OSCE human rights chief reappointed

VILNIUS, 30 May 2011 – Foreign ministers from the 56 OSCE participating States today unanimously agreed to reappoint the chief of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Ambassador Janez Lenarčič of Slovenia, for a term of three years.

The term, which starts 1 July, will be Lenarčič's second and last. He was appointed ODIHR director in July 2008.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, welcomed Lenarčič's reappointment: "The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights carries out crucial work to help OSCE participating States fulfil wide-ranging commitments undertaken in the human dimension of security, and Janez Lenarčič's leadership has strengthened the institution."

"ODIHR plays an important role not only in institution-building and election observation but also in dealing with challenges presented by terrorism, intolerance and human trafficking," he said.

Lenarčič was the Slovenian Ambassador to the OSCE from 2003 to 2006. In 2005, when Slovenia held the OSCE Chairmanship, he chaired the Permanent Council, one of the OSCE's main regular decision-making bodies.