The chapters that follow are intended to serve as a practical guide for OSCE field operations faced with individual complaints. PART I outlines the basic context of the work of OSCE field operations on human rights issues. It provides a brief overview of the OSCE’s human dimension and the nature of OSCE commitments on human rights. It explains that, since the OSCE sees human rights as a core element of security, all OSCE field personnel should be aware of, and prepared to take appropriate action on, human rights issues. PART I also provides an overview of the OSCE political bodies and institutions that deal with human rights issues and some of the precedents for OSCE action in case of human rights violations. Their work is not limited to countries with OSCE field operations. Human rights violations may, and do, occur in all OSCE participating States. This handbook may also be used to guide actions by NGOs, human rights defenders, government officials, and so on. PART II defines individual complaints of human right violations. It offers guidance on how to prepare a file, interview a complainant, investigate a case, and report on the findings. It also provides an overview of OSCE and other international standards with regard to a number of the types of human rights violations most likely to come to the attention of OSCE field operations through individual complaints. PART III discusses the various options and approaches available to OSCE field operations if they judge that an individual complaint, or pattern of complaints, merits action by the OSCE. It outlines types of domestic referral mechanisms, actions that can be taken by the mission itself, possible action that can be recommended to other OSCE bodies, and the role of other international organizations in dealing with individual complaints. It is also recommended that focused training seminars be conducted on a regular basis as a complement to this handbook. 15