Foreword T hroughout the OSCE’s work in 2005, the two recurring themes of reflection and reform played a prominent role. The coincidence of a number of important anniversaries — 60 years since the end of World War II and the liberation of AuschwitzBirkenau; 30 years since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, the Organization’s founding document; 25 years since the beginning of the Solidarity movement in Poland, which played a major role in bringing an end to the rift that divided Europe and much of the world; and 15 years since the signing of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, a milestone document that foresaw a new era of peace and stability in much of the OSCE region — provided opportunities throughout the year to look back on the events and individuals that shaped the Organization. Each of these anniversaries marks an important link in a chain of events that has stretched across the OSCE region for the past sixty years, since long before the Organization was founded. Those links represent the values and principles — freedom, democracy, universal human rights — that the OSCE stands for, as well as the countless struggles, whether of individuals or of nations, to ensure that the rights and dignity of every man, woman, and child are recognized and protected. These values and principles are found in the many commitments that the Organization’s 55 participating States have undertaken since 1975. In order to mark the events commemorated in 2005, the ODIHR produced an updated version of its publication OSCE Human Dimension Commitments. Published in two volumes — organized thematically and chronologically — this collection demonstrates the significant body of political norms that have been developed by the OSCE community over the past 4 three decades, norms that have proven time and again the Organization’s leading position with respect to the protection of human rights and the promotion of democracy. The reform process While reflection can be a valuable exercise under any circumstances, it can also provide a reference point for reform, which was the second major OSCE theme of 2005. In the wake of calls by several participating States for a rebalancing of the OSCE’s three dimensions, 2005 was, in many ways, dominated by this debate. In an Organization-wide context, a Panel of Eminent Persons was appointed to review proposals and make recommendations on how the OSCE could and should continue to function in the years ahead. One of its recommendations was that any strengthening of one part of the OSCE should not lead to the weakening of the Organization’s institutions. The ODIHR, the Organization’s largest institution both in terms of personnel and scope of mandate, also responded to calls to reform its most-visible activity, election observation. A Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting provided a forum to discuss issues related to election technologies and procedures, and the Russian Central Election Commission also hosted an ODIHR expert meeting dedicated specifically to election observation. While the ODIHR has responded to calls for change by expanding its efforts to conduct observation or assessment missions in long-standing democracies, the debate over election observation has shown that the ODIHR’s methodology is sound, transparent, and proven to be effective in helping states meet their election-related commitments, provided the necessary political will is maintained. ANNUAL REPORT 2005