Holding OSCE states accountable for implementing human dimension commitments: the role of National Human Rights Institutions in independent evaluation reporting

Abstract

All states participating in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have committed themselves to human rights and democracy norms. In the OSCE there is currently no regular, country-based system to monitor the implementation of these commitments. Therefore Switzerland initiated an independent evaluation of national implementation during its OSCE chairmanship in 2014. Germany consolidated this process in 2016. With this paper, the German Institute for Human Rights wants to share its experiences with the evaluation process and give food for thought on how other National Human Rights Institutions can make use of it.