ODIHR’s Work on Human Rights Who we are T he Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the h uman rights institution of the Organization fo r Security and Co- o peration in Europe (OSCE), the world’s largest re gional security o rganization. ODIHR is mandated to s upport OSCE participating States in f ulfilling their commitments to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freed oms, uphold the rule of law and strengthen democratic insti tutions. ODIHR’s work on human rights contributes to th is mandate by giving stakeholders the tools to advanc e h uman rights across the 57 OSCE p articipating States, thereby building comprehensive s ecurity. What we do We support governme nts, law enforcement, arm ed forces, National H uman Rights Institutions (NHRIs), human rights de fenders and other civil s ociety actors to implement human r ights commitments in key thematic areas through: • Monitoring and reporting — identifying trends, risks and gaps • Capacity-building — training and technical assistance • Policy guidance — developing standards, tools and recommendations • Dialogue and engagement — convening stakeholders to foster co-operation, exchange and solutions • Civil society empowerment — strengthening the participation, advocacy, skills and the protection of human rights defenders • Early warning — identifying emerging challenges before they escalate Why it matters Re spect for human rights, democratic g overnance and the rule of law are e ssential to human flourishing and pe aceful coexistence. By supporting participating States to uphold their c ommitments, ODIHR contributes di rectly to conflict prevention and c omprehensive security. “The protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms is one of the basic purposes of government, and ... the recognition of these rights and freedoms constitutes the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.” — Copenhagen Document, 1990 What ODIHR offers ✔ Recognized human rights expertise with unique specialist knowledge ✔ Strong methodologies that have been tried and tested over time ✔ The ability to bring together governments and civil society for dialogue and co-operation ✔ A trusted platform for peer exchange, co-operation and capacity building ✔ Strong field engagement and partnerships ✔ Practical support to participating States in implementing OSCE commitments and international human rights obligations ODIHR’s human rights work includes: M onitoring the situation of human r ights defenders, engaging with a uthorities and defenders, and speaking up about cases of c oncern. ODIHR provides guidance on protecting defenders, (Guidel ines o n the Protection of Human Rights Defenders) and supports defende rs t hrough in-person activities a nd FreedomLab.io, a platform dedicated to defenders. S upporting governments in pre venting and combating human tr afficking and promoting survivo r i nclusion through the International Su rvivors of Trafficking Advisory Council (ISTAC). ODIHR also helps strengthen legal and pol icy f rameworks and national referral mechanisms for the identification an d support of trafficking victims a nd survivors.
Key ODIHR resources Belief, Dialogue and Security — Fostering dialogue and joint action across religious and belief boundaries Guidance Document on the Nelson Mandela Rules: Implementing the United Nations Revised Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly: Second Edition Border Management and Human Rights Human Rights of Armed Forces Personnel: Standards, Good Practices and Recommendations ODIHR National Referral Mechanisms Handbook, 2nd Edition Protecting Human Rights in Prisons, Preventing Radicalization Strengthening the Resilience of National Human Rights Institutions Guidance Tool Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Think Again: Freedom of Thought in the Age of Artificial Intelligence GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON THE NELSON MANDELA RULES IMPLEMENTING THE UNITED NATIONS REVISED STANDARD MINIMUM RULES FOR THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ODIHR Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Second edition MOMC IE S SC II ON NE V 36.22 C o 36.83 C o 36.51 C o a Collection, processing and sharing of personal data and the use of new technologies in the counter-terrorism and freedom of movement context Border Management and Human Rights