[ Democratization ] Agata Rzewuska, Web Assistant in the ODIHR Legislative Support Unit, making a presentation on the Legislationline website at the Human Dimension Seminar on the Role of Political Parties in the Political Process, Warsaw, 19 May 2011. (OSCE/Piotr Markowski) In 2011, the database was expanded through the addition of topics in the fields of anti-discrimination, independence of the judiciary, national human rights institutions and administrative justice in order to reflect the dynamics of change in participating States and ODIHR’s response thereto. The sections for a number of existing topics, such as gender, hate crimes and freedom of religion, were extensively revised and updated. Democratic Governance and Participation in Public Affairs In their OSCE commitments, participating States have affirmed that democratic governance involves the effective participation of individuals and groups in pluralistic and democratic institutions. These institutions, therefore, must function in a transparent and accountable manner to produce representative government. OSCE commitments underscore the priority given by participating States to encouraging and ensuring the equal and effective participation of women and men in political and public life. ODIHR promotes gender equality by supporting the increased participation of women 30 ODIHR Annual Report 2011 in political life and strengthening national mechanisms to protect women’s rights. ODIHR’s democratic governance programmes are designed and implemented to assist participating States in strengthening laws, institutions and democratic processes. In 2011, ODIHR promoted the better understanding and awareness of OSCE commitments in this field by targeting three major areas: increasing women’s political participation, strengthening parliaments and ensuring pluralist political party systems. Increasing Women’s Participation in Politics OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promoting the equal participation of women and men in political and public life. Yet across the OSCE, women remain under-represented in political and public institutions, especially at decision-making levels. The average of women’s representation in national parliaments in the OSCE region in November 2011 stood at only 22.3 per cent, with the figure in individual participating States ranging from 6.5 to 45 per cent.2 In 2011, ODIHR continued to promote women’s meaningful political participation by organizing roundtables and conferences, commissioning research and 2 As of November 2011.