OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

🇰🇿 ODIHR opens observation mission for the early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan. The mission is led by Ambassador Vincent Piket and consists of a core team of 12 experts based in Astana. Twenty-two long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two from 18 July. In addition, ODIHR will request the secondment of 300 short-term observers from OSCE participating States to follow election day proceedings. The core team of experts come from nine different OSCE participating States. The mission will closely monitor all aspects of the elections, such as voter registration, the campaign, including online and on social media platforms, the work of the election administration at the national, regional and local levels, election-related laws and regulations, institutional arrangements put in place by authorities to detect disinformation, media coverage, and the resolution of election-related disputes. Observers will also assess the implementation of prior ODIHR election recommendations. The ODIHR election observation mission will conduct qualitative and quantitative monitoring of media coverage of the election campaign, including on social networks. On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results at all levels. For election day, the ODIHR's mission will join efforts with the delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 🔵 Read the press release: https://buff.ly/31n769W 🔵 Find out more about the mission: https://buff.ly/RH2arxv PS. Did you know? ODIHR has previously observed 15 elections and 2 referendums in Kazakhstan, most recently the 2023 early parliamentary elections and the referendum in March of this year. ODIHR carries out election observation across the OSCE region, on the invitation from the national authorities. Election observation missions assess the extent to which fundamental freedoms are respected in the campaign and if the elections are characterized by equality, universality, political pluralism, confidence, transparency and accountability. ODIHR’s mandate to observe elections comes from the OSCE commitments outlined in the 1990 OSCE Copenhagen Document, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. Since the Office’s establishment over 30 years ago, ODIHR has deployed more than 470 missions.

Kudos, dear Quentin, and many thanks to the excellent Youth Democracy Network / Community of Democracies for having us! Improving young people participation in politics is phenomenally important indeed and your efforts help make that happen. We’re proud of it. As Quentin points out, our tool helps to assess the practices and priorities of political porties, democracy's gatekeepers. We very much look forward to the the official methodology being released soon! 🙏🏼💯✅: Safayet Zamil Nowshan Daryna Onyshko Quentin Rumeau Yulia Netesova

Building more equal politics is not women's work alone. It belongs to all of us. When more people can participate fully in political life, our democracies become stronger. Equality is not about who steps aside. It is about who steps forward. Men in leadership have an important part to play in that shared effort. This week, ODIHR's CHANGE project and the OSCE Mission to Skopje brought together politicians, political party representatives, civil society, gender equality bodies and international organizations in North Macedonia to explore how men can be active partners in advancing women's full, equal and meaningful participation in politics. Over two days, participants shared experiences, discussed the barriers women continue to face, examined ways to respond to violence against women in politics, and explored how political leaders can help create institutions where everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Progress is strongest when responsibility is shared. That is how lasting change happens. 📸 Erina Prodanova Bogoeva Learn more about the CHANGE project in the comments.👇

📢 We're hiring! We're looking for an Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief to join ODIHR's Human Rights Department in Warsaw. In this role, you will: ✅ Develop and implement programmes promoting freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief across the OSCE region ✅ Work with governments, civil society and international partners to strengthen the protection of this fundamental human right ✅ Design capacity-building activities, monitor developments and provide expert advice on freedom of religion or belief You can learn more and apply by 16 July, here: https://buff.ly/PRI0hwg

We’re proud of this excellent collaboration with Centre for Development and Justice International (CDJI) ✅⬇️ Thank you very much Azamat, and thanks to our excellent Nini for making this happen. To all experts who joined us: Your presence is valued and it’s an honour we could host you in Vienna. Thank you for coming, thank you for your insights 🙏🏼

🇸🇮 What did our final report on Slovenia's 2026 parliamentary elections find? Swipe through the key findings and recommendations ⬇️

🇨🇿 What did ODIHR's final report on Czechia's 2025 parliamentary elections find? Swipe through the key findings and recommendations ⬇️

How to turn the absolute prohibition of torture into everyday practice? Today, in Vienna, ODIHR brought together justice professionals, law enforcement representatives, national human rights institutions, civil society and international experts to discuss practical ways to strengthen torture prevention across criminal justice systems. Organized together with the Centre for Development and Justice International (CDJI) on the margins of the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Preventing Torture and Ill-Treatment, the event focused on strengthening safeguards from the earliest stages of deprivation of liberty, improving police investigative interviewing, enhancing independent monitoring and oversight, and ensuring accountability, access to justice and effective remedies for victims. "Effective torture prevention safeguards not only individual rights, but also strengthens public trust, accountability and the rule of law," said ODIHR Director Maria Telalian. ODIHR thanks CDJI and all excellent speakers and participants for contributing their expertise. 📸 Micky Kroell

Join our election observation team. Last chance to apply. Election observation depends on people. ODIHR is recruiting for its upcoming Election Observation Activity in Kazakhstan, in anticipation of the announcement of early parliamentary elections and an official invitation to observe them. We are looking for: ☑️ Election experts to join the core team, including analysts in elections, law, politics, media, gender, campaign finance and voter registration, as well as senior leadership positions. ☑️ Local support staff based in Kazakhstan, including programme, administrative and regional positions supporting the observation mission across the country. If you have the experience and would like to contribute to independent, impartial election observation, we encourage you to apply. Learn more and apply here: https://buff.ly/r9E6m8P

The prohibition of torture is absolute. It is one of the most fundamental principles of international human rights law. Today, in Vienna, we joined representatives of OSCE participating States, international organizations, national human rights institutions, monitoring bodies, legal and medical professionals and civil society for the third Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting of 2026 on preventing torture and ill-treatment, organized by the Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the OSCE, with the support of ODIHR. "Preventing torture is not solely a legal obligation; it is a fundamental measure of our commitment to human dignity, justice, and the rule of law. It is a measure of our humanity," said ODIHR Director Maria Telalian. During this two day meeting, participants exchange good practices and discuss practical ways to strengthen safeguards against torture, improve independent monitoring and oversight and ensure justice, redress and rehabilitation for victims. 📸 Micky Kroell