News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Tajikistan presidential election 2020: OSCE/ODIHR observation mission final report
Publishing date: 29 January 2021
Tajikistan presidential election 2020 The 2020 presidential election in Tajikistan was conducted in a peaceful manner but it took place in a tightly controlled environment, with long-standing restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms. Moreover, there was no space for pluralistic political
Ukraine local elections 2020: OSCE/ODIHR observation mission final report
Publishing date: 29 January 2021
Ukraine local elections 2020 The 2020 Ukraine local elections were effectively organized amid the COVID-19 pandemic and proved more inclusive, but further improvements are required to strengthen the capacity of the election administration and oversight of campaign rules, including related to
Closer co-operation and greater creativity needed to combat contemporary anti-Semitism, OSCE officials say on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Publishing date: 27 January 2021
STOCKHOLM/WARSAW/WASHINGTON, 27 January 2021 – “Co-operation and an ongoing conversation about the changing face of anti-Semitism are crucial to ensure that we do not only commemorate the horrors of the Holocaust but also learn from it for the future,” leading OSCE officials said on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
OSCE human rights office launches survivors’ advisory council to strengthen fight against trafficking in human beings
Publishing date: 25 January 2021
WARSAW, 25 January 2020 – Recognizing the vital importance of reflecting the experience and knowledge of survivors in all endeavours to combat human trafficking, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has launched the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC) to assist countries across the OSCE region increase and improve their anti-trafficking efforts...
Kyrgyzstan’s well-run presidential election impaired by uneven playing field for candidates, international observers say
Publishing date: 11 January 2021
BISHKEK, 11 January 2021 – Despite a large number of candidates and initiatives to improve the election process, the integrity of Kyrgyzstan’s early presidential election was weakened by a major imbalance in the outreach and visibility of the candidates as well as allegations of misuse of public resources, international observers to the presidential election said in a statement today.
Lack of real competition and limitations to fundamental freedoms left voters without genuine choice in Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections, international observers say
Publishing date: 11 January 2021
NUR-SULTAN, 11 January 2021 – While preparations for Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections were efficiently run, an uncompetitive campaign and systemic de facto limitations on constitutionally guaranteed fundamental freedoms left voters without genuine choice, thus missing an opportunity to pilot the announced political reforms, international observers to the parliamentary elections said in a statement today.
ODIHR calls for restraint and respect for the democratic process following US election unrest
Publishing date: 7 January 2021
WARSAW, 7 January 2021 – Watching the increasingly disquieting events unfolding in the United States capital in recent hours following the November general elections, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) voices its concern regarding the integrity of the democratic process, and calls on all sides to keep to the principles of democracy and the rule of law.