formalities, and consider possibilities for the reciprocal abolition of entry visas on the basis of agreements between them.”329 227. Participating States have underlined the importance of freer movement and con- tacts in the OSCE region for the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this context, they have committed themselves to allow members of human rights monitoring groups and NGOs seeking to defend human rights “to have unhindered access to and communication with similar bodies within and outside their countries and with international organizations”.330 In this vein, they have reaffirmed their pledge to simplify visa application procedures by ensuring that applications are processed as expeditiously as possible and by reducing fees charged in connection with visa applications to the lowest level possible.331 Furthermore, they have committed to facilitating visits to their countries by NGOs from any of the participating States in order to observe human dimension conditions.332 228. Despite these and other commitments, human rights defenders in some partici- pating States continue to face severe obstacles to their freedom of movement from and within their own countries and to other countries. This significantly limits and often prevents human rights defenders from carrying out their legitimate activities as it restricts, for example, their physical access to a particular geographical area, target group, an assembly or human rights conference or training event located within or outside their own country. As noted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, such travel restrictions are contrary to the spirit of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the recognition that individuals, groups and associations have the right to promote respect for and foster knowledge of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels.333 In some participating States, human rights defenders report being subjected to harassment when they return to their own countries after attending human rights events abroad. Furthermore, the overly restrictive application of visa regulations by participating States and related bureaucratic procedures often impede the participation of human rights defenders in activities abroad, including in human rights monitoring or fact-finding missions, international consultations, networking and capacity-building events. 229. Right to leave and return to one’s country: Participating States should ensure that human rights defenders fully enjoy the right to leave any country, including their own. Undue restrictions on the exercise of this right, such as unreasonable 329  Ibid. para. 22. 330  Copenhagen 1990, para. 10(4). 331  Ibid. paras. 19, 19(1) and 19(2). 332  Moscow 1991, para. 43.2. 333  The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, “Commentary to the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society, to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms”, July 2011, p. 53. Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders 105