ODIHR’s Work on Human Rights
Who we are • Dialogue and engagement — ✔ The ability to bring together convening stakeholders to foster governments and civil society The Office for Democratic Institutions for dialogue and co-operation co-operation, exchange and and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the human rights institution of the solutions ✔ A trusted platform for peer • Civil society empowerment — exchange, co-operation and Organization for Security and Co- strengthening the participation, capacity building operation in Europe (OSCE), the world’s largest regional security advocacy, skills and the protection ✔ Strong field engagement and organization. ODIHR is mandated to of human rights defenders partnerships support OSCE participating States in • Early warning — identifying ✔ Practical support to participating fulfilling their commitments to ensure emerging challenges before they States in implementing OSCE full respect for human rights and escalate commitments and international fundamental freedoms, uphold human rights obligations the rule of law and strengthen Why it matters democratic institutions. ODIHR’s human rights work Respect for human rights, democratic includes: ODIHR’s work on human rights governance and the rule of law are contributes to this mandate by giving essential to human flourishing and Monitoring the situation of human stakeholders the tools to advance peaceful coexistence. By supporting rights defenders, engaging with human rights across the 57 OSCE participating States to uphold their authorities and defenders, and participating States, thereby building commitments, ODIHR contributes speaking up about cases of comprehensive security. directly to conflict prevention and concern. ODIHR provides guidance comprehensive security. on protecting defenders, (Guidelines What we do on the Protection of Human Rights “The protection and promotion Defenders) and supports defenders We support governments, law of human rights and fundamental through in-person activities enforcement, armed forces, National freedoms is one of the basic purposes and FreedomLab.io, a platform Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), of government, and ... the recognition dedicated to defenders. human rights defenders and other civil of these rights and freedoms society actors to implement human constitutes the foundation of freedom, Supporting governments in rights commitments in key thematic justice and peace.” — Copenhagen preventing and combating human areas through: Document, 1990 trafficking and promoting survivor inclusion through the International • Monitoring and reporting — What ODIHR offers Survivors of Trafficking Advisory identifying trends, risks and gaps Council (ISTAC). ODIHR also • Capacity-building — training and ✔ Recognized human rights helps strengthen legal and policy technical assistance expertise with unique specialist frameworks and national referral knowledge • Policy guidance — developing mechanisms for the identification standards, tools and ✔ Strong methodologies that have and support of trafficking victims recommendations been tried and tested over time and survivors. Training public officials and security providing advice on Women, Key ODIHR resources actors on human rights-compliant Peace and Security (WPS) national counter-terrorism, facilitating dialogue action plans, as well as addressing Think Again: Think Again: Freedom Freedom of of Thought in the Age between authorities, civil society and violence against women and girls Thought in the Age of Artificial Intelligence of Artificial Intelligence affected communities. (VAWG) and sexual and gender- POLICY BRIEF
based violence (SGBV) in places Monitoring developments on freedom of deprivation of liberty. Guidelines on Freedom Guidelines on Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or of Peaceful Assembly Second edition
of Peaceful Assembly: Second Edition belief, providing expert advice and Preventing torture and the death training, and promoting dialogue to penalty through legal reviews, EN IC E COMMISSI O
N V advance this right. ODIHR is supported monitoring and training, promoting Human Rights of Armed by a panel of experts on freedom of Human Rights of Human Rights of
Forces Personnel: Armed Forces Personnel: Armed Forces Personnel:
victims’ rights and accountability,
HUMAN RIGHTS OF ARMED COMPENDIUM OF STANDARDS, COMPENDIUM OF STANDARDS, GOOD PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
COMPENDIUM OF STANDARDS,
FORCES PERSONNEL GOOD PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS GOOD PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This compendium is a flagship publication of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Standards, Good Practices religion or belief. Rights (ODIHR) and DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, which explores existing laws, policies and mechanisms for ensuring the protection
and supporting dialogue on the and Recommendations of the human rights of armed forces personnel in line with international standards and OSCE commitments. Good practices and recommendations for protecting and respecting the human rights of armed forces personnel are presented at the end of each chapter. The compendium highlights the importance of human rights in the armed forces to maintain the military’s accountability and embody the democratic commitments of every state. In doing so, it underscores the primary role of commanders in cultivating a climate in which the human rights of all service personnel are respected.
Monitoring the situation of National abolition of the death penalty. Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), Guidelines on the Protection Guidelines on the Working on Human rights and of Human Rights Defenders Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Protection of Human supporting their establishment and Rights Defenders new technologies to ensure that development. Through the annual human rights remain central to NHRI Academy and other training ODIHR
technological development by Protecting Human Rights opportunities, ODIHR builds capacity Protecting Human Rights in Prisons
promoting safeguards, human while Preventing Radicalization
in Prisons, Preventing Leading to Terrorism or Violence A Guide for Detention Monitors
and encourages knowledge-sharing Radicalization oversight, and inclusive public across the OSCE region. debate, and by providing guidance Helping to protect the right of Freedom and tools. Belief, Dialogue and of peaceful assembly by developing Security — Fostering The Ukraine Monitoring Initiative dialogue and joint action policy guidance and standards, across religious and belief (UMI), through which ODIHR boundaries monitoring peaceful assemblies and monitors, documents and reports training law enforcement officials, Guidance Document on alleged violations of international the Nelson Mandela Rules: NHRIs and civil society organizations. GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON THE NELSON MANDELA RULES
human rights and humanitarian law Implementing the United IMPLEMENTING THE UNITED NATIONS REVISED STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS
ODIHR hosts a network of organizations Nations Revised Standard related to the international armed Minimum Rules for the engaged in independent monitoring of Treatment of Prisoners conflict in Ukraine. Information is ODIHR
freedom of peaceful assembly. Border Management gathered and analyzed through Border Management and Human Rights
36.22 o C 36.83 o C 36.51 o C
a and Human Rights Promoting children’s rights by field interviews, remote monitoring supporting child-sensitive policies, and open-source research to Collection, processing and sharing of personal data and the use of new technologies in the counter-terrorism and freedom of movement context
strengthening safeguards against support reporting, accountability Strengthening the Resilience violence and exploitation, and efforts and awareness of the Strengthening the
of National Human Rights Resilience of NHRIs and Responding to Threats Guidance Tool Institutions Guidance Tool encouraging children’s participation in human rights impact of the conflict. decisions affecting them. Read more about ODIHR’s human Supporting participating States in rights work building comprehensive National Referral Mechanisms ODIHR National Referral Mechanisms Handbook, JOINING EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF TRAFFICKED PERSONS
advancing human rights and gender security and defending human 2nd Edition equality in the security sector and rights defenders on our website. A Practical Handbook – Second Edition
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
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