“We work with many governmental and international organizations, but nowhere is the level of co-operation and mutual understanding as high as it is with the ODIHR. I hope this sense of belonging will be maintained in the future, because this is what distinguishes the ODIHR from other international institutions: The trust that NGOs place in the ODIHR is its main asset. “Our organization, like many others around the region, benefits greatly from ODIHR publications on an array of human rights issues. They are always up-to-date, precise, and driven with the desire to focus the attention of the OSCE community on pressing problems, to summarize practices from across the region, and to recommend ways to find a solution.” Edil Baisalov is President of the NGO Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society in Kyrgyzstan. monitoring activities, while providing continual feedback The ODIHR monitors counter-terrorism practices to ensure and support. In particular, the programme seeks to: that appropriate checks and balances are in place regarding the conformity of anti-terrorism measures with international

Build the capacity of members of civil society to monitor law, in particular human rights law. The ODIHR also works to trials and to accurately report on their compliance with prevent or address shortcomings in national practice through national and international standards; research, analysis, and review of how anti-terrorism measures Obtain systematic and impartial information on trials affect human rights standards in the following areas: from the perspective of their compliance with national
and international fair-trial standards; and
Freedom of association; Accurately identify and make appropriate recommenda-
Non-discrimination, including freedom of religion or belief; tions on areas where reform is needed.
The right to private and family life; In December 2003, the ODIHR and the OSCE Office in Baku
Freedom from arbitrary detention; conducted an initial training session on trial monitoring as
The right to a fair trial; and part of the first phase of implementation of the fair-trials
The prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. programme in Azerbaijan. Twenty participants were selected to take part in the training session, which covered international and national fair-trial standards; goals, principles, and The ODIHR is currently collecting and compiling major anti- methodology of trial monitoring; and trial reporting. terrorism legislation from all OSCE participating States (this information can be found on the Legislationline website at www.legislationline.org). Organized by subject and country, this legislation is intended as a resource for lawmakers in the 2. Ensuring respect for human rights in the fight against terrorism OSCE region, while also guiding the ODIHR's work in providing technical assistance to participating States with respect to their implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1373. There is concern that the fight against terrorism could be used as an excuse to suppress legitimate expressions of dis- A comprehensive approach to combating terrorism also re- sent and to limit fundamental freedoms, in particular free- quires preventive action. ODIHR programmes promoting dom of religion or belief, freedom of expression, and free- human rights, building democratic institutions, and strength- dom of assembly. In addition, standards of privacy and the ening the rule of law are key components that enable states fair administration of justice are at risk as states respond to to address the various social, economic, political, and other the increased threat of international terrorism. 56