The 2009 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting took place at the Sofitel Hotel, Warsaw, 28 September – 9 October. (OSCE/Piotr Markowski) M 31 onitoring and assessing the compliance of participating States with their commitments in the area of human rights and assisting them with the implementation of these commitments are core activities for ODIHR. Implementation remains a challenge in many areas and, in co-operation with numerous partners, including governments, civil society and international organizations, the Office continues to address key issues in this area. In so doing, ODIHR combines a thematic focus with a comprehensive approach to monitoring, reporting on and enhancing the implementation of human rights commitments. Main Issues Support for Human Rights Defenders and National Human Rights Institutions Human rights defenders and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) play a crucial role in promoting and protecting human rights. ODIHR seeks to advance the implementation of participating States’ commitments in support of the work of individuals, civil society and NHRIs working to defend these rights. The Office monitors the situation of human rights defenders throughout the OSCE region and develops programmatic activities, focusing on freedom of assembly and association, ODIHR Annual Report 2009 Human Rights