News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Monitoring and addressing the human rights challenges faced by Roma fleeing Ukraine discussed at ODIHR event
Publishing date: 3 October 2022
The importance of monitoring and addressing racist and discriminatory practices against Roma who have fled Ukraine amid the ongoing military conflict was the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights on 3 October 2022. The discussion took place in
Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were competitive but concerns remained over failed reforms and divisive rhetoric, international observers say
Publishing date: 3 October 2022
SARAJEVO, 3 October 2022 – The general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were competitive and overall well organised with fundamental freedoms respected during the campaign. However, failed reform efforts, a widespread mistrust in public institutions, and ethnically divisive rhetoric continued to mark the election environment, international observers said in a statement today.
Fundamental freedoms generally respected in competitive Bulgarian elections, but process marked by voter fatigue, international observers say
Publishing date: 3 October 2022
SOFIA, 3 October 2022 – Bulgaria’s 2 October early parliamentary elections were competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected, although allegations of vote-buying and pressure on voters negatively affected parts of the process, international observers said in a statement today. Despite a late start to the preparations and the limited technical and administrative capacity of the election administration, the elections were organized adequately, the statement says.
New Head of OSCE Mission to Moldova Ambassador Kelly Keiderling takes office
Publishing date: 3 October 2022
CHISINAU, 3 October 2022 – Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, appointed by the Polish OSCE Chairmanship as the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, takes office today. She will also serve as the OSCE mediator in the Transdniestrian Settlement Process.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau, Parliamentary Assembly President Cederfelt, OSCE Secretary General Schmid and OSCE PA Secretary General Montella condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory
Publishing date: 30 September 2022
WARSAW/VIENNA/COPENHAGEN, 30 September 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden), OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella, unanimously and categorically condemn the Russian Federation’s illegal annexation of territory in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts of Ukraine, as well as the continued occupation of Crimea.
Links between media freedom and democracy, safety of journalists, and encryption focus of OSCE Media Freedom Representative participation at Warsaw Conference
Publishing date: 30 September 2022
WARSAW, 30 September 2022- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, concluded today her participation in the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, where she and her Office engaged in various discussions with OSCE participating States, civil society organizations, OSCE Institutions, representatives of inter-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders on a range of media freedom issues and challenges.
Collective efforts needed to address all forms of intolerance, including hate crime, say ODIHR event participants
Publishing date: 30 September 2022
Addressing intolerance in all its forms requires a collective effort from political and community leaders, policymakers, criminal justice officials, civil society actors and representatives of faith-based organizations, among others, concluded participants in an ODIHR event held in Warsaw on 29