Civil society: With respect to strengthening civil society,
Legislative support: In the area of legislative support, the ODIHR focuses on four main areas: ensuring a legal and the ODIHR maintains a free-of-charge online database
political environment for the healthy development of the NGO (www.legislationline.org) that contains more than 5,000 sector; promoting democratic governance through civic-edu- pieces of domestic and international legislation related to cation programmes and establishing dialogue between citi- the human dimension. The site was designed to give law- zens, NGO representatives, and local and state officials; bring- makers an overview of how human dimension issues are ing together actors from rival communities, typically in addressed in a number of participating States and to assist post-conflict areas, in support of reconciliation efforts; and fa- them in preparing and drafting legislation addressing these cilitating the participation of NGOs in major OSCE events. issues. Legislative support is directed at assisting govern- Special focus is given to the concerns of young people. ments to ensure implementation of their human dimension commitments.
Gender equality: To promote gender equality, the ODIHR carries out targeted programmes and integrates gen-
der aspects into all its work. Current programmes concen- sions in South-Eastern Europe, the ODIHR facilitates a re- trate on three key areas: advancing equal rights and oppor- gional co-ordination process on human dimension activities; tunities for women; developing women's leadership and it co-operates closely with governments and other local and increasing the role of women in decision-making, especially international partners; and it conducts programmes on re- in economic and political life; and preventing and combating forms in the areas of rule of law, civil society development, domestic violence. youth, parliamentary support and local democracy, crisis South-Eastern Europe: Together with the OSCE mis- management, and ombudsman institutions.
Trafficking in human beings: The ODIHR is at the forefront of international efforts to prevent trafficking in human beings and to ensure a co-ordinated response that puts the rights of victims first. The ODIHR develops and implements anti-trafficking programmes that focus on awareness-raising and legislative review and reform, as well as on building NGO capacity to provide counseling and direct assistance to victims. By assisting in the creation of National Referral Mechanisms, the ODIHR seeks to establish a co-operative framework through which state obligations to protect the rights of trafficked persons and to organize support are coordinated with services carried out by civil society.
Freedom of movement: To promote freedom of movement and enhance respect for the rights of migrants, the ODIHR facilitates regional and sub-regional co-operation and exchanges of experience between the OSCE participating States, assists in the introduction of population-registration systems that are in line with international standards, and raises awareness on migration issues among policy makers and the public in the OSCE participating States. 18