News and press releases

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.