Newsroom
News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE PA launches COVID-19 response web page, prepares first webinar
Publishing date: 20 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 20 April 2020 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly published today a new web page covering the Assembly’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic...
Joint Statement on the Role of Parliaments in a Time of Pandemic
Publishing date: 16 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN / STRASBOURG / BRUSSELS, 16 April 2020 – The Presidents of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA) issued the following joint statement:
OSCE parliamentarians endorse UN SG’s global ceasefire call, discuss European response to COVID-19 pandemic and plan PA activities
Publishing date: 9 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 9 April 2020 – The leadership of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on Wednesday agreed to endorse a call by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres for a worldwide ceasefire, emphasizing that a number of conflicts continue to rage in the OSCE area even as countries struggle to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Data can help save lives, but must be managed with great caution, say OSCE PA human rights leaders
Publishing date: 8 April 2020
COPENHAGEN, 8 April 2020 – As countries across the OSCE region are gathering data, including on people’s geographical movements, the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee called for careful consideration to privacy concerns.
Urgent action needed on migrants and asylum seekers at risk of COVID-19, says OSCE PA’s Cederfelt
Publishing date: 3 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 3 April 2020 – The coronavirus crisis has added new urgency to addressing the deplorable conditions that many migrants and refugees face in camps and detention facilities across the OSCE area, said OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden) today. She highlighted in particular the situation of the camps on the Greek Aegean islands, which have long been at a critical point.
PA human rights officials appeal to allow OSCE monitors to do their jobs in Ukraine following denials by armed formations
Publishing date: 2 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
COPENHAGEN, 2 April 2020 – Following reports that armed formations in eastern Ukraine have repeatedly blocked OSCE Special Monitoring Mission officials from crossing checkpoints, senior OSCE Parliamentary Assembly officials urged greater constructive engagement.
Protection from domestic violence urgently needed for women and children under stay-at-home orders, say OSCE officials
Publishing date: 2 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Human rights, Gender equality
VIENNA / COPENHAGEN / WARSAW, 2 April 2020 – Noting a troubling rise in domestic violence in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and self-isolation guidelines in many countries, OSCE leaders called today for measures to be taken by governments to protect women and children. They said that unfortunately, for them home is not always a safe haven, as they are the most susceptible to abuse and need increased protection in these extraordinary times and urged authorities to ensure that they are kept safe from abusers.