OSCE field operations and institutions, international organizations, NGOs, and NHRIs. The four areas of concern described in last year’s report remain largely the same this year: • Threats to, and attacks on, the physical integrity of human rights defenders; • Restrictions placed on the right to liberty and freedom of movement of defenders; • The curtailment of the freedom of association of human rights defenders; • The failure to respect and protect defenders’ freedom of assembly. It should be noted that Section 1 is not intended to provide a complete picture of individual cases; rather, the cases cited serve as illustrations of trends and patterns. The omission from this report of any particular incident should not be interpreted as meaning that ODIHR does not consider the victims in question to be human rights defenders. Similarly, the inclusion of any incident does not necessarily constitute an endorsement by ODIHR of any of the opinions expressed or actions taken by the human rights defenders in question. Section 2 highlights good practices based on a questionnaire sent to participating States (see Annex XI) and input from international organizations, NGOs, OSCE field operations and institutions, and NHRIs.9 Human rights defenders play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights. It is states, however, that bear the primary responsibility for implementing their commitments relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms. A non-exhaustive list of key OSCE commitments related to the work of human rights defenders can be found in Annex III to this report. Recent developments in the area of human rights defenders The OSCE’s activities in the field of human rights defenders are embedded in a wider international context that emphasizes the need to protect human rights defenders. In 1998, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders).10 Subsequently, in 2000, the UN secretary-general appointed a special representative on the situation of human rights defenders. The representative’s mandate was renewed by consensus in March 2008, and the position was transformed into a special rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council.11 9 Participating States, NHRIs, international organizations, OSCE field operations and institutions, and NGOs were also given an opportunity to comment on a draft of this report (see Annex II for a list of comments). 10 Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, UN General Assembly, Resolution A/RES/53/144, 9 December 1998. See Annex V. 11 “Mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders”, Human Rights Council, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/7/L.23, 25 March 2008. Margaret Sekaggya commenced her activities as special rapporteur on human rights defenders on 1 May 2008. See “Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to start functions on 1 May 2008”, United Nations, 30 April 2008, <http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/C51440CA52D3DFB3C125743D0027C00C?op endocument>. The former special representative, Hina Jilani, submitted two reports on her visits to South-Eastern Europe. See “Report of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the 7