Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

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.

OSCE/ODIHR shares expertise with citizen election observer groups in Tunisia

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) provided expertise on effective election observation reporting at a workshop for leaders of Tunisian citizen election observer groups in Tunis on 16 and 17 May 2013...
Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, addresses the Regional Expert Roundtable on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings in Central Asia, Bishkek, 15 May 2013.

OSCE/ODIHR regional roundtable supports development of efficient criminal legal aid mechanisms in Central Asia

Representatives of ministries of justice, working groups on legal aid laws and the judiciary, as well as members of bar associations, international organizations and civil society organizations in Central Asia exchanged their views on the latest developments in legislation on criminal legal aid during a roundtable event held in Bishkek on 15 and16 May 2013...
File photo: The Albanian parliament in a plenary sitting.

OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for parliamentary elections in Albania

TIRANA, 15 May 2015 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission to monitor the 23 June parliamentary elections in Albania...

OSCE/ODIHR election observers to hold press conference in Tirana on Wednesday

TIRANA, 14 May 2013 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference in Tirana on Wednesday, 15 May for the formal opening of the election observation mission for the 23 June 2013 parliamentary elections in Albania...
A member of ODIHR's Legislative Support Unit reviews a piece of legislation following a request from an OSCE participating State.

ODIHR reviews Armenia’s draft Criminal Procedure Code

The draft Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia generally complies with international standards, although certain provisions could benefit from further consideration, concludes an opinion published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 14 May 2013...
The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights is hosting a Human Dimension Seminar on protecting and promoting free media, Warsaw,13 May 2013.

Good laws, political leadership necessary for media freedom, says OSCE Permanent Council Chair, in Warsaw

WARSAW, 13 May 2013 –The implementation of good laws and sharing of best practices are essential to fulfilling OSCE commitments on media freedom, the Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk of Ukraine, told participants at a human dimension seminar on media freedom legal framework today...
A polling-commission member stamps ballots at a polling station in Sofia during parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, 12 May 2013.

Bulgaria’s elections competitive and well run, but trust in process is lacking, international observers say

SOFIA, 13 May 2013 – Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections on 12 May were held in a competitive environment, fundamental freedoms were respected, and the administration of elections was well managed, although the campaign was overshadowed by a number of incidents that diminished trust in state institutions and the process was negatively affected by pervasive allegations of vote-buying, international observers said in a statement today...
Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar. ODIHR opened its first-ever election observation mission to Mongolia on 13 May 2013.

OSCE/ODIHR opens election observation mission for presidential election in Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR, 13 May 2013 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission to monitor the 26 June presidential election in Mongolia...
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Video: The Cause is Ours

“The Cause is Ours” is an ODIHR-supported video featuring interviews of Roma women who have made significant contributions to policy development at the international and national levels.
In this ODIHR-supported video, we hear from four Roma women working as agents of change within their communities.

OSCE/ODIHR Annual Report 2012

ODIHR's Annual Report 2012 provides an overview of the Office's primary activities in the areas of elections, human rights, democratization, tolerance and non-discrimination, and Roma and Sinti issues.
ODIHR's annual report provides an overview of the Office's primary activities in the areas of elections, human rights, democratization, tolerance and non-discrimination, and Roma and Sinti issues.