News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
ODIHR Director Link joined by Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner and civil society at launch of project in Kyiv
Publishing date: 24 April 2015
KYIV, 24 April 2015 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), was joined in Kyiv today by Valeriya Lutkovska, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, for the launch of ODIHR’s new two-year project. Following Director Link’s public lecture on the subject of civil society, democracy and human rights, ODIHR engaged representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the civil society and academia in a panel discussion on the vital role civil society plays as Ukraine takes critical steps to advance democracy, protect human rights and address discrimination.
Freedoms of association and assembly cornerstones of democracy and security, say participants at OSCE meeting
Publishing date: 16 April 2015
VIENNA, 16 April 2015 – The freedoms of association and assembly are the cornerstone of a vibrant, pluralistic and participatory democracy, and restrictions to these can only be allowed in line with relevant international standards and commitments, participants said today at the opening of a two-day OSCE meeting in Vienna...
OSCE/ODIHR Civil Society Forum focuses on strengthening role of associations in public decision-making processes
Publishing date: 16 April 2015
Some 40 civil society representatives from more than 25 OSCE participating States discussed the participation of associations in public decision-making processes at the Civil Society Forum organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 15 and 16 April 2015 in Vienna.
OSCE/ODIHR regional roundtable discusses electoral dispute resolution
Publishing date: 10 March 2015
Existing practices on electoral dispute resolution were the focus of a roundtable meeting organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 9 and 10 March 2015, in Warsaw.
OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission launch guidelines on freedom of association
Publishing date: 5 March 2015
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, launched a new human rights publication offering advice and expertise on how to legislate on and advocate for freedom of association on the margins of the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva on 5 March 2015.
OSCE Mission to Serbia and ODIHR support strengthening women’s role in political and public life
Publishing date: 3 March 2015
Furthering dialogue between women parliamentarians from South East Europe and paths for advancing women’s participation in political and public life was the focus of the regional conference “Equal and Empowered – Stronger Together”, held on 2-3 March 2015 in Belgrade, Serbia...
OSCE/ODIHR workshop in Armenia highlights the importance of transparent policy-making and legislative planning
Publishing date: 24 February 2015
Evidence-based policy-making and legislative planning were the focus of a workshop in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and the OSCE Office in Yerevan on 23 and 24 February 2015.