Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

In recognition of the fundamental nature of the right to a fair trial, the OSCE participating States have committed themselves to permit national and international observers to monitor trials.

ODIHR trial-monitoring activities, which have been developed on the basis of this commitment, encourage compliance with national and international fair-trial standards and ultimately aim to increase the transparency of, and public confidence in, the legal system.

Implemented in co-operation with governments and OSCE field missions, the ODIHR's trial-monitoring programme provides training in national and international fair-trial standards and trial-monitoring methodology and co-ordinates monitoring activities, while providing continual feedback and support. In particular, the programme:

• Trains lawyers and members of NGOs to monitor trials and to report accurately on their compliance with national and international standards;
• Obtains systematic and impartial information on trials from the perspective of their compliance with national and international fair-trial standards; and
• Identifies areas where reform is needed and makes appropriate recommendations to rectify such situations.