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OSCE/ODIHR celebrates its 20th anniversary

07 February 2011 09:07 (UTC +04:00)

Created by the 1990 Charter of Paris, the then-Office for Free Elections began its work in Warsaw in the spring of 1991. Initially, the office was tasked with facilitating the exchange of information on elections. In the year of its 20th anniversary, ODIHR is a mature and well-respected institution with more than 140 staff from over 30 countries, a budget of 15.8 million euros, and activities across the entire OSCE region. Its growth over recent years has meant that ODIHRâ€™s offices are no longer sufficient. As a result, ODIHR is moving to new premises in Warsawâ€™s Old Town in February 2011. Looking ahead, ODIHR faces a number of challenges. There remains a significant gap between the commitments participating States have agreed to and the reality in a number of countries. In some cases, this gap is even widening. ODIHR will continue to use and develop the tools it has at its disposal to monitor, report, and provide assistance to participating States â€“ in the fields of election observation, democratization assistance, or human rights protection.