Human Rights forces personnel. While recognizing that no single model can apply equally to every individual country, the manual will present examples from across the OSCE region of practices that have proved successful. Ultimately, it is hoped that participating States will adopt the recommendations outlined in the handbook and that this will lead to a reduction in the number of human rights violations within armed forces. The ODIHR also launched a series of roundtables last year on various thematic issues related to the human rights of armed forces personnel. The first two roundtables were dedicated to the “citizen in uniform” concept and to military unions and associations, and more are planned for 2007. The events were attended by participants from across the OSCE region, including representatives of ministries of defence and foreign affairs, armed forces, parliaments, national human rights institutions, and international and national non-governmental organizations. One of the key conclusions that emerged from these roundtables was that it is possible to reconcile the protection of human rights with the need for military discipline. The experience of many participating States has demonstrated that respect for the human rights of armed forces personnel contributes to military effectiveness, rather than detracting from it. IV. Monitoring compliance with human dimension commitments To implement human rights commitments effectively, states need to conduct systematic monitoring. Experience has shown that this can be developed and complemented by the activities of international organizations. While all of the ODIHR’s activities comprise elements of monitoring, some are targeted more specifically at developing the capacity of participating States in this regard. Trial-monitoring9 The purpose of trial-monitoring is to assess criminal-court proceedings in terms of their 9 For more on the ODIHR’s activities in this area, see “Rule of Law”, p. 26. compliance with OSCE commitments and international fair-trial standards. Trial-monitoring is concerned only with the fairness of a trial, not with the guilt or innocence of the accused. The information gathered through monitoring trials can form the basis for recommendations for reform, as well as contribute to institution-building projects conducted by the ODIHR and other international and national organizations. In 2006, the ODIHR completed two-year trial-monitoring projects in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan that were launched in 2004. Monitors observed criminal cases in order to measure the extent to which international fair-trial standards were upheld, in particular the right to a fair and public hearing, the principle of equality of arms, the principle of presumption of innocence, and the right to adequate and effective legal defence. Upon the completion of the monitoring of trials in April, preparation began on the production of monitoring reports that will be presented in 2007 to the government. The reports contain recommendations that aim to assist both countries with ongoing reforms in the sphere of criminal justice and to improve their compliance with OSCE commitments on the right to a fair trial. The ODIHR assisted the OSCE Mission to Moldova in establishing and implementing its own trial-monitoring project. In addition to financial support, the ODIHR provided one of the trainers for the first training session for trial monitors in March. The results of the first six months of the project will be published jointly by the Mission and the ODIHR in 2007. Assisting with the implementation of the ICCPR in Kazakhstan Having ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) at the end of 2005, Kazakhstan now faces the task of amending domestic legislation that is in conflict with the ICCPR. In 2006, the ODIHR and the OSCE Centre in Almaty supported a project called “Assisting in the Implementation of the International Cove- Annual Report  57