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Rule of law

Scales of justice. (iStockphoto)
Scales of justice. (iStockphoto)

The concept of rule of law forms a cornerstone of the OSCE's human rights and democratization activities. It not only describes formal legal frameworks, but also aims at justice based on the full acceptance of human dignity.

Latest stories

Transitional justice, reconciliation key for restoring confidence in South Eastern Europe, say OSCE mission heads

SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 17 May 2013 – The heads of the OSCE Missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia today called for further efforts in transitional justice and reconciliation to ensure regional stability and prosperity ahead of a two-day conference in Jahorina in Bosnia and Herzegovina... ()

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...

OSCE, EU and UNODC support income-generation activities in Kyrgyzstan’s penitentiary system

BISHKEK, 16 May 2013 – How to develop income-generation activities for prisoners was the topic of a training seminar on 14 to 16 May 2013 in Bishkek. The event was held in the training centre of the state penitentiary service (GSIN) and was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, the European Union, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)... ()

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...

OSCE Office trains young politicians in Azerbaijan on organization, communication skills

The OSCE Office in Baku conducted a three-day train-the-trainers seminar on political party development for youth wings of political parties in Azerbaijan. Some 20 young people attended the event, which took place from 10 to 12 May 2013...

OSCE Centre helps train prosecutors in Kazakhstan on water management issues

ASTANA, 3 May – The OSCE Centre in Astana supported a national online seminar to educate Kazakhstan prosecutors on water management principles, institutional charters, and legislation that concluded today... ()

OSCE Mission Head calls upon the BiH Parliament to re-affirm its commitment to openness and transparency

SARAJEVO, 30 April 2013 – In a letter sent today to members of the Collegium of the House of Representatives of the BiH Parliamentary Assembly, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fletcher M. Burton conveyed his concern about and requested reconsideration of the Collegium’s decision to reject a request by the non-governmental organization Centres for Civic Initiatives (CCI) to attend the Assembly’s most recent session...

OSCE trains new staff of prosecutor’s offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina on war crimes processing

New staff of four cantonal and four district prosecutor’s offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina completed on 19 April 2013 a two-week intensive training programme on war crimes pro-cessing. The training is part of the OSCE-administered War Crimes Processing Project...