News and press releases

WARSAW, 7 September 2022 – Following verdicts against a number of human rights defenders in Belarus in a trial held behind closed doors, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) expressed alarm about the increasing repression of human rights defenders in the country as well as the lack of fair trial guarantees.

The April 2022 presidential election in France was competitive and pluralistic, and fundamental freedoms were respected. Voters were provided with ample and diverse information enabling them to make an informed choice among the 12 candidates, and the election administration worked effectively and

SOFIA, 31 August 2022- The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 2 October early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, following an official invitation from the national authorities.

SARAJEVO, 24 August 2022 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 2 October general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following an official invitation from the national authorities and a needs assessment mission conducted in June this year.

WARSAW, 22 August 2022 — Establishing, maintaining, and accessing places and objects of worship or contemplation are crucial to the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, which applies during conflict and in times of peace, said the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion.

The 3 April 2022 presidential and early parliamentary elections in Serbia presented diverse political options, but a number of shortcomings resulted in an uneven playing field favouring the incumbents. Recent legislative amendments adopted after extensive discussions among the ruling parties and

WARSAW, 2 August 2022 – Governments need to go beyond their responsibility to remember the Roma and Sinti genocide of 1944 to ensure that school curricula and other educational initiatives engage with young people to discuss the potentially dangerous consequences of racist ideologies, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said on today’s Roma Genocide Remembrance Day.