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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Parliaments vital for strong democracies in times of crisis, OSCE human rights and parliamentary heads say
Publishing date: 21 April 2020
Content type: Press release
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Rule of law
Warsaw/Copenhagen, 21 April 2020 – A strong role for parliaments is crucial to the transparency and accountability of government measures as the COVID-19 pandemic puts our democracies to the test, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said in a statement today...
Newly declared states of emergency must include a time limit and parliamentary oversight, OSCE human rights head says
Publishing date: 30 March 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights
WARSAW, 30 March 2020 – Emergency legislation being adopted by governments across the OSCE region must include a time limit and guarantee parliamentary oversight, said the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) ahead of a vote in Hungary to extend emergency measures earlier adopted in the EU member state. ODIHR is systematically monitoring the content and consequences of the states of emergency being declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic...
ODIHR encourages Belarus to continue work on strengthened judicial independence, promotion of human rights and support for women leaders
Publishing date: 27 February 2020
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Gender equality, Rule of law
Greater efforts and co-operation are needed to achieve a more independent justice system, educate citizens about human rights and strengthen women’s leadership in Belarus, said Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), addressing
It’s time for women to lead in politics, say participants in ODIHR Finland/Poland roundtable
Publishing date: 17 December 2019
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights
Now is the time for women to boost their representation in political leadership positions, said politicians, government officials, diplomats, civil society representatives and activists from Poland and Finland, who gathered in Warsaw on 17 December 2019 to explore ways of increasing women’s
Promoting the participation of under-represented groups vital in truly democratic societies, says OSCE/ODIHR Director ahead of International Day of Democracy
Publishing date: 14 September 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Gender equality, Roma and Sinti, Youth
WARSAW, 13 September 2018 – More must be done to promote the participation of under-represented groups in political decision making if we are to ensure effective, truly democratic governance and societies, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said today, ahead of tomorrow’s International Day of Democracy.
ODIHR launches two-year EU-funded project on promoting democratization and human rights in Belarus
Publishing date: 19 June 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights, Rule of law
MINSK, 19 June 2018 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today launched the two-year, European Union-funded project “Promoting Democratization and Human Rights in Belarus”, with two days of seminars in Minsk focusing on fair-trial rights...
ODIHR Director urges Armenian authorities to protect and ensure right to freedom of peaceful assembly
Publishing date: 19 April 2018
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
What we do: Democratization, Human rights
WARSAW, 19 April 2018 – Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today urged the authorities in Armenia to protect and ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in the country, as protests there continue...