News and press releases

BISHKEK, 23 October 2025 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission (EOM) for the 30 November early parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan, following an invitation from the national authorities and in accordance with its mandate.

Election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) presented their final report on Germany’s 2025 early parliamentary elections in Berlin and discussed its key findings and recommendations.

Poland’s presidential election in May was competitive and efficiently managed but it took place in a highly polarized political environment, which deepened existing divides and impacted the functioning of some key electoral oversight institutions. Fundamental freedoms were respected throughout the vibrant campaign, although the authorities needed to deploy various countermeasures due to challenges from disinformation and foreign interference.

SKOPJE, 20 October 2025 – The campaign was competitive in North Macedonia’s local elections and voters had a wide range of political alternatives to choose from, but they were negatively affected by systemic legal gaps and shortcomings in the oversight of campaign finances as well as political polarization and deep public disenchantment with politics, international observers said in a statement today.

As civil society space shrinks and attacks against activists increase in many places, a growing number of human rights defenders are being forced into exile as they seek a safe environment to continue their work freely and securely. This was the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Araminta, and the World Organisation Against Torture at the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference today.

National human rights institutions (NHRIs) are vital to protect rights and uphold democratic standards, serving as independent watchdogs and a bridge between governments and civil society said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) at a Warsaw Human Dimension Conference side event today.

Victims of human trafficking are often hidden in plain sight, with only a fraction ever identified due to fear, or manipulation and coercion by traffickers. Even after identification, survivors face long and complex challenges that go far beyond immediate support.