN / WARSAW, 2 April 2020 – Noting a troubling rise in domestic violence in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and self-isolation guidelines in many countries, OSCE leaders called today for measures to be taken by governments to protect women and children. They said that unfortunately, for them home is not always a safe haven, as they are the most susceptible to abuse and need increased protection in these extraordinary times and urged authorities to ensure that they are kept safe from abusers.

Op-ed by George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia)

WARSAW, 30 March 2020 – Emergency legislation being adopted by governments across the OSCE region must include a time limit and guarantee parliamentary oversight, said the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) ahead of a vote in Hungary to extend emergency measures earlier adopted in the EU member state. ODIHR is systematically monitoring the content and consequences of the states of emergency being declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic...

WARSAW, 11 March 2020 – An understanding of our common responsibility towards other human beings in distress is urgently needed as a rising number of migrants and refugees find themselves trapped at Turkey’s border with the European Union, said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in a statement today.

Greater efforts and co-operation are needed to achieve a more independent justice system, educate citizens about human rights and strengthen women’s leadership in Belarus, said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), addressing