ings, and observe election activities at all levels, and to obtain copies of decisions, protocols, tabulations, minutes, and other electoral documents, at all levels, during the entirety of the election process, including hearing of possible complaints and appeals. It is crucial to the implementation of this commit- Domestic observer groups have faced inment that there is agreement among participating timidation (e.g., tax inspection or direct States to invite the ODIHR to follow and assess elec- threats), violence, detention and de-regtoral proceedings. While the practice of election ob- istration or refusal of registration. Regulaservation has expanded and developed to a degree tions of observation often prevent certain parts of the process from being observed, few might have predicted fifteen years ago, it is resuch as meetings of the election authorigrettable that some OSCE States still have not put ties and tabulation of election results. Rethis commitment into practice, and do not invite ob- quested documentation is not always proservers to their elections and enable them to effec- vided, particularly on complaints and aptively assess the proceedings. The ODIHR raised this peals. issue with participating States in a note verbale sent in 2005, 28 and it has been collecting replies since then. Where the ODIHR encounters that legislation in participating States is not conducive to election observation, it raises the issue with the authorities concerned, with political parties, and with civil society. 38. Participation of women Paragraph 7.3 of the Copenhagen Document commits participating States to “guarantee universal and equal suffrage to all adult citizens”. This requires positive action on the part of States to facilitate the participation of women, who often face barriers to fair and effective political participation and representation. In some OSCE participating States, the electionrelated rights of women are contravened by de facto barriers to standing for office, violations of ballot secrecy and undue influence connected with the practices of group, family, and proxy voting. To combat discrimination in representation, participating States should strive to establish electoral systems that facilitate full equality of men and women so that both may fully realize their guaranteed rights to electoral and public participation in the governing of their country.29 When voter registration systems require citizens to register and/or to verify the accuracy of the voter registry or voter lists, the place and time for registration should be established in a fashion that maximizes the opportunities for women to register. Factors that obstruct women’s participation as candidates, voters, election officials, and election monitors should also be removed. In addition, active efforts should be taken to eliminate all forms of non-personal voting. 39. Inclusion of national minorities As a corollary of the commitment to guarantee universal and equal suffrage to all adult citizens, minorities must be capable of exercising the same rights. Ethnic, linguistic, and reli28  See Annex 2 of this report. 29  In addition to the Copenhagen commitments, paras. 40-40.13 of the OSCE’s 1991 Moscow Document expressly recognize the need for States to facilitate the participation of women in government. Further, para. 23 of the 1999 Istanbul Declaration states: “The full and equal exercise by women of their human rights is essential to achieve a more peaceful, prosperous and democratic OSCE area. We are committed to making equality between men and women an integral part of our policies, both at the level of our States and within the Organization.” For relevant ODIHR tasks with respect to the participation of women in political and public life, cf. the 2004 OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, para. 44(d). 14 Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation