as environmental issues, risks compartmentalizing the so-called three dimensions of the OSCE’s work; this, in turn, has raised the danger of diluting the comprehensive security concept with the human dimension at its core, as it was developed during the 1990s. 23. States have committed themselves unambiguously and on numerous occasions to implement all their OSCE commitments in good faith and in co-operation with each other, as well as with the OSCE’s structures and institutions. Occasional or even regular non-compliance with the letter or the spirit of a commitment does not affect its normative character. The OSCE community has always been aware that implementation of OSCE commitments would never be complete to the extent that they become redundant. 24. It must remain the unshakeable conviction of participating States as well as of the OSCE’s bodies and structures that implementation is possible, desired by all and that the OSCE as an organization can make valuable contributions to move closer to the ultimate goal of “a free and democratic society in all participating States”.22 This formulation remains the firm basis for the work undertaken by the ODIHR. But it must also mean that States, individually and collectively, do not shut their eyes to serious and consistent non-compliance with commitments. E. Ten years after: the Lisbon agenda revisited 25. States have remained aware of practical chal- In Lisbon, participating States declared that lenges, and have identified shortcomings on reg- “among the acute problems within the human ular occasions. A decade ago, at the first Heads of dimension, the continuing violations of human State Summit to take place under the new OSCE rights, such as involuntary migration, and the name, as participating States gathered in Lis- lack of full democratization, threats to indepenbon to adopt the Declaration on a Common and dent media, electoral fraud, manifestations of aggressive nationalism, racism, chauvinism, xenoComprehensive Security Model for Europe for the phobia and anti-Semitism, continue to endanger Twenty-First Century, a number of acute prob- stability in the OSCE region.” lems were identified, all of which remain valid today. While in some areas much progress has been achieved, and the efforts to bring it about should be acknowledged, it is regrettable that 10 years after Lisbon, not only do these problems still persist, but several other issues of concern have also emerged that need to be addressed as a matter of urgency for the OSCE to remain true to its principles. 26. It is beyond the purview of the present report to offer a detailed and comprehensive record of instances of non-implementation of OSCE commitments across the spectrum of the human dimension. To attempt such would also duplicate much of the ongoing work itself. For instance, trafficking in human beings, the situation of Roma and Sinti, and the general progress of promoting gender equality all require special efforts and attention, as specific action plans adopted by ministers over the past three years demonstrate; the implementation of the relevant commitments and action plans is, however, far from satisfactory. These issues are, however, dealt with in separate procedures, which should not be duplicated here. This report can only outline a number of critical areas that require our joint efforts, and to 22  Lisbon Summit Declaration (DOC.S/1/96, 3 December 1996), para. 9. Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation