Foreword essential instruments in ensuring respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. In 2001, the ODIHR produced a compilation of human dimension commitments in order to facilitate access to them. This compilation has been an invaluable reference tool for all of us involved in promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. However, new pledges and decisions made by the OSCE call for a continued update. This revised compilation contains chronological and thematic parts, and is now published in two volumes due to its expanding body of commitments. In the end, it all comes down to what US President Gerald Ford said after signing the Helsinki Final Act thirty years ago, namely that it does not matter what promises we make, but what promises we keep. The OSCE participating States have created an impressive body of norms and principles in the area of the human dimension. I hope that the present publication will further promote the knowledge and the implementation of the many commitments that the OSCE participating States have made to benefit their one billion inhabitants. Ambassador Christian Strohal Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights  OSCE Human Dimension Commitments