Checks and Balances in Action: Strengthening Accountability through Parliamentary Oversight in OSCE Region

Parliamentary oversight keeps government power in check. It helps the public see how decisions are made and builds trust. In a time of polarization and strong executives, this role matters more than ever.

This webinar highlights why oversight should be a daily habit, not an afterthought. We’ll share practical examples from across the OSCE region and discuss what helps parliaments do this work well—clear rules, the right tools, and the will to use them.

We’ll also present ODIHR’s new publication, Parliamentary oversight of the executive in the OSCE region. It maps how oversight works in law and in practice—from committee inquiries to the powers of individual MPs—and points to approaches that travel well between countries.

Register and join us online, or view the live stream here

Objectives

• Raise awareness about the importance of parliamentary oversight in ensuring executive accountability and democratic governance
• Present key findings and good practices from ODIHR’s new comparative study on parliamentary oversight mechanisms across OSCE participating States
• Call upon OSCE national parliaments to strengthen legal frameworks, resources, and political will for effective parliamentary oversight

Agenda

Moderator: Yulia Netesova, Chief of Democratic Governance and Gender Unit, ODIHR

11:00-11:10 Opening remarks

• MP Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, President of the OSCE PA, Member of the Senate of Spain
• Tea Jaliashvili, First Deputy Director, ODIHR

11:10-11:40 Good practices and lessons learned in the OSCE space

• MP Ulrik Nilsson, Member of the Riksdag, Member of the Committee on the Constitution, Sweden
• MP Marina Pendeš (HDZ BiH), Delegate in the House of Peoples, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Jorum Duri, Research Specialist, Transparency International  

11:40-11:50 Presentation of the ODIHR publication: Parliamentary oversight of the executive in the OSCE region

• Dinara Dildabekova, Associate Project Officer, ODIHR

11:50-12:00 Closing remarks

Registration

Please register for the event using this link.

After registering, you will get a Zoom link by e-mail.

The event will take place online in English, via Zoom. It will be recorded and later shared on ODIHR’s YouTube channel.

You can also watch the live stream directly on this page.

We especially encourage to join: 

• Members of national parliaments of OSCE participating States and parliamentary staff, particularly those engaged in oversight activity
• Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and relevant staff
• Delegations of OSCE participating States
• Representatives of OSCE executive structures and field operations
• Experts and practitioners working on parliamentary oversight and democratic accountability in international organizations
• Academics, researchers, and civil society representatives focused on oversight, transparency, and democratic governance
• Advocates for inclusive and accountable governance across the OSCE region

Contact

If you have any questions about the content, registration or participation, please contact Dinara Dildabekova at Dinara.Dildabekova@odihr.pl.