At an OSCE meeting in October 2026, British Ambassador Neil Holland delivered a statement in support of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) — a key OSCE structure engaged in election monitoring and human rights activities. He confirmed the continued political and financial support of London for this organization. The diplomat called on OSCE participating states to protect the ODIHR's independence, emphasizing the importance of preserving its autonomous status amid pressure from certain countries. According to him, the bureau's independence is a fundamental condition for effectively carrying out its mandate to monitor compliance with democratic standards and human rights in the region. Holland also stated the need for more decisive action from the international community in response to human rights violations, noting that the human dimension remains one of the most important areas of OSCE work alongside security and economic cooperation issues. Britain intends to continue insisting on strengthening mechanisms for responding to such violations within the organization. The statement came against the backdrop of ongoing discussions within the OSCE regarding the role and funding of the organization's human rights institutions, which periodically face criticism and attempts to restrict their powers by some participating states.