Introduction T he commitments that 56 States have undertaken within the framework of the OSCE include the highest standards of human rights, the rule of law, and democracy — what is referred to within the OSCE as the human dimension. More than three decades ago, when the CSCE adopted the Helsinki Final Act in an attempt to lay down a basic framework for international co-operation, few would have predicted what would become of that process. The Helsinki momentum spurred on the efforts to build a new order in Europe following the end of the Cold War confrontation. From then on, human rights, the rule of law, and democracy have been recognized as indisputable pillars of this new order, as well as core elements of a new security concept. This was a novelty in international relations. Never before had so many diverse countries shared so many principles and values, and agreed to hold each other mutually accountable to their commitments. The ideas first established within this Organization have since emerged as the cornerstone of a new vision on a global scale. The 2005 World Summit Outcome reconfirms the basic principles for international relations agreed upon in Helsinki in 1975, and makes them a global standard accepted by all. The OSCE has thus proven to be a model for the wider international community’s search for peace. By intertwining respect for human rights with the development of security, co-operation, and intergovernmental relations, the OSCE established that a country systematically violating the fundamental liberties of its own citizens could not be internationally trusted, or, in other terms, that foreign policy has to be assessed against the background of domestic policy. This model is based on political commitments that are made effective through peer review and political accountability, public scrutiny, and the assistance and advice of missions and institutions set up specifically for this purpose. The OSCE has consistently deepened and developed its commitments on human rights and democracy, so that a decade and a half onwards, the commitments undertaken in Copenhagen, Paris, and Moscow remain beacons for wider global development. They lay down the standards for functioning, accountable, open, and transparent democratic systems as the only form of government, and confirm that the protection of human rights is the primary responsibility of government. The year 2005, the 30th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and the 15th anniversary of the Charter of Paris, was a time of stock-taking and reflection. While much progress has been achieved since the adoption of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, numerous challenges remain in terms of actually implementing these standards. As pointed out by the Panel of Eminent Persons on Strengthening the Effectiveness of the OSCE, unresolved conflicts, postCommon Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation ix