News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
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.
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
Creative ways to strengthen Holocaust education and commemoration among youth discussed at ODIHR event
Publishing date: 29 September 2022
Creative approaches that harness the power of technology and the arts can strengthen youth engagement in Holocaust education and commemoration activities, agreed participants in an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 29 September 2022. The
ODIHR opens election observation mission to the United States
Publishing date: 29 September 2022
WASHINGTON D.C., 29 September 2022 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 8 November midterm congressional elections in the United States, following an invitation from the national authorities.
Ensuring and monitoring the right to freedom of peaceful assembly during pandemic the focus of ODIHR event
Publishing date: 28 September 2022
Challenges and good practices in ensuring the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, including at times of pandemic, were discussed at an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 28 September 2022 on the margins of the Warsaw Human Dimension
Moscow Mechanism expert presents report to OSCE Permanent Council on the Russian Federation
Publishing date: 22 September 2022
The OSCE Moscow Mechanism rapporteur Professor Angelika Nussberger presented findings collected in the ‘Report on Russia’s Legal and Administrative Practice in Light of its OSCE Human Dimension Commitments’ to the OSCE Permanent Council on 22 September 2022.
OSCE heads condemn plan to hold illegal “referenda” in occupied territories of Ukraine
Publishing date: 20 September 2022
COPENHAGEN/WARSAW/VIENNA, 20 September 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt and Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, condemned the plans to hold “referenda” on Ukraine’s occupied territories.