Human Rights of Armed Forces Personnel Relevant OSCE Commitments The participating States have agreed to a number of binding commitments concerning specific human rights. These commitments apply to everyone, including members of the armed forces. Box 2.1: OSCE commitments on human rights10 Right OSCE Commitment Relevant Chapter Right to effective remedies [The participating States will] ensure that effective remedies as well as full information about them are available to those who claim that their human rights and fundamental freedoms have been violated. (Vienna 1989) Chapters 3 and 4 The participating States will consider acceding to a regional or global international convention concerning the protection of human rights, such as the European Convention on Human Rights or the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provide for procedures of individual recourse to international bodies. (Copenhagen 1990) Right to equal participation in political and public affairs The participating States will accordingly respect the right of their citizens to take part in the governing of their country, either directly or through representatives freely chosen by them through fair electoral processes. Chapter 5 The participating States will […] respect the right of citizens to seek political or public office, individually or as representatives of political parties or organizations, without discrimination. (Copenhagen 1990) Freedom of association 10 30 [The participating States] affirm that, without discrimination, every individual has the right to […] freedom of association and peaceful assembly. (Paris 1990) Chapters 5 and 7 OSCE Human Dimension Commitments, Volume 1: Thematic Compilation (Warsaw: ODIHR, 2011), 3rd ed., https://www.osce.org/odihr/76894; OSCE Ministerial Council, Decision No. 3/13, “Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion or Belief”, Kyiv, 6 December 2013, https://www.osce.org/mc/109339; and OSCE Ministerial Council, Decision No. 4/18, “Preventing and Combating Violence against Women”, 7 December 2018, https:// www.osce.org/chairmanship/406019.