This handbook is intended to provide basic guidance for dealing with complaints of individual human rights violations received by OSCE missions and other field operations.1 Because missions receive such a wide variety of complaints, this handbook cannot be exhaustive. Likewise, it is not intended as a substitute for in-depth human rights expertise and training. Instead, its aim is to provide the essential background information needed by field operations faced with individual complaints, together with a basic set of procedures and options for possible action. An effort has been made to indicate where more detailed background information can be found if needed.2 This handbook starts from the premise that human rights are an integral part of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security. All OSCE participating States have agreed to be bound by a broad set of human rights commitments. All OSCE personnel and all field operations – whatever their specific mandates – are bound by these commitments and have a responsibility to ensure that their activities contribute to the fulfilment of OSCE principles and commitments. This is the broad framework within which OSCE field operations may be faced with individual complaints. The particular mandate of each field operation, as well as the circumstances in the host country, will define to a considerable extent how it should respond to individual complaints of human rights violations. An OSCE field operation is likely to become involved in individual complaints either because human rights are a specific part of its mandate or because alleged human rights violations are brought to its attention by individuals or others in the course of other activities. Experience suggests that every field mission will, at least from time to time, receive complaints from individuals that their human rights have been violated. The extent to which field missions can take up such cases depends on a number of factors, including their size and resources. In large missions with an extended network of field offices, it is often possible to monitor general trends, to investigate individual incidents, and to react systematically to allegations. Small field operations will necessarily be more limited in how they can react. Even small operations, however, have a variety of options at their disposal for dealing with individual complaints, and they may request support from other OSCE political bodies or institutions if circumstances merit. Based on a survey of the smaller OSCE field operations, this guide focuses on the particular types of violations and situations most likely to come to the attention of OSCE field personnel. 1 2 For simplicity, the terms “mission” and “field operation” are used interchangeably throughout this handbook to refer to all types of OSCE establishments in the field, including missions, offices, centres, presences, and other such operations. For a more detailed manual on human rights monitoring in general, see Training Manual for Human Rights Monitoring, Professional Training Series No. 7, UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 13