Key issues in Liechtenstein foreign policy Within the bodies of the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE dealing with human rights, the focus of Liechtenstein’s work is on specific thematic issues. Liechtenstein’s main interests are in the fields of women’s rights, children’s rights, combating torture and the death penalty, strengthening international human rights structures and mechanisms, and combating impunity for the most serious violations of human rights. On the issue of women’s rights, Liechtenstein has in recent years been particularly involved in the political participation of women in countries going through a political transition period, as well as in the fight against violence against women, especially in conflict situations. Women’s and In January 2012, Liechtenstein – in collaboration with the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination (LISD) – organised a conference on implementation of the women, children’s rights stand at the centre of Liechtenstein’s human rights policy. peace and security agenda in Afghanistan. The conference in Schaan took place at a critical time, since the situation of women is in danger of deteriorating dramatically with the announced withdrawal of international force. In the field of children’s rights, Liechtenstein participated actively in the negotiations in the UN Human Rights Council on the Third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which introduces the right of individual complaint. Liechtenstein also advocated an expansion of the activities of the UN Security Council to protect children in armed conflicts. In addition to combating the recruitment of child soldiers, the activities now also include the protection of children from sexual violence and the punishment of attacks against schools. In connection with the fight against torture, Liechtenstein has repeatedly spoken in favour of the absolute prohibition of torture and has supported efforts aiming to prevent the torture and inhuman treatment of prisoners through appropriate measures. Liechtenstein also especially advocates the strengthening of international human rights structures and mechanisms. At the European level, Liechtenstein has been particularly involved in the reform of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Both at the political and expert level, Liechtenstein has advocated for years that the ECtHR continues to function smoothly as the main pillar of human rights protection in Europe and be able to master the large number of pending individual complaints. Liechtenstein’s proposals on ECtHR reform have in the past years repeatedly been included in the negotiation outcomes and reform measures. Liechtenstein continues to work on behalf of reform of the UN’s human rights structures. It can be considered a particular sign of confidence in Liechtenstein that the Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein at the United Nations was entrusted with the co-chairmanship of the Human Rights Council review process in New York in 2010. Additionally, Liechtenstein actively advocates strengthening of the treaty bodies, i.e. of the monitoring committees for the human rights agreements composed of independent experts. Measures in this regard are currently being negotiated in New York. Finally, within the framework of the OSCE, Liechtenstein has focused in recent years on advocacy for the work of ODIHR, the most important responsibility of which is election observation. | 57