OSCE division and institutions - Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe

Human Dimension Institutions of OSCE
- The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) (established as the Office for Free Elections by the Paris Summit, 19-21 November 1990. Mandate expanded and name changed to Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in 1992)
- High Commissioner on National Minorities (Established by the Helsinki Summit in 1992)
- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (Established by the Copenhagen Ministerial Council in 1997)

1.) The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
- dedicated to building and supporting democracy and human rights protection
- the observation of elections
- reviewing legislation and providing advice
- training programmes
- Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings

2.) Human Rights and Democratization Departments
- Rule of law
- Democratic governance
- Gender equality
- Migration and freedom of movement
- Legislative support
- Human rights
- Tolerance and non-discrimination

3.) Election monitoring missions
- Fundamental OSCE principles: universal, equal, fair, secret, free, transparent, accountable
- an election is more than a one-day event,
- the legal and regulatory framework; the election administration; the election campaign, including the media environment; the complaints and appeals process; voting, counting, and tabulation; and the announcement of results.

4.) High Commissioner on National Minorities - Knut Vollebaek of Norway since 2007
- instrument of conflict prevention
- "early warning and, as appropriate, early action at the earliest possible stage in regard to tensions involving national minority
- recommends ways and means to de-escalate
tensions
- complete confidentiality, quiet diplomacy
- operates with the necessary degree of independence.

5.) OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media - Miklos Haraszti of Hungary since 2004
- to ensure free, independent and pluralistic media
- to "observe relevant media development in all participating States" in order to advocate full compliance with OSCE commitments regarding freedom of expression
-to address serious problems caused inter alia by obstruction of media activities and unfavourable working conditions for journalists.

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