ANNUAL REPORT 2003 Democratization Democratization The ODIHR promotes the creation and strengthening of the ODIHR has frequently been asked to continue, to add democratic institutions. It assists governments improve onto, and to augment many existing one-year projects. Nu- compliance with international commitments and stan- merous such projects have been continued for two or three dards through efforts to enhance administrative capaci- years due to an improved political climate, requests for in- ties, the judiciary, ombudsman institutions, and non-gov- creased assistance, or more time needed for change to ac- ernmental organizations. Democratization activities and crue. In some cases, one project has led to another, e.g., a programmes facilitate exchanges of best practices and ex- prison-reform project leads to an alternative-sentencing proj- perience between participating States and help solidify ect, which leads to a judicial-training project. gains made in building democratic institutions, civil socie- Democratization activities facilitate exchanges of best practices ty, and democratic governance. The ODIHR's democratization programme has three overarching objectives: to promote and develop awareness of, and adherence to, OSCE commitments related to specific problem areas; to enhance governmental capacity to comply with those commitments; and to support civil society. These Activities are primarily conducted across six thematic areas of commitments relate to, for instance, the rule of law; demo- work: rule of law, NGOs and democratic governance, gen- cratic institutions; issues of migration; social, civil, and polit- der equality, combating trafficking in human beings, free- ical rights; and equal rights of women and men. dom of movement and migration, and legislative support. In South-Eastern Europe, the ODIHR has facilitated the co-ordination of human dimension activities on the ground. As the Democratization Section works primarily to assist participating States in implementing their OSCE and other international commitments, its activities in 2003 dealt with Over the year, the ODIHR strengthened its programmatic sensitive areas of development that other organizations are and longer-term focus on these thematic fields, as well as its not as equipped to address. The Section has approached this capacity to provide strong thematic synergies across all areas task by working, for instance, with ministries in partnership, of its activities. with civil society as a mentor, and with other organizations as a facilitator. This approach has been well received, and Thematic Areas of Work
Rule of law: The ODIHR is engaged in a variety of technical-assistance projects designed to foster the development of rule of law. Through its programmes in the areas of fair trials, criminal justice, and the rule of law, the ODIHR seeks to provide practical assistance and training, for example, to lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and government officials, as well as to civil society. The ODIHR also carries out legal-reform and legislative-review projects to assist states in bringing domestic laws into line with OSCE commitments and other international standards. 17