ANNUAL REPORT 2004 Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues The programme serves three purposes: (1) to make a governments, as well as to Roma populations and their systematic assessment of current policing policy and representatives. The ODIHR will also co-operate closely practices in relation to recommendations in the Action with other OSCE structures, such as the Senior Police Plan; (2) to strengthen the capacity of Roma NGOs to Advisor in the Secretariat, to mainstream Roma- and take part in regular assessments of police activities and Sinti-related needs and requirements in OSCE activities to co-operate with them in any actions taken subse- and interventions. quent to those assessments; and (3) to carry out a project with the ODIHR programme on tolerance and nondiscrimination on law-enforcement training in the area of hate crimes. The methods used for the assessments and any training will be documented and disseminated throughout the OSCE region as a model for good practices in implementing the Action Plan. Future priorities The ODIHR’s primary objective in the coming years will be the continued implementation of the Action Plan. And, of course, the ODIHR will continue to be active in its preparation of human dimension events in order to keep participating States, OSCE institutions and field missions, and Roma and related groups themselves informed about progress in the implementation of the Action Plan. In addition, activities will also be carried out that are aimed at increasing awareness of, and combating discrimination against, Roma and related groups, as well as at increasing their political participation. Building on the Action Plan, the ODIHR will also continue to engage local and national authorities in establishing mechanisms to monitor and improve relations between Roma and Sinti and the majority populations with the aim of preventing or managing potential conflicts, paying particular attention to settlements with mixed populations. In addition, the ODIHR will continue to monitor the human-rights situation of Roma and Sinti in order to act as an earlywarning mechanism for the OSCE; it will, whenever needed, provide guidance and support to national 77