Projects

Upon request, ODIHR supports OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation through the implementation of extra-budgetary projects tailored specifically to the needs and context of the requesting State, within the human dimension, including in the areas of democratic governance, legislative assistance, elections, women’s political participation, human rights and tolerance and non-discrimination.

Beneficiaries of the projects are decision- and policy-makers, legislators, academics, local experts and practitioners and civil society in the OSCE Mediterranean Partner States. Citizens benefit from sound legislation and practices that are compliant with international standards, allowing them to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms.

OSCE/ODIHR’s “Promoting democratic structures in Tunisia and among OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation” Projects, 2012-2014

In 2012 and 2013, ODIHR increased its engagement with OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation in accordance with its mandate through a series of projects aimed at promoting international standards and OSCE commitments for democracy and human rights. There was a focus on Tunisia, following a request from that government.

The projects focused on providing legislative support in the human dimension in the form of comprehensive legislative reviews and consultative meetings with key government authorities, including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Human Rights and Transitional Justice and the National Constituent Assembly of Tunisia. ODIHR’s assistance focused in particular on assistance in the fields of elections, freedom of assembly, independence of the judiciary, national human rights institutions, political parties, anti-terrorism and combating domestic violence.

ODIHR also contributed its expertise to events organized by international organizations, governments and civil society in Tunisia and other Mediterranean Partner countries on women and youth participation in politics and political parties, capacity-building of women candidates and youth leaders, and political party regulation. The Office’s partners included the UNDP, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Union for the Mediterranean, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the National Constituent Assembly of Tunisia and the Tunisian School of Politics.

The projects fostered the exchange of knowledge and experience between civil society and government representatives from the Mediterranean Partner States and representatives from the OSCE region, through mandated ODIHR activities such as the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting and the Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting. Participants from the Mediterranean Partner countries also took part in ODIHR training activities such as courses on Short-Term and Long-Term Election Observation and expert workshops.

ODIHR continues its support to the OSCE’s Mediterranean Partners in 2014-2015 as part of the second phase of its project, “Promoting democratic structures among OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation”. This phase will aim to further expand ODIHR’s engagement with these countries in the field of elections, strengthening parliaments, women’s political participation, the rule of law, human rights, and tolerance and non-discrimination.