News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Türkiye elections marked by unlevel playing field yet still competitive, international observers say
Publishing date: 15 May 2023
ANKARA, 15 May 2023 – Characterized by a high turnout, Türkiye’s general elections were well-managed and offered voters a choice between genuine political alternatives, but the current president and the ruling parties enjoyed an unjustified advantage. Continued restrictions on fundamental freedoms of assembly, association and expression hindered the participation of some opposition politicians and parties, as well as civil society and independent media, international observers said in a statement today.
OSCE Secretary General visits Japan, calls for enhanced co-operation to address common challenges
Publishing date: 15 May 2023
TOKYO, 15 May 2023 – OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded a visit to Japan, where she met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi and other officials and also took part in the Munich Security Conference Leaders’ Meeting hosted by Japan ahead of the G7 Summit.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Osmani concludes visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publishing date: 14 May 2023
SARAJEVO, 14 May 2023 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, concluded a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
OSCE facilitates Swedish Agency’s needs assessment visit on Montenegro’s firefighting capacities
Publishing date: 12 May 2023
A needs assessment to evaluate the fire mitigating measures in Montenegro concluded on 12 May, conducted by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) for the Ministry of Defense and with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media concludes her visit to New York and Washington
Publishing date: 12 May 2023
VIENNA, 12 May 2023- Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro concluded her visit to the United States of America from 1 – 5 May, where she presented the Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy and hosted several events on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day in New
OSCE organizes human rights training for lawyers in Samarkand
Publishing date: 12 May 2023
The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan – together with the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan and experts from the Centre de la Protection Internationale (Centre of International Protection) – organized the training titled “International Mechanisms for the Protection of Human Rights in the UN System”, held from 4 to 9 May in Samarkand. The event aimed to further develop the capacity of lawyers to protect and defend and human rights.
OSCE Media Freedom Representative report reveals alarming link between media freedom and democracy erosion in OSCE region
Publishing date: 11 May 2023
VIENNA, 11 May 2023- The current setbacks in media freedom in the OSCE region are not isolated incidents, but are closely linked to the larger political and social contexts in which they occur stated Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Teresa Ribeiro today during the presentation of her bi-annual report to the OSCE Permanent Council.