News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE/ODIHR Director Link expresses concern over Navalny conviction
Publishing date: 8 February 2017
WARSAW, 8 February 2017 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today expressed concern over the conviction by a Kirov court of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny on charges of embezzlement...
ODIHR Director Link reiterates absolute prohibition of torture is not up for re-consideration, expresses concern about statements by President Trump
Publishing date: 27 January 2017
WARSAW, 27 January 2017 – Today, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed profound concern about public statements made by President of the United States of America Donald Trump characterizing the use of torture as an effective tactic to counter terrorism...
OSCE PA’s human rights Chair raises concerns over Hungarian proposal for asylum seekers
Publishing date: 18 January 2017
COPENHAGEN, 18 January 2017 – Responding today to a proposed plan by the Hungarian government to hold all asylum seekers in detention centres for the entire duration of their application process on national security grounds, Spanish parliamentarian and Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee Ignacio Sanchez Amor called on Hungary to respect the rights of asylum seekers on its territory...
OSCE/ODIHR Director reiterates need for swift closure of Guantanamo Bay detention facility
Publishing date: 11 January 2017
WARSAW, 11 January 2017 – On the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), reiterated the need for the United States to proceed with the closure of the facility without further delay...
OSCE PA’s Sanchez Amor regrets failure to close Guantanamo on eve of 15th anniversary
Publishing date: 10 January 2017
COPENHAGEN, 10 January 2017 – On the eve of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility’s 15th anniversary, Spanish parliamentarian Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, reiterated longstanding concerns over the prison and the practice of indefinite detention...
Celebrate Human Rights Day by renewing commitments, say OSCE PA human rights committee leaders
Publishing date: 10 December 2016
COPENHAGEN, 10 December 2016 – Leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee today marked Human Rights Day with calls for a greater commitment to fundamental freedoms and basic rights across the OSCE area...
Protection of human rights defenders is vital to realize OSCE human rights commitments, says OSCE/ODIHR Director Link
Publishing date: 9 December 2016
HAMBURG, 9 December 2016 – The protection of human rights defenders is essential for OSCE participating States to realize their human dimension commitments in practice, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today at the close of the 23rd OSCE Ministerial Council, in advance of international Human Rights Day on 10 December...