The improved co-operation between the ODIHR and the Prison reform OSCE missions in South-Eastern Europe that has stemmed The ODIHR continued its regional prison-reform activities in from this co-ordination process resulted in a number of joint 2003, which is a long-term programme started in 1997. The initiatives in 2003: ODIHR facilitated two meetings for prison administrations from the countries in the region. The main aim of these
meetings was to offer a platform for sharing best practices A process to establish close co-operation between civil society actors in Serbia and Kosovo was initiated: and lessons learned, as well as enhancing co-operation and
addressing issues of common concern. A regional civil society policy conference was organized in Pristina;
The ODIHR also provided training for prison staff and sup- A conference dedicated to the role of parliaments in human and economic development in South-Eastern ported training centres by providing training materials. The Europe was held with the participation of representa- ODIHR financed the translation into Croatian of a training tives from 19 different parliaments (see box on p. 49); manual called Human Rights Approach to Prison Manage-
ment, which was originally written and published by King’s Two parliamentarians were sent to Russia to act as short-term observers during parliamentary elections; College in London. The handbook is expected to be used by
prison officials from Croatia and senior prison officials and Senior OSCE mission staff and state authorities went to London to take part in discussions with the Government representatives of human rights NGOs in Serbia. of the United Kingdom on the signing and ratification of 12 UN anti-terrorism conventions; and
3. Regional co-ordination State authorities from throughout the region gathered in Zagreb to discuss prison-service reform. The ODIHR facilitates, with the OSCE missions in South-Eastern Europe, a regional co-ordination process that deals with Future priorities the OSCE's approach to human dimension issues in the region. This process is aimed at assisting, on a regular basis, in increasing awareness of ongoing human dimension activi- The ODIHR plans to implement three main programmes in ties, exchanging lessons learned and best practices on the period 2004-2006 with respect to human dimension ac- human dimension matters, and identifying and addressing tivities in South-Eastern Europe: (1) civil society and youth af- cross-border and regional issues that require the involvement fairs; (2) strengthening democratic and human rights institu- of more than one OSCE mission or institution. tions; and (3) penitentiary reform and fair trials. Though this is not a decision- or policy-making process, the These programmes are designed to ensure complementarity conclusions, recommendations, and follow-up activities and to augment ongoing or planned activities by partners stemming from these meetings feed into the planning of and the OSCE missions in the region. The programmes have OSCE human dimension activities in the region. These work- a regional component that will facilitate the exchange of les- shops and meetings have produced a set of internal OSCE sons learned and the transfer of know-how among the reports that include recommendations and action plans. countries and partners in the region. In 2003, this co-ordination process included four senior In 2004, the ODIHR also plans to continue to work closely working-level and expert meetings that dealt with such is- with its international partners, including the Stability Pact for sues as parliamentary support, war crimes, trial monitoring, trafficking in human beings, Roma and Sinti, and election- South Eastern Europe, and to pay special attention to related issues, as well as donor co-operation. human dimension developments in Kosovo. 44