Annexes Annex 1 OSCE/ODIHR Explanatory Note on Possible Additional Commitments for Democratic Elections, 11 October 2005 Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights OSCE/ODIHR EXPLANATORY NOTE ON POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS FOR DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS 11 October 2005 I. OVERVIEW Since 1975, the Human Dimension of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe has been active in creating norms and commitments related to human rights and democracy — the human dimension — which encompasses a broad array of fundamental freedoms, including democratic elections. Since its adoption in 1990, the Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension (the 1990 Copenhagen Document) has been the primary document setting forth OSCE commitments to support, protect and promote democratic governance and human rights, including those that are necessary for achieving democratic elections. Since 1990, OSCE participating States have been active on an ongoing basis in developing norms for democratic elections, and they have built upon the Copenhagen Document through a succession of Declarations and Decisions.  The Budapest Summit duly emphasized an election as a process, and decided that the ODIHR should play an enhanced role in election monitoring before, during and after elections. It also underlined the importance of free and independent functioning of the media. The Lisbon Summit Declaration cites the issue of electoral fraud in the context of a cross-dimensional regional security issue.  The Is  The Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) was renamed the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 1994.   See OSCE Human Dimension Commitments, 2nd edition, Vol. 1 (Warsaw, OSCE/ODIHR, 2005).   In the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, it is stated that “we undertake to build, consolidate and strengthen democracy as the only system of government of our nations”. Furthermore it states “democratic government is based on the will of the people expressed regularly through free and fair elections”, and “everyone also has the right…to participate in free and fair elections.” The Budapest Summit Declaration (paras. 8 and 14) states that “democratic values are fundamental” to OSCE participating States and these values are “a primary goal of CSCE action”. The Lisbon Summit Declaration (para. 4) recognizes the “democratization process” and management of “democratic gains” through “further development” and co-operation “in strengthening democratic institutions”. The Istanbul Summit Declaration (para. 26) states that OSCE participating States are committed to free and fair elections as “this is the only way in which there can be a stable basis for democratic development”. The Istanbul Charter for European Security (para. 19) states that “democracy is the core of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security”.   Concluding Document of Budapest, Decisions, Chapter VIII, para. 12.   Concluding Document of Lisbon, Declaration, para. 9. Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation 83