Human Rights Human Rights Participating States have made extensive and detailed commitments in the area of human rights, and the monitoring and assessment of compliance with these commitments is a core activity for ODIHR. The effective implementation of these commitments remains a challenge in many areas, and for all participating States, so the Office, in co-operation with numerous partners, including governments and civil society and international organizations, has developed specific tools to fulfil its mandate to support participating States in the implementation of their human dimension commitments. ODIHR’s human rights programmes addressing key issues in the OSCE region combine a thematic focus with a common approach, to provide monitoring and reporting on the implementation of commitment, to support their implementation, and to address key human rights issues. The effective implementation of human dimension commitments in participating States depends on a combination of strong institutions, guarantees for a vigorous civil society, understanding the nature and importance of these commitments and, not least of all, political will. Main issues Support for Human Rights Defenders and National Human Rights Institutions In the Helsinki Final Act, in 1975, participating States confirmed “the right of the individual to know and act upon his rights and duties” regarding respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. In the Copenhagen Document, in 1990, OSCE participating States committed themselves to respect the rights of everyone, whether individually or in association with others, to study and discuss human rights, and to develop ideas for their improved protection and means for ensuring compliance. They also promised to “facilitate the establishment and strengthening of independent national institutions in the area of human rights and the rule of law, which may also serve as focal points for co-ordination and collaboration between such institutions in the participating States” (OSCE Copenhagen Document, 1990, para. 27). ODIHR works to assist participating States in implementing these commitments by improving the protection of human rights defenders and building the capacity of national human rights institutions. Human Rights Training and Education Human rights education is often associated with teaching human rights in schools, but human rights education is for everyone, both for young people and adults. It can take place in a variety of environments, both in formal educational settings, such as schools, universities and preservice and in-service training courses for officials, as well as in non-formal educational settings, where it is usually provided by civil society organizations and professional groups. ODIHR is involved in promoting high quality human rights education for many target groups, including staff members of OSCE field operations. Protecting Human Rights in the Fight against Terrorism Participating States have reaffirmed in their OSCE commitments that responses to the threat of terrorism must not unlawfully infringe upon, 36 ODIHR Annual Report 2010