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Oskar Lehner (born on October, 21, 1955) is an Austrian lawyer and international expert in the field of capacity building, development of state institutions, election and human rights in (post)conflict countries.

Studies and academic activity
After studying law at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz, Austria (1974-78), he started worked as teaching assistant and associate professor at the JKU Institute for Austrian and German Legal History. In his 1988 PhD research he studied Contemporary Austrian Legal History with a focus on the history of Austrian family laws in the 19th and 20th century (Familie - Recht - Politik. Die Entwicklung des österreichischen Familienrechts im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert). After joining the UN Mission in Cambodia in 1993 he eventually left academia in 1994 in order to work as international expert for the UN, EU, OSCE and IFES in conflict and post/conflict countries. He specialized in the build-up of state institutions, capacity building, election, and protection of human rights.

Lecturing
While most of his lecturing took place at the JKU (1979 till 1994) he also lectured at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek (2006-2009) as well as at the University Vienna for the Vienna Master of Arts in Human Rights Course (2016).

Main Research Areas
While working at the JKU his research focused on the history of constitutional and family law, women’s and children’s rights, as well as on the process of the democratization of society. The center of his researches were the development of modern state structures and the development of rule of law during the period of the 18th-20th century. Guiding approach for his work was: What triggered legal changes? Who was able to succeed to manifest his/her interests, who took advantage, who was disadvantaged? In Österreichische Verfassungs- und Verwaltungsgeschichte (Austrian Constitutional History) he investigated how the development of Austrian constitutional law has been shaped by political interests and power struggles. In Familie – Recht – Politik (History of Austrian Family Law) he described how shifts in political power immediately impacted on the content of family legislation.

International Missions
Starting in 1993 with UNTAC (United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia) as Election Investigation Officer he worked in a number of conflict and post/conflict countries on strengthening state institutions (parliaments, election commissions, ombudsman institutions), capacity building, the organisation or observation of elections, and human rights protection.

He participated in the following international missions:

Publications

 * Österreichische Verfassungs- und Verwaltungsgeschichte (History of Austrian Constitutional Law), 4th ed., 1992/2006, 400 p.
 * Kinder- und Jugendrecht, Ed. (Textbook concerning children’s and juveniles legal status in Austria), 2 editions, 1993/97, 400 pages
 * Familie – Recht – Politik (History of Austrian family law in the 19th and 20th century), 1987, 700 pages
 * Seminar zur Oesterreichischen Frauenrechtsgeschichte (History of Women Rights in Austria), Ed. together with U. Flossmann, 2nd ed.1986, 140 pages,