Publications

The sixth edition of ODIHR's Election Observation Handbook. This unofficial translation into Kazakh was made by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana.

While the definition and scope of the term “foreign terrorist fighter” (FTF) is controversial, in recent years it has been commonly used to refer to individuals who have travelled from their home states to other states to participate in or support terrorist acts, including in the context of armed conflict, especially in Iraq and Syria. This document seeks to provide states with recommendations, and supporting analysis, on some of the key human rights issues that they must grapple with as they seek to respond to the threats posed by FTFs in a manner that is consistent with human rights and the rule of law. Following a brief overview of background facts, international and national responses, this document offers a series of recommendations for a human rights-compliant approach to addressing the flow and return of FTFs.

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a persistent problem in places of deprivation of liberty. This guidance note is designed to help all detention monitoring mechanisms integrate the issue of SGBV in their ongoing work. The document summarizes the importance of monitoring for SGBV and provides practical suggestions on how to incorporate these considerations into monitoring work without further endangering those at risk.

A regional three year project (2021-2023), financed and supported by the European Union, implemented by the field operations in Tirana, Sarajevo, Podgorica, Skopje and Pristina with the guiding support of ODIHR and project coordination from Secretariat/ Conflict Prevention Centre.

Tool 1- the INTRODUCTION- defines violence against women in politics and describes solutions for effective prevention, protection of victims, the prosecution of perpetrators and coordination of policies.

The ODIHR Panel of Experts on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly was established in 2006 and consists of ten independent experts from OSCE participating States, selected on the basis of their expertise, experience, integrity and objectivity.

The ODIHR continued in 2005 to conduct a broad range of activities aimed at fostering democracy and the rule of law, promoting and protecting human rights, combating tolerance and non-discrimination, and assisting participating States in the implementation of their commitments.

This report explores the nature, scope and scale of the restrictions that have been imposed on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in OSCE participating States and analyses them in light of the established standards related to the right to peacefully assemble. These have been developed and refined over many years by bodies such the United Nations, ODIHR and the Council of Europe through the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.

These present guiding principles are intended for use by state authorities and civil society bodies, as well as inter-governmental organizations in the OSCE region involved in developing, applying, evaluating and reforming national laws, policies and practices related to trafficking, in particular to the return of trafficked persons. They provide the target audience with guidance that can be used to direct policies, procedures and practices on the return process, as well as an overview of relevant international standards. The guiding principles can also serve as an advocacy tool for civil society organizations that support a rights-based approach to combating trafficking.

National referral mechanisms (NRMs) are the institutional mechanisms that help states identify human trafficking victims and ensure their protection. This handbook provides a guidance model which all OSCE participating States can adapt and apply within their own national systems to ensure that their NRMs meet the highest standards in both design and implementation.