tion, and minority rights, including staff with both academic and hands-on field experience. This diversity of backgrounds and experience are what make the ODIHR the flexible, responsive, and dynamic institution that it is. Recent years have witnessed internal reforms that allow the ODIHR to provide long-term, country-specific programmes that meet the needs of individual participating States, while never losing sight of individuals at the heart of our efforts. One example of how this works in practice is the use of experts and consultants with local knowledge and language skills, who provide a tremendous resource for implementing any programme, not only in terms of their expertise but also with respect to their ability to gain the trust of their target group, which more often than not includes individuals with similar backgrounds. When conducting legal-reform activities in the Commonwealth of Independent States, for example, the ODIHR relies almost exclusively on lawyers with training and experience in the CIS, most of whom come from Russia. This practice has no doubt added to the effectiveness of our efforts. But this rule applies equally to our full-time staff. Of the professional staff members, more than one-third come from countries of the CIS, while the rest come from all parts of Europe, as well as North America. This internal community of nations is a reflection of the make-up of the greater organization and represents the common values of all 55 of the OSCE’s participating States. ANNUAL REPORT 2005 7