OSCE/Thomas Rymer Overview by the ODIHR Director Over the course of 2012, people and their governments continued to struggle with the fallout from the economic and financial difficulties that have troubled many of the countries in the OSCE area for the past five years. The effects of belttightening both at the state level, as governments have been forced to cut spending, and for individuals, as increasing numbers have been unable to find or keep work and incomes have fallen, have been wide ranging. Those effects have posed new challenges and intensified existing ones in the work of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). In responding to these, one thing is clear: We — the authorities and civil society in OSCE participating States, and ODIHR in the assistance it provides to both — must not allow economic and financial difficulties to be used as an excuse for failure to meet these challenges. Many of these challenges can also be found in countries that have been touched little, or not at all, by recent financial difficulties. We must maintain our vigilance in promoting and defending the 4 ODIHR Annual Report 2012 human rights and security of all in the OSCE area, and in ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to have a voice in the making of decisions that directly impact his or her life. The challenges are significant, as can be seen in the pages of this report. Marginalized groups and communities, including Roma and migrants, have been the targets of violence in a number of countries, in attacks inflamed by intolerant rhetoric scapegoating them for the economic troubles. OSCE participating States have committed themselves to combat such hatemotivated crimes. The search for better economic opportunities continues to drive migration flows both into and within the OSCE area. Governments need to help ensure that these people do not become victims of trafficking in human beings, and countries can only benefit from earnest efforts to assist newcomers in integrating into their societies. Austerity measures in some participating States have meant reductions in the resources provided for the promotion and protection of human rights. National human rights institutions, which play an invaluable role in this process, have suffered reductions in the means at their disposal to monitor and help improve the human rights situation in their countries. These are just a few examples of the challenges we face. Fortunately, the authorities in participating States — those affected by economic difficulties, as well as those relatively untouched — are not alone in facing them. As recently as the OSCE Summit in Astana, in 2010, they highlighted the important role of civil society in helping ensure “full respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, including free and fair elections, and the rule of law”. At the 2012 Ministerial Council, in Dublin, I had the opportunity to meet with civil society representatives from across the OSCE area. Among the issues they raised on that occasion was the need for concrete steps to ensure the security and protection of human rights defenders — a need recognized by OSCE States as early as the 1994 Ministerial Council, in Budapest. This was a strong reminder that the implementation of this commitment requires greater attention. ODIHR is ready to provide assistance, in co-operation with civil society and the governments of participating States, in reducing the gap between this important commitment and the unfortunate reality. As part of its established work in the areas of human rights and democratization, the Office supported the Irish OSCE Chairmanship in bringing together representatives of governments and civil society, in November in Vienna, at a Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Freedom of Assembly and Association, to explore ways to better