Democratization access to employment and education, and participation in electoral processes. This information can be made available by modernizing existing, or developing new, population registration systems that do not restrict people’s freedom of movement. kk Insufficient exposure to international legislative standards: Governments and lawmakers in the OSCE region are not always fully aware of the consequences for the national legal system of the treaties, conventions, and other international instruments that they have ratified. Experience has shown that international human rights norms are not always properly interpreted or are insufficiently reflected in domestic legislation. This applies in particular to narrowly defined limitation clauses in human rights treaties. kk Inefficient and non-transparent legislative processes: In many countries, there is insufficient awareness of the need to manage the legislative process in its entirety, as opposed to relying on fragmented rules and inadequately co-ordinated procedures. Often, laws are adopted without the involvement of those who will eventually be affected by the legislation. Or a law will be hastily adopted without first being evaluated at the drafting stage. More often than not, the result is ineffective legislation that fails to fulfil the purpose for which it was adopted and that, furthermore, necessitates frequent revisions that could put public confidence at risk. Activities In assisting participating States with institutionbuilding, ODIHR’s aim is to help governments become more responsive, responsible, and representative. It does this through programmes in the following five areas: kk Rule of law; kk Civil society and democratic governance; kk Gender equality; kk Migration/freedom of movement; and kk Legislative support. 22 Annual Report 2007 ODIHR organized a Human Dimension Seminar on “Effective Participation and Representation in Democratic Societies” in 2007. In addition, ODIHR followed up on its 2006 report Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation by contributing to the discussions at the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting on the newly introduced topic of separation of powers, a key to strengthening democratic governance. I. Rule of law Commitment to the rule of law encompasses not only adherence to existing legislation, but also fostering and maintaining institutions that ensure democratic law-making, protection of human rights, and proper administration of justice. ODIHR puts a special emphasis on strengthening that institutional framework. ODIHR’s activities may be grouped into three clusters: (1) supplying policy makers with the information and tools they need for reform and to ensure better implementation of OSCE commitments; (2) working with legal communities and other stakeholders to enhance their role in strengthening the rule of law; and (3) co-operating with OSCE field operations, international organizations, and other actors that promote the rule of law by sharing strategies, methodologies, and experiences. Trial-monitoring Trial-monitoring has been conducted by ODIHR and many of the OSCE’s field operations. It is an important tool for collecting data on the functioning of the judicial system and on implementation of fair-trial standards. The findings gained through standardized, objective procedures provide information on shortcomings and needs, and help to identify priorities for policy makers and assistance-providers. Recommendations aim to improve the quality of administration of justice. Trial-monitoring is also an effective tool for observing the right to a fair trial in individual cases. OSCE field operations, especially those in South-Eastern Europe, have a wealth of