Democratization Support for OSCE Partners for Co-operation As follow-up to the OSCE-Mediterranean Partner for Co-operation Civil Society Conference held on the margins of the Vilnius Ministerial Council in December 2011, and in response to the 2011 Ministerial Council decision on “broadening dialogue and strengthening practical co-operation and the sharing of best practices”, ODIHR increased its co-operation with the OSCE Mediterranean Partners in 2012. In this vein, ODIHR supported a workshop on “Constitutions, Women and the Arab Spring”, held from 16 to 18 March 2012 in Istanbul. The civil society-organized workshop brought together 25 women representatives of reform-minded political parties and civil society from North Africa, South-Eastern Europe and other European countries to discuss measures to ensure women’s political engagement during periods of transition. In another novel development, ODIHR implemented the project “Promoting democratic structures among OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation”, upon Tunisia’s request. The project focused on providing legislative assistance in the field of elections, freedom of assembly, the judiciary and political party legislation. The resulting three reviews will be issued in early 2013. The project also aimed at promoting political party regulation and women in political life, as well as improving youth participation in political processes. ODIHR contributed its expertise to several major events in Tunisia organized by local authorities and partners, such as the Tunisian Ministry of Women and Family Affairs and the Tunisian School of Politics. In addition, 27 stakeholders from Mediterranean Partner countries, including government and civil society representatives, participated in OSCE ODIHR Human Dimension meetings, as well as events aimed at strengthening parliaments and national mechanisms for the advancement of women. ODIHR also organized a Workshop entitled “Introduction to the OSCE Human Dimension for Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation” for 22 government officials and civil society actors from the Mediterranean region, held from 12 to 14 December in Warsaw. The event, which set the path for future co-operation with Mediterranean partners, was specifically tailored to their democratization needs. Finally, ODIHR translated a number of its publications into Arabic in an effort to increase the accessibility of ODIHR methodologies and tools to OSCE Mediterranean Partner countries. Mohamed Sektaoui, the Chief Executive of Amnesty International, Morocco, speaks while Amal Mukhtar, a Political Researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Egypt, listens during an introductory course to the OSCE’s Human Dimension for representatives of government and civil society from the OSCE’s Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, Warsaw, 14 December 2012. (OSCE/Shiv Sharma) 40 ODIHR Annual Report 2012