Introduction S ince its origin in 1975 as the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), the OSCE has taken a comprehensive view of security. The human dimension of security — the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and the promotion of strong democratic institutions and the rule of law — is considered to be as important for the maintenance of peace and stability as are the politico-military or economic dimensions. All OSCE participating States are equally committed to upholding democratic principles and to observing the full range of human rights. And they have confirmed their commitment to these principles on countless occasions: k “Full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the development of societies based on pluralistic democracy and the rule of law are prerequisites for progress in setting up the lasting order of peace, security, justice and co-operation” (Copenhagen Document, 1990). k “Human rights and fundamental freedoms are the birthright of all human beings, are inalienable and are guaranteed by law. Their protection and promotion is the first responsibility of government” (Charter of Paris for a New Europe, 1990). k “Democratic government is based on the will of the people, expressed regularly through free and fair elections. Democracy has as its foundation respect for the human person and the rule of law” (Charter of Paris for a New Europe, 1990). k “Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law is at the core of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security” (Istanbul Document — Charter for European Security, 1999). The participating States have also agreed that 6 human dimension issues are not internal affairs but matters of immediate and legitimate concern to all other participating States. In fact, they have “categorically and irrevocably” declared that the "commitments undertaken in the field of the human dimension of the OSCE are matters of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States and do not belong exclusively to the internal affairs of the State concerned” (Moscow Document, 1991). The Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the main OSCE institution for the human dimension, meaning that it has the primary task of seeing that commitments such as those mentioned here are more than mere words. It does this both by monitoring their implementation by respective states and by conducting its own programmes that are aimed at helping states develop and uphold a democratic culture that will in and of itself respect and promote the ideals expressed in those commitments. To do this, the ODIHR develops and implements a broad range of programmes aimed at protecting human rights, strengthening democratic institutions, respecting the rule of law, promoting democratic electoral processes, combating intolerance and discrimination, and fostering civil society in all participating States. There is one underlying value behind all of the ODIHR’s programmes: namely, that of protecting and promoting the human rights of every individual in the OSCE region. To achieve this lofty goal, the ODIHR employs more than 130 staff members from some 30 different countries who are dedicated professionals in an array of areas of expertise, including lawyers, elections experts, and anti-trafficking specialists; individuals with experience in the fields of human rights education, monitoring places of deten- ANNUAL REPORT 2005