ODIHR Core Group of Experts on Political Parties
The Core Group on Political Parties has been serving as an advisory and consultative body to ODIHR since its establishment in 2011, as part of ODIHR’s ongoing efforts to support OSCE participating States in developing and maintaining political party regulations and practices that align with OSCE human dimension commitments and relevant international and regional standards.
It provides advice, guidance and recommendations to ODIHR, and through ODIHR to countries across the OSCE.
In this way, ODIHR helps ensure that legislation on political parties aligns with international human rights standards throughout the region.
Members
Coming from diverse backgrounds, including academia, former members of political parties and parliaments, legal experts, and civic and human rights activists, the Core Group members bring together a broad range of experience and knowledge on political party regulation and practices, as well as democratic governance, across the OSCE region.
In addition to their expertise, Core Group members are selected to ensure gender parity and geographical representation from across the OSCE region.
The 14 members of the newly appointed Core Group of Experts on Political Parties, under the auspices of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), commenced their four-year term on 1 March 2025 and include:
- Jordi BARRAT, Spain
- Fernando CASAL BERTOA, Spain (re-appointment)
- Lolita CIGANE, Latvia, (re-appointment)
- Ömer Faruk GENÇKAYA, Türkiye (re-appointment)
- Marie Luise von HALEM, Germany
- Barbara JOUAN STONESTREET, France (re-appointment)
- Richard KATZ, USA (re-appointment)
- Karina KOSIARA-PEDERSEN, Denmark
- Magdalena MUSIAŁ-KARG, Poland
- Magnus OHMAN, Sweden
- Tamara OTIASHVILI, Georgia
- Susan SCARROW, USA
- Rokas STABINGIS, Lithuania
- Marcin WALECKI, Poland