Publications

Prosecuting Hate Crimes: A Practical Guide was written in cooperation with the International Association of Prosecutors to improve the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes across the OSCE region. The guide is relevant to different legal systems and legislative frameworks and complements ODIHR’s Prosecutors and Hate Crime Training (PAHCT). This guide aims to explain the impact of hate crimes by highlighting their specific features compared with other crimes. It presents the most common issues that arise for prosecutors in dealing with these crimes, with an emphasis on evidence of bias motivation, which is the distinguishing factor in hate crimes.

This Compendium presents an overview of legislation, policies, and mechanisms for ensuring the protection and enforcement of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of armed forces personnel. It includes many examples and good practices from across the OSCE region that have proven successful. It also contains recommendations which can help participating States ensure that their policies and practices are in full compliance with international human rights standards and OSCE human dimension commitments.

News in Brief

Inside the magazine: ODIHR Director Janez Lenarcic on democratic elections; Human trafficking: when kidneys become commodities; Retrieving humanity: can war crimes courts reconcile?

While the participation of persons with disabilities has already long been included in the general ODIHR election observation methodology, this handbook aims to establish a more systematic and comprehensive approach to this important topic. It provides information and a framework to assist ODIHR observers in assessing the participation of persons with disabilities, as part of the overall observation of an electoral process. The handbook may also be useful to a wider audience interested in the topic, including electoral management bodies, political parties, civil society organizations (CSOs) and international organizations. This resource has been developed on the basis of extra-budgetary contributions by OSCE participating States, as part of ODIHR’s continued efforts to improve its election observation methodology and to further increase the professionalism of those involved in the Office’s observation activities.

Strengthening Targeted Assistance and Response Structures for Hate Crime Victims in the OSCE Region (STARS).

Newsletter by the OSCE Secretariat

This report highlights the systemic problems that judicial systems across the Western Balkans region encounter. From lack of resources and accountability, the obstacles may seem daunting. Rather than simply cataloguing the problems, though, the report charts a course for addressing them through evidence-based analysis and actionable recommendations.

With the aim of encouraging constructive and human rights-centred political discourse, thisguidance targets national, regional and local political leaders and decision-makers. This guidanceis built around three ‘Rs’, designed to help politicians and government officials: • Resist pressure to