Stronger Democratic Institutions in Eastern Partnership Countries
An ODIHR project supported and funded by the EU Supporting and strengthening democratic Bringing together state representatives and institutions and processes is the objective of civil society from across the OSCE, ODIHR ODIHR’s project Stronger Democratic Institutions will draw on its unique expertise in these fields. in Eastern Partnership Countries: an ODIHR The Office has a comprehensive set of tools, project supported and funded by the EU. including in-depth training, which support states The project aims to increase public trust in in improving their systems of democratic democratic institutions and foster more inclusive, governance and in making their institutions more accountable and transparent governance, with representative and their political and decision- respect for human rights and the rule of law. making processes more inclusive and participatory. Stronger democratic institutions contribute to more effective responses to current crises while ODIHR’s recommendations, as set out in building resilience to future challenges. published legal opinions, legislative assessments, monitoring and election observation reports and Democratic governance is vital to the principles on thematic guidelines, serve as benchmarks to which the OSCE is based, ensuring assess and encourage progress. that public institutions promote core principles and function through democratic processes, ODIHR will also leverage its broad range including political pluralism, institutional of established partnerships including with accountability and responsiveness, an active international, regional and national organizations civil society, respect for human rights and the throughout this project to ensure joint ownership. rule of law, and democratic elections. Major project activities include: ODIHR’s tools include: • Supporting states to improve parliamentary, • Guidelines on Democratic civil society and judicial oversight; Lawmaking for Better Laws • Working to increase the transparency and integrity of democratic institutions; • Helping parliaments to strengthen collaboration with civil society; • Recommendations on Judicial • Supporting greater political participation Independence and Accountability by under-represented groups; (Warsaw Recommendations), 2023 • Supporting discussions between national authorities and civil society on the steps needed to implement ODIHR election recommendations; • Handbook on the Follow-up • Offering training for state oversight agencies of Electoral Recommendations as well as civil society; and • Providing a broader platform for dialogue.
This initiative should enable the project • Parliamentary Integrity: beneficiaries to implement more effective and A Resource for Reformers efficient policies, evaluate progress towards accountable and inclusive democratic institutions, build stronger public integrity systems and human rights-compliant legal frameworks, implement ODIHR • ODIHR Public Ethics and Integrity election recommendations, and improve political Toolkit: Guidelines for Parliaments party regulation, as well as increase the participation of historically under-represented groups in political life and decision-making. • Guidelines on Promoting the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities Project Duration: 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027 • Gender-responsive Project Budget: approximately 6 million Governance Toolkit EUR funded from the European Union with support from France, Italy, Norway and Switzerland. Geographical Scope: Armenia, • Legal opinions and comments Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Project Beneficiaries: Democratic institutions of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership countries.
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
Ul. Miodowa 10 00-251 Warsaw Poland Funded by Office: +48 22 520 06 00 the European Union Fax: +48 22 520 06 05 office@odihr.pl With support from France, Italy, Norway and Switzerland. www.osce.org/odihr
In line with ODIHR’s mandate and in synergy with EU priorities in the region, this project offers assistance to select OSCE participating States that are also countries included by the European Union under its Eastern Follow OSCE and ODIHR Neighbourhood Region. In the implementation of activities, it will be taken into consideration that the EU has stopped engaging with official representatives of Belarus public bodies and state-owned enterprises further to the Council Conclusions of 12 October 2020 and the European Council Conclusions of February 2022.