WHO: Alcohol does not protect against COVID-19; access should be restricted during Lockdown
Alcohol is known to be harmful to health in general, and is well understood to increase the risk of injury and violence, including intimate partner violence, and can cause…
growinPresence of COVID‑19 in sub-Saharan Africa threatens the same Human Costs as elsewhere
The growing presence of COVID‑19 in sub-Saharan Africa threatens the same human costs as elsewhere in the world. The economic costs could be just as devastating. Sweeping measures For…
117 Million Children at risk of missing out on Measles Vaccines, as COVID-19 surges
“As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, over 117 million children in 37 countries may miss out on receiving life-saving measles vaccine. Measles immunization campaigns in 24 countries have already…
COVID-19 Pandemic is a Crisis like no other, it feels like a War, and in many ways it is
The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis like no other. It feels like a war, and in many ways it is. People are dying. Medical professionals are on the front…
25 IMF’s Member Countries approved Immediate Debt Service Relief
Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued the following statement: “Today, I am pleased to say that our Executive Board approved immediate debt…
EIB Group contributes 5.2 Billion Euros to Countries outside EU to combat COVID-19
The European Investment Bank Group, the bank of the European Union, today announced details of a comprehensive response to the coronavirus pandemic outside the EU that will provide…
WhatsApp to get Real Time Health Information to Billions around the World
WhatsApp today announced the launch of two initiatives in support of the global fight against the Coronavirus pandemic: the global launch of the WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub in partnership with the…
Remembering Srebrenica welcomes the guilty plea of the Christchurch Mosque Terrorist
Remembering Srebrenica welcomes the guilty plea of the Christchurch Mosque terrorist and is relieved the hate-filled Serbian ideology which inspired the murder of 51 innocent Muslims will not get the…
IMF and World Bank are implementing a Joint Plan amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Mr. David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, today issued the following statement: “Like everyone…
EU set Plans for Response to Support Partner Countries’ Efforts in tackling the Coronavirus Pandemic
Today, the European Commission and the High Representative set out plans for a robust and targeted EU response to support partner countries’ efforts in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.…
Roma People have contributed to Europe’s Diversity and enriched Heritage for Centuries
On the occasion of International Roma Day on 8 April, Vice-President Vĕra Jourová and Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli issued the following statement: “We are in extraordinary times of…
Court Hearings at The Hague branch have been postponed until June 2020
Since the confirmation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mechanism has been closely following developments in each of the countries where its branches and field offices are located, as well…
Remembering Srebrenica unveils new Online Learning Resources for Teachers during Coronavirus Shutdown
Remembering Srebrenica has launched brand new online education resources for teachers to use during the unprecedented coronavirus school shutdown. With teachers across the country in need of quality online…
EU will secure Financial Support to Partner Countries amounting to more than 15.6 Billion Euros
Today, the European Commission and the High Representative set out plans for a robust and targeted EU response to support partner countries’ efforts in tackling the coronavirus pandemic. The…
Debt Relief for the poorest Countries Critical in Fight against COVID-19
“COVID-19 is generating an unprecedented global economic crisis. And as we witness in all such crises, this economic destruction is cruelly and unequally distributed. “For the world’s poorest countries,…
Number of confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Africa has risen to more than 10,000
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has risen to more than 10 000 and caused more than 500 deaths. While the virus was slow to reach the…
Persistent Roma Inequality increases COVID-19 Risk
Overcrowding and poor access to sanitation have long blighted Roma communities across Europe. On the eve of International Roma Day, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the…
FIFA encourage People to be Healthy At Home as the World comes Together in the fight against COVID-19
FIFA has joined forces with the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in supporting the #BeActive campaign launched on the UN International Day of Sport for…
It is Time to think about Life after COVID-19 as the Time doesn’t wait for Anyone
In this article it is not going to be predicted about the future as that can be done by great predictors and analysts. One thing has become clear, that,…
Miroslav Lajcák appointed as EU Special Representative for Western Balkan Regional Issues
The Council today appointed Mr. Miroslav Lajčák as EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues. The tasks of the new EU Special Representative…
Health Crisis will have a significant Economic Fallout, reflecting Shocks to Supply and Demand
This health crisis will have a significant economic fallout, reflecting shocks to supply and demand different from past crises. Substantial targeted policies are needed to support the economy…
Mechanism has been closely following Developments in each of Countries where its Field Offices are located
Since the confirmation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mechanism has been closely following developments in each of the countries where its branches and field offices are located, as well…
Obligation to combat the Exploitation of Vulnerable People becomes most acute
Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, today issued the following statement, in co-ordination with Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship, to the OSCE participating States…
Protection from domestic Violence urgently needed for Women and Children under stay-at-home Orders
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…
EU mobilises immediate Support for its Western Balkan Partners to tackle Coronavirus
As part of the global response to the coronavirus outbreak, the European Commission has announced up to €38 million in immediate support for the Western Balkans to tackle the…
Is Structure key to maintaining a sense of Normalcy during Coronavirus Pandemic in the World?
Parents and children are facing major life disruptions with the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). School closures, physical distancing, it’s a lot to take in and it’s difficult for…
OSCE urges Public Officials in Slovenia to refrain from Pressure on Independence of public Broadcaster
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today regarding the accusations against, and pressure on, the public service broadcaster Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTVS), by…
COVID-19 has struck Europe with stunning Ferocity
COVID-19 has struck Europe with stunning ferocity. While we do not know how long the crisis will last, we know that the economic impact will be severe. In Europe’s…
A Global Approach is the only Way to fight COVID-19
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today launched a $2 billion coordinated global humanitarian response plan to fight COVID-19 in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries in a bid to…
Deadline for nominations for Max van der Stoel Award 2020 extended
The deadline for receiving nominations for the Max van der Stoel Award 2020 has been extended to 30 April 2020. The award of 50,000 euros recognizes extraordinary and…
WHO Director-General calls on G20 to unite against Coronavirus
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, addressed Heads of State at today’s extraordinary G20 Leaders’ Summit focused on COVID-19. He told them, “You have come…
WHO, UN Foundation launch COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund
A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Solidarity Response Fund will raise money from a wide range of donors to support the work of the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to…
Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust makes $200 Million available for the world’s Poorest Countries
In direct response to the COVID-19 crisis the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has adopted some immediate enhancements to its Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) to enable…
Strong and coordinated Policy Actions needed to resolve this Global Crisis
International Monetary and Financial Committee Chair Lesetja Kganyago and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva issued the following statement following today’s conference call of the International Monetary and…
Growing Presence of COVID‑19 in sub-Saharan Africa threatens enormous Human Costs
The growing presence of COVID‑19 in sub-Saharan Africa threatens the same human costs as elsewhere in the world. The economic costs could be just as devastating. Sweeping measures For…
Coronavirus Outbreak to have Severe Consequences for Population living in extreme Poverty
The World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund have issued the following joint statement to the G20 concerning debt relief for the poorest countries: The coronavirus outbreak is likely…
OSCE offers Recommendations on short-term Responses to COVID-19 that support Social Cohesion
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier has prepared recommendations for governments to consider in their efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. Based on the experience of…
IMF is Launching a Tracker of Policies Governments are Taking in Response to COVID-19
Governments around the world are taking decisive steps to limit the human and economic impact of COVID-19. Many countries have taken extraordinary monetary and fiscal policy measures. “These measures…
IMF Executive Board Approves 1.3 billion Dollars Extended Arrangement
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a 48-month arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with Jordan for an amount equivalent to SDR 926.37…
Borell: COVID-19 Crisis is not a War but it is ‘war-like’ in that it requires the Mobilisation
The COVID-19 crisis is not a war but it is ‘war-like’ in that it requires the mobilisation and direction of resources at unprecedented levels. Solidarity between countries and…
Five Steps to kicking out Coronavirus
FIFA, the international governing body of football, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by…
OSCE: Сoronavirus Response should not impede the Work of the Media
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about recent interferences regarding media content by the media regulatory agency in Russia, Roskomnadzor, in…
Désir expressed his Concerns about Provisions of the Coronavirus Response Draft Bill in Hungary
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concerns today about provisions of the coronavirus response draft bill in Hungary that could negatively impact…
IMF: Human Costs of the Coronavirus Pandemic are already immeasurable
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva made the following statement today following a conference call of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors: “The human costs of the…
COVID-19 is highlighting how vulnerable People with Lung Diseases and weakened Immune Systems can be
New World Health Organization (WHO) guidance will help countries accelerate efforts to stop people with tuberculosis (TB) infection becoming sick with TB by giving them preventive treatment. A quarter…
Impact of COVID-19 and the Oil Price Plunge in the Middle East
The impact of COVID-19 and the oil price plunge in the Middle East and the Caucasus and Central Asia has been substantial and could intensify. With three-quarters of…
OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemn violent Attack against Journalists
The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jan Braathu, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned the physical attack that was reported…
In Europe and in the World, all Minds are focused on Actions to tackle the Outbreak of COVID-19
In Europe and in the world, all minds are focused on actions to tackle the outbreak of COVID-19 and mitigate the effects of the crisis. The European Union works…
Blunting the Impact and Hard Choices: Early Lessons from China
The impact of the coronavirus is having a profound and serious impact on the global economy and has sent policymakers looking for ways to respond. China’s experience so far…
IMF Announces Expedited Appointment of Geoffrey Okamoto as First Deputy Managing Director
The IMF Executive Board has approved the expedited appointment of Mr. Geoffrey Okamoto as First Deputy Managing Director, effective March 19, 2020. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva originally proposed…