What is the history of the OSCE in Ukraine?

The first OSCE Mission began its work on 24 November 1994 and was headquartered in Kyiv with a branch office in Simferopol. Its tasks included conflict prevention and crisis management in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. After the successful completion of its mandate, the OSCE Mission to Ukraine ceased to function in 1999. The same year, the OSCE and the Government of Ukraine agreed to establish a new form of co-operation.

What is the purpose of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine?

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator is the second OSCE field operation to have been established in Ukraine. According to the Permanent Council Decision No.295 of 1 June 1999, an OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine was established for the purpose of carrying out tasks related to the new form of co-operation between Ukraine and the OSCE. This co-operation consists of the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects between relevant authorities of Ukraine and the OSCE and its institutions. Such projects may cover all aspects of OSCE activities and may involve governmental as well as non-governmental bodies of Ukraine.

How to become an election observer?

The OSCE Project Coordinator's Office is not responsible for election observation. The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the principal institution of the OSCE that is responsible for the observation of elections. The ODIHR does not recruit observers directly. Observers are generally seconded to the ODIHR by OSCE participating states.

When a decision is made to observe an election the ODIHR requests long and short-term observers by notifying the delegations of OSCE participating states in Vienna.

The procedure for recruiting observers varies from country to country, but the process is generally coordinated by the respective foreign ministries. As a rule it is the sending States that cover the costs of observers.

For more information regarding the procedures for recruiting observers your Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be contacted. International citizens working abroad who want to volunteer as observers should contact their respective embassies.

What is the purpose of ODIHR?

In accordance with its mandate, the ODIHR:

• Promotes democratic election processes through the in-depth observation of national and local elections and conducts election assistance projects that enhance meaningful participatory democracy;
• Provides practical support in consolidating democratic institutions and uses long-term programmes and targeted projects to strengthen civil society and democratic governance practices; programme activities are divided into two primary areas: longer-term, multi-year, institutional and capacity-building programmes; and shorter-term, high-impact projects;
• Assists OSCE field missions in implementing their human dimension activities, including through training, exchange of experiences, and regional co-ordination;
• Contributes to early warning and conflict prevention by monitoring the implementation of OSCE human dimension commitments by participating States; provides regular human rights training for government authorities, civil society, and OSCE staff;
• Assists participating States with the implementation of international legal obligations and OSCE commitments on terrorism in line with human rights principles;
• Serves as the OSCE Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues; promotes the full integration of Roma and Sinti groups into the societies in which they live;
• Organizes regular meetings on the implementation of human dimension commitments, such as the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, the annual Human Dimension Seminar, and Supplementary Human Dimension Meetings