The Human Dimension of the OSCE: An Introduction B. Institutions and implementation 1. The responsibility to implement OSCE human dimension commitments The human rights framework described above exists for the benefit of all people living in the OSCE area and, indeed, describes human rights and fundamental freedoms as “birth rights of all individuals”. The first responsibility for guaranteeing these rights lies with the OSCE participating States. The OSCE human dimension commitments are addressed — in line with other international human rights treaties — to the participating States. The commitments reinforce this general principle in stressing that “the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms is one of the basic purposes of government”. From the beginning, it was clear that formulating standards alone is not always sufficient for the effective implementation of human dimension commitments. International procedures should play an important complementary function in this regard. Consequently, the OSCE has created a set of procedures, conferences, and institutions that help to monitor and assist with the implementation of OSCE human dimension commitments. Unlike other human rights treaties, 3 the OSCE has not created a court or other individual petition body to ensure the implementation of OSCE commitments. This reflects the political character of the OSCE process and the intention not to duplicate existing mechanisms. To the contrary, the OSCE reinforces these important mechanisms and calls upon participating States to subscribe to these mechanisms and to abide by standards set by other international organizations. It is also important to note that the absence of an individual-complaints process does not preclude that individual cases might be brought to the attention of the political bodies of the OSCE. 2. Summits and other follow-up meetings As already mentioned, the Helsinki Final Act provided for regular follow-up conferences, reflecting the understanding that a continuous dialogue is needed to make the agreement effective. This process approach has created over time a refined system of political summits and other conferences where the implementation of OSCE commitments is discussed.4 3 See, for example, the European Convention of Human Rights establishing the European Court of Human Rights, or the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishing the UN Human Rights Committee. 4 OSCE summits and Ministerial Council meetings usually adopt new declarations and documents. Review conferences precede OSCE summits and discuss the compliance with OSCE standards and prepare the final document to be adopted at the subsequent summit. OSCE human dimension implementation meetings take place in years when no OSCE summit is scheduled and provide the forum for discussing the implementation of OSCE human dimension commitments. In addition, a human dimension seminar and three supplementary human dimension meetings are organized every year. For more information, see OSCE Handbook, 4th edition, Vienna 2000. xx OSCE Human Dimension Commitments