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Home Resources COVID-19 pandemic: ODIHR activities and publications
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COVID-19 pandemic: ODIHR activities and publications

(OSCE)

As the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the OSCE region, ODIHR is closely following the challenges it brings for democracy and human rights. 

In response to the ever-growing number of countries across the OSCE region declaring states of emergency in order to stem the rapid spread of COVID-19, ODIHR is systematically monitoring the effect of these decisions on their official commitments to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and adhere to the principles of democratic governance and the rule of law, including the need to maintain fully functioning justice systems.

This section of the website contains public statements as well as ongoing projects related to the pandemic and its aftermath.

  • Fair Trial Rights and Public Health Emergencies
    The recommendations in this policy brief are a part of ODIHR’s ongoing efforts to respond to human rights challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the OSCE.
    Report
    24 May 2021
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  • Human Rights and Gender Equality during Public Emergencies
    How Women Are Impacted By Restrictions To Fundamental Freedoms And Human Rights: Observations From The Covid-19 Pandemic
    Guide / manual / handbook
    8 December 2020
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  • The Functioning of Courts in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Primer
    This report seeks to provide guidance to address challenges for the functioning of courts during pandemic related states of emergency, curfews and lockdowns.
    Report
    2 November 2020
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  • National Human Rights Institutions in a Public Emergency: A Reference Tool
    This reference tool aims to assist national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in the exercise of their functions during times of public emergency and post-emergency.
    Report
    6 October 2020
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  • OSCE Human Dimension Commitments and State Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
    This report is the culmination of ODIHR's efforts to respond to human rights challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the OSCE.
    Report
    17 July 2020
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  • ODIHR guidance: Monitoring Places of Detention through the COVID-19 pandemic
    This guidance is part of ODIHR’s ongoing efforts to respond to human rights challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the OSCE. It is a joint publication with APT, which provides strategic support to National Preventive Mechanisms and other detention monitoring bodies around the world.
    Guide / manual / handbook
    2 June 2020
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  • Overcrowded shelters put migrants at unacceptable risk amidst pandemic, OSCE human rights head says
    Warsaw, 4 May 2020 – The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought home how many migrants are confined to overcrowded spaces with very little freedom to move around or keep a safe distance to others, and how dangerous this can be, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said today. At the same time, ODIHR is working with countries across the region to build on the good practices that are being developed in many places...
    Press release
    4 May 2020
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  • Opinion on the Draft Act on Special Rules for Conducting the General Election of the President of the Republic of Poland Ordered in 2020 (Senate Paper No.99)
    This Opinion was prepared by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following a request from the Commissioner for Human Rights of Poland received in April 2020.
    Report
    27 April 2020
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