In February, the ODIHR organized a training course for reforming legislation in this area. In particular, the Of- the field presences in the Caucasus region. Held in fice plans to publish guidelines on drafting legislation Yerevan, the course focused on detention visits and pertaining to the freedom of assembly in the first quar- trial-monitoring. ter of 2005. The Office is also planning a regional conference in Central Asia on problems and challenges in the area of legislation regarding the freedoms of as- Future priorities sembly and association. The ODIHR plans to continue to take a comprehensive The Office also plans to launch a programme on human rights in the armed forces, which will promote approach to the promotion and protection of human the protection of human rights in relation both to re- rights, both monitoring compliance with international cruiting and service in the armed forces. It will focus on standards and using education and training to foster the rights of individuals serving in the armed forces, as societies that respect those rights. well as those of conscientious objectors. In the area of human-rights training and education, With regard to combating trafficking in human beings, the ODIHR plans to train NGO representatives on how the ODIHR will seek to implement all tasks specifically to monitor state compliance with international stan- given in the Action Plan endorsed by the Maastricht dards; to raise awareness of human rights among the Ministerial Council, as well as to support and liaise with population at large, expanding the knowledge of indi- the new mechanism established in Vienna. The Office viduals of their rights and fundamental freedoms; and will provide support to participating States to develop to help governmental and non-governmental actors National Referral Mechanisms in line with the hand- improve their ability to respond adequately to human- book that was published in 2004. rights violations and to prevent further violations from occurring. The Office will also continue to train OSCE In the light of the adoption of a Gender Action Plan, field staff on human dimension issues, including the ODIHR’s Human Rights Department will expand its through two induction training courses in the first half focus on women’s rights. This will be carried out of 2005 and a training session on human-rights educa- through a two-fold strategy of integrating a gender tion in April. perspective into all of the department’s activities and by developing monitoring and projects with a special The ODIHR will be active in debates on methods for focus on women. combating terrorism, paying particular attention to the protection of human rights in this ongoing struggle. Assistance will also be given to states regarding the implementation of legal obligations and OSCE commitments related to terrorism. The ODIHR plans to monitor developments in the area of the freedoms of assembly and association, to raise awareness of these fundamental freedoms in OSCE participating States, and to provide expert advice on 60