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Office for Democratic Institutions and Human RightsOffice for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

About

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.

Press releases

Head of OSCE human rights office warns against stigmatizing Roma and Travellers

ODIHR Director Ambassador Janez Lenarcic during a press conference at the High-Level Conference on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination, Astana, 30 June 2010. (OSCE/Velimir Alic)

WARSAW, 30 August 2010 - Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, said today he shared concerns about recent developments in France affecting Roma migrants and Travellers...

OSCE observers arrive in Bosnia and Herzegovina to observe general elections

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Sarajevo during the 1 October 2006 general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (OSCE/Urdur Gunnarsdottir)

WARSAW, 30 August 2010 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the general elections to be held in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 October...

More press releases

Features

Building trust between the police and Roma and Sinti communities

Hungarian police officer Gabriella Bán (r) at a press conference on the launch of a guide on building trust and understanding between police and Roma and Sinti, with ODIHR's Andrzej Mirga and SPMU's Kevin Carty, Vienna, 21 May 2010. (OSCE/Curtis Budden)

The OSCE has been working with police forces and Roma and Sinti communities to overcome a history of abuse and mistrust.

Living up to the legacy? The OSCE's landmark human rights document turns 20

In 1990, the OSCE's participating States signed the Copenhagen Document, which introduced numerous new commitments in the areas of democratic elections, human rights, and the rule of law, among others. (OSCE/Curtis Budden)

With a conference coming up on 10-11 June to mark the 20th anniversary of the Copenhagen Document, we reflect on what the document has meant to the Organization.

More features

Sergei Ostav, a member of ODIHR's Panel on Freedom of Assembly, is recorded as he gives a presentation in Tashkent on 15 July 2010 during a roundtable on political parties in Uzbekistan. (OSCE/Murod Makhmudov)

Sergei Ostav, a member of ODIHR's Panel on Freedom of Assembly, is recorded as he gives a presentation in Tashkent on 15 July 2010 during a roundtable on political parties in Uzbekistan. (OSCE/Murod Makhmudov)

Documents

Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Promoting Gender Balance and Participation of Women in Political and Public Life: Final Report

PDF English (800 KB)

Judicial Independence in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus, and Central Asia - Challenges, Reforms and Way Forward: Meeting Report

PDF English (462 KB), Russian (214 KB)
View as HTML: English, Russian

Hungary, Parliamentary Elections, 11 April 2010: Election Assessment Mission Report

PDF English (281 KB)
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Sweden, General Elections, 19 September 2010: Needs Assessment Mission Report

PDF English (152 KB)
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Kyrgyzstan, Constitutional Referendum, 27 June 2010: Final Report

PDF English (297 KB), Kyrgyz (414 KB), Russian (465 KB)
View as HTML: English, Kyrgyz, Russian

United States, Mid-term Elections, 2 November 2010: Needs Assessment Mission Report

PDF English (128 KB)
View as HTML: English

Azerbaijan, Parliamentary Elections, 7 November 2010: Needs Assessment Mission Report

PDF English (119 KB), Azerbaijani (265 KB)
View as HTML: English