DEMOCRATIZATION  : :  17 Vienna, 16‑17 April 2018 Rayisa Panasyuk, Special Representative on Persons with Disabilities under the Cabinet of Ministers in Ukraine (l) prepares to speak at the ODIHR Conference on Promoting the Political Participation of Women with Disabilities. (OSCE/Micky Kroell) In 2018, ODIHR supported democratization processes and institutions, through the provision of advice, the exchange of and access to information, the promotion of good practices and by building the capacity of bodies crucial to democracy. Rule of law issues were of particular focus at the 7th Criminal Justice Forum, in Bishkek in November, and in support provided regarding the independence of the judiciary in a number of participating States. Legal reform efforts were supported through the provision of expert opinions, with ODIHR seeing a 50 per cent increase in requests for assistance in important areas such as the judiciary, freedom of association, freedom of assembly and political party regulation. Women’s participation in political life continued to be a crucial part of the Office’s work, including in the International Forum of Women Leaders, in Minsk in October, events marking 100 years of women’s voting rights in Poland and gender audits of political parties in a number of participating States. ODIHR continued its activities on enhancing trust in political institutions through its work on ethics standards for members of parliaments and the Summer School on Political Parties and Democracy, as well as through expert assistance to parliaments in combating corruption.