Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Voting takes place during Kazakhstan's early parliamentary elections, Astana, 15 January 2012. (OSCE/Jens Eschenbaecher)

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is based in Warsaw, Poland. It is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of election observation, democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and rule of law.

Cover from report on the conference, on Electoral Good Practice, Political Participation, Justice and Legal Reform held 4-5 December 2011 in Vilnius.

OSCE and Mediterranean civil society groups recommend increased Organization engagement to support transitions in the Mediterranean region

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released on 26 January 2012 a report summarizing the discussions and the recommendations agreed at the OSCE - Mediterranean Partner Countries' Civil Society Conference, held in Vilnius on 4-5 December 2011 ahead of the OSCE Ministerial Council...

St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow. OSCE/ODIHR formally opened its observation mission to monitor the upcoming 4 March 2012 presidential elections in the Russian Federation on 26 January 2012.

OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for Russian presidential election

MOSCOW, 26 January 2012 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened its election observation mission to monitor the upcoming 4 March presidential election in the Russian Federation...

As a precaution against fraud, each voter's finger was marked with ink during Albania's 2009 parliamentary elections, Elbasan, 28 June 2009.

ODIHR working with Albania on planned election law amendments

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will provide expertise to Albania’s Special Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reform, including through expert team visits to Tirana, in 2012...

A lion stands guard outside the presidential palace in Warsaw, Poland.

Poland’s parliamentary elections pluralistic and democratic, but some concerns over late legal amendments, says ODIHR final report

Poland’s 9 October 2011 parliamentary elections were pluralistic and democratic, although late changes to electoral laws impacted on the stability of the legal framework, the final report released by ODIHR on 18 January 2012 concludes...

Election commission members counting ballots during early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, Astana, 15 January 2012.

Kazakhstan’s parliamentary vote, though well administered, did not meet key democratic principles

ASTANA, 16 January 2012 – Notwithstanding the government’s stated ambition to strengthen Kazakhstan’s democratic processes and conduct elections in line with international standards, the early parliamentary vote still did not meet fundamental principles of democratic elections, international observers concluded in a statement issued today...

Voters casting their ballots during the Russian State Duma elections, Moscow, 4 December 2011.

OSCE/ODIHR final report on Russian Duma elections says contest ‘slanted in favour of the ruling party’

A report released by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 12 January 2012 said that, although December’s Russian State Duma elections were technically well-administered, the contest was marked by the convergence of the state and the governing party...

ODIHR Director Ambassador Janez Lenarčič. Warsaw, May 2011.

OSCE human rights chief dismayed at continued practice of detention without trial at Guantánamo

WARSAW, 10 January 2012 – On the eve of tomorrow’s tenth anniversary of the transfer of the first detainees to the United States naval base in Guantánamo Bay, Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed dismay today at the continued practice of indefinite detention without charge or trial of terrorism suspects...

OSCE/ODIHR observers following the presidential and municipal elections in Bulgaria, Sofia, 23 October 2011.

Bulgaria’s October elections characterized by respect for rights and freedoms, but allegations of vote-buying underscore need for reform

Bulgaria’s presidential and municipal elections in October were generally characterized by a respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, but pervasive allegations of vote-buying underscored the need for continued reform, the final report released by ODIHR on 5 January 2012 concludes...