Democratization Migration/Freedom of Movement Population mobility is an increasingly common phenomenon throughout the world. As people in the OSCE region move both within their countries and between countries, migration patterns are becoming more complex than ever. Migration can be a positive factor in economic and social development and can contribute to understanding among cultures and to democratization trends. But migrants can also become victims of negative stereotyping, intolerance, and violations of human rights. The OSCE has developed a number of important commitments to facilitate the movement of people across borders, as well as within their own countries. The ODIHR assists participating States in their efforts towards further compliance with OSCE commitments on migration, freedom of movement, treatment of migrant workers, and treatment of citizens of other participating States. There remain serious obstacles to protecting the human rights of migrants in the OSCE region. Restrictions still exist in many places on the movement of citizens within their own country and between countries, while the lack of information on migration laws and the policies of other participating States poses a challenge to citizens and governments alike. Moreover, there are persistent misconceptions throughout the OSCE region about the impact of migrants and a lack of understanding of the benefits of migration. Migration and integration have also increasingly received attention from participating States in the OSCE context, as the Economic Forum and the Human Dimension Seminar, as well as the Mediterranean Seminar, in 2005 were devoted to these issues. Zafar Khakimov, Director of the Kyrgyz Migration Service Department, at an ODIHRsupported meeting between the authorities of Kyrgyzstan and Russia’s Sverdlovsk Region OSCE in February. 40 ANNUAL REPORT 2005