Publications

How Women Are Impacted By Restrictions To Fundamental Freedoms And Human Rights: Observations From The Covid-19 Pandemic

This paper considers possible benefits and risk factors of conducting elections using methods and arrangements alternative to the predominant practice of voting in polling stations over the course of a single election day. Different voting methods and arrangements are analysed in light of the existing OSCE commitments, other international obligations, standards and good practice in the field of democratic elections. While the choice of voting methods rests with the OSCE participating States, this paper intends to provide information to benefit public discussion about alternative voting methods and arrangements, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OSCE introduces a modular training structure addressing the following topic areas: identity management and travel security, behavioural analysis and interviewing techniques, crisis management, identifying and addressing trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) as well as Conventional Ammunition (CA), and combating Trafficking in Human Beings (THB), allowing for tailored training with modules aligned with a country’s specific training needs. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, modules can be selected based on the country’s risk profile, existing capabilities and areas requiring improvement. This approach optimizes resource allocation, prevents overlapping of efforts and ensures that officers receive training that directly enhances their capabilities in addressing specific challenges. The modular training strategy also enables officers to become trainers, fostering sustainable expertise within national services, as modules, or their elements, can be embedded into existing national education curricula thus ensuring local ownership and long-term impact.

Tool 3- for Political Parties- assists political parties in taking internal steps to tackle violence against women within their structures.

Tool 5- for Women in Politics- is a guide for women affected directly or indirectly by such violence about how to seek protection, remedy and support.

ODIHR guide on gender equality, justice and security instruments

Women have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief (FoRB), including in employment. In practice however, many women face a range of challenges related to their religion or belief. This threatens not only their right to FoRB, but also their effective participation in the labour market on an equal footing with men.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide better guidance to ODIHR election observation missions and teams on how to approach campaign finance as part of the overall observation of an election. While ODIHR has included campaign finance in its general observation methodology, this handbook aims to establish a more systematic and comprehensive approach to observing this important part of the election process. It has been developed on the basis of extra-budgetary contributions as part of ODIHR’s continued effort to improve its methodology and to increase professionalism in the observation of certain specialized aspects of elections.

Preventing torture in immigration detention APT and ODIHR outcome report on preventing torture and other ill-treatment in the context of immigration detention