HUMAN RIGHTS beginnings in 1975. Contrary to this, human rights defenders continued to be targeted in several participating States for their legitimate activities, suffering from physical attacks and threats, a lack of effective protection, and a lack of recourse to justice, as well as being stigmatized for their activities. Arbitrary inspections and judicial harassment remained two of the most common tactics to silence human rights NGOs. Moreover, human rights defenders were subjected to state surveillance and other interferences with their right to privacy, as well as undue restrictions to their freedom of movement. In some participating States laws that govern the operation of NGOs imposed burdensome administrative requirements and obstacles to the receipt of foreign funding. Human Rights in the Fight against Terrorism OSCE participating States have repeatedly acknowledged that genuine security can only be achieved where counter-terrorism measures are effective, proportionate and respectful of human rights and the rule of law. Yet, these commitments to protect human rights while countering terrorism often go unfulfilled. Terrorist threats have been invoked to justify the imposition of undue restrictions on human rights, including on the expression of dissenting views and on the work of civil society organizations. Some OSCE participating States have continued to adopt vague anti-terrorism legislation, to rely on discriminatory anti-terrorism measures, and to engage in mass surveillance in violation of international human rights standards. Torture and other ill-treatment, arbitrary detentions and a lack of respect of fair trial standards remained issues of concern in the antiterrorism context. National Human Rights Institutions Independent national human rights institutions (NHRIs) play an important role in monitoring and promoting the protection and defence of human rights. OSCE participating States have committed themselves to facilitating the establishment and strengthening of independent national institutions in the area of human rights and the rule of law. The establishment in 2013 of a Secretariat in Brussels for the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, formerly known as the European Group of NHRIs, was an important development in this respect. Forty-one NHRIs are now part of the network, which supports the establishment, capacity development and accreditation of NHRIs in the European region. Security Sector and Human Rights OSCE participating States have committed themselves to establishing accountable, effective, transparent and democratically controlled security forces. Key enabling factors include respect for human rights and gender principles, as reflected in the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, and other OSCE commitments. However, problems persisted in the security sector, such as gender-based discrimination, mistreatment and bullying of personnel, irregularities in conscription and disproportionate restrictions on military associations. Insufficient or non-existent independent oversight mechanisms and limited access for civil society compounded these problems. Trafficking in Human Beings In many OSCE participating States efforts to combat trafficking in human beings remain on the agenda, although progress has been slowed by a lack of resources. In some cases, gaps in meeting states’ obligations to combat trafficking have been partly addressed through efforts by NGOs and international organizations. Lack of human rights-compliant legal provisions, difficulties in the effective implementation of existing provisions and insufficient budgetary resources were among the main challenges faced by participating States in 2013. The lack of a victim-centered approach to the fight against trafficking often prevents trafficked persons from having access to justice and results in other human rights violations. Torture and Other Ill-treatment OSCE participating States have committed themselves to prohibiting and taking measures to prevent torture and other ill-treatment. Nevertheless, torture and other forms of ill-treatment remain pervasive in the OSCE area. Weak institutional mechanisms for the prevention and punishment of torture and other ill-treatment, inadequate training of law enforcement officers, poor detention conditions and the lack of robust accountability and oversight mechanisms continue to be significant challenges. In 2013 three OSCE participating States — Italy, Norway and Portugal — became parties to the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. ODIHR Annual Report 2013  /   43