[ Democratization ] Ambassador Janez Lenarcˇicˇ, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (l), speaking with Judge Fausto Pocar (r) of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) as Jonathan Lucas, the Director of the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) looks on, at an event marking the end of the 18-month War Crimes Justice Project, Sarajevo, 26 October 2011. (OSCE/Dejan Vekic) ODIHR assists legislators in participating States on the following issues: freedom of assembly and association, freedom of religion or belief, political parties, judiciaries, criminal law, criminal procedure, administrative justice, gender equality, migration, anti-trafficking, disciplinary procedures for the armed forces, anti-terrorism and anti-discrimination. Ideally, ODIHR assistance is sought by authorities at an early stage of the policy development and drafting process to assess the existing legislative framework, to discuss options and to guide decisions on how amendments should be put in place. In 2011, for example, ODIHR’s initial review and recommendations on the Law on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were incorporated into the new Law on Equal Opportunities by the working group tasked to draft amendments to the original law. Following discussions, ODIHR was asked to review the new draft law’s conformity with international standards. In providing legislative assistance to participating States, ODIHR collaborates closely with other international bodies, including the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission, on legislation pertaining to issues such as freedom of assembly, freedom of religion or belief, the judiciary, political parties and national human rights institutions. ODIHR also works with the Directorates of the Council of Europe and UN OHCHR. In 2011, ODIHR initiated contacts with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in the field of freedom of association legislation. Co-operation with the Panel of Experts on Freedom of Assembly and the Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief, both set up by the Office to bring forward best-quality recommendations, continued in 2011. Group of E xperts on Political Parties In order to strengthen its support in the area of legislation on the regulation and functioning of political parties, ODIHR established in 2011 the Group of Experts on Political Parties, composed initially of seven academics and practitioners from countries throughout the OSCE region. The Group acts as an advisory and consultative body to help ODIHR review related legislation and has already contributed to the preparation of a number of reviews of legislation related to the funding of political parties. Improving Legislative Efficiency and Transparency OSCE commitments have long recognized the importance of an open and transparent, participatory and efficient legislative process to providing predictable ODIHR Annual Report 2011 27