Code adopts a “citizen in uniform” approach. In the words of one commentator, “the Code of Conduct clearly establishes that the rights of their individual members do not stop at the barracks”.21 OSCE participating States have agreed to exchange information on the implementation of the Code of Conduct on an annual basis, responding to a questionnaire by 15 April every 23 year.22 Box 4.2 The OSCE Code of Conduct: Key Human Rights Features23 Rights of Armed Forces • Recruitment and call-up practices are to be consistent with human rights commitments (para. 27); • Domestic legislation shall reflect the human rights of members of the armed forces (para. 28); • Participating States will ensure the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by members of the armed forces, including appropriate legal and administrative procedures to protect their rights (paras. 32 and 33). Duties of Armed Forces to Respect Rights • The armed forces shall be politically neutral (para. 23); • States are required to disseminate and train members of the armed forces in international humanitarian law of war (paras. 29 and 30); • Armed forces personnel can be held individually accountable for violations of international humanitarian law (para. 31); • Armed forces are, in peace and in war, commanded, manned, trained, and equipped in accordance with the provisions of international law (para. 34); • Recourse to force in performing internal security missions must be commensurate with the needs for enforcement. The armed forces will take due care to avoid injury to civilians or their property (para. 36); • The use of the armed forces cannot limit the peaceful and lawful exercise of citizens’ human and civil rights or deprive them of their national, religious, cultural, linguistic, or ethnic identity (para. 37). 21  Victor-Yves Ghébali, “Revisiting the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security (1994)”, in Heiner Hänggi and Theodor H. Winkler, Challenges of Security Sector Governance (Berlin: DCAF and LIT Verlag, 2003). 22  OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation, Decision No. FSC.DEC/4/98 of 8 July 1998. 23  OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, Sections VII and VIII. 30 Handbook on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel