Publications

This report provides a summary of key activities carried out by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in 2018.

This report presents the proceedings and outcomes of the second Gender Equality Review Conference held in June, 2017. The report shows an example of how political will and leadership can strengthen the awareness and understanding of the important link between gender equality and comprehensive security.

ODIHR’s Making Laws Work for Women and Men: A Practical Guide to Gender-Sensitive Legislation looks at the legislative process as a vital entry point for gender mainstreaming, while taking into account the direct and tangible impact of legislation on people’s lives. The Guide is primarily intended

This report presents the proceedings and outcomes of the first Gender Equality Review Conference held in the year of the 10th anniversary of the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality. The report shows an example of how political will and leadership can strengthen the awareness and understanding of the important link between gender equality and comprehensive security.

This Handbook on Promoting Women’s Participation in Political Parties aims at encouraging political party leaders, men and women alike, to support the integration of gender aspects into internal political party decision-making processes. It also seeks to develop the capacity of women politicians to advance their political careers. The key finding that has emerged during the development of this handbook is that internal party reform is critical to women’s advancement. A lack of internal party democracy and transparency, the absence of gender-sensitivity in candidate selection and outreach, as well as the failure to decentralize party decision-making processes, all inhibit women’s opportunities to advance as leaders within parties and as candidates for elected office. To this end, the handbook provides a valuable overview of voluntary measures that political parties can adopt to enhance gender equality within party structures, processes, policies and activities, as a means to provide both women and men equal opportunities to participate meaningfully in the political life of OSCE participating States.

This guidance note on Integrating Gender into Oversight of the Security Sector by Ombuds Institutions & National Human Rights Institutions, developed by OSCE/ODIHR, DCAF and the OSCE Gender Section is a practical resource for ombuds institutions and NHRIs, and those who support them. It can help an ombuds institution or NHRI engage more effectively with police, militaries and other security sector institutions to monitor and reinforce how the human rights of men and women working there are upheld. It can strengthen oversight of how well police and others meet the needs of communities.

This guidance note on Integrating Gender into Internal Police Oversight, developed by OSCE/ODIHR, DCAF and the OSCE Gender Section is a practical resource for police services, and those who manage and support them. It can help a police service move beyond a policy commitment to integrate gender ̶ by designating responsibilities for gender, by monitoring how gender issues are addressed in human resource management and in police operations, and by strengthening prevention and respond to sexual harassment and discrimination.

This guidance note on Integrating a Gender Perspective into Internal Oversight within Armed Forces, developed by OSCE/ODIHR, DCAF and the OSCE Gender Section, is a practical resource for militaries, and for those who manage and support them. It can help an armed forces move beyond a policy commitment to integrate gender ̶ by designating responsibilities, by monitoring how gender issues are addressed in human resource management and in operations, and by strengthening responses to misconduct.

A factsheet about ODIHR’s work in supporting legal reform in participating States by reviewing, upon request, individual pieces of draft and existing legislation to ensure clarity and coherence, as well as compliance with OSCE commitments and international human rights standards.