During the coming months, the OSCE should be able to conclude the process of internal reflection and, with the impetus from the Ministerial Council of Ljubljana, find practical ways to fulfil the mandate of the last Summit in Istanbul “to further increase the effectiveness of the Organization to deal with cases of clear, gross, and continuing violations of those principles and commitments”. Here and now With all of the reflection and reform, it would be easy to lose sight of the fact that the Organization continued its work, concentrating very much on helping people here and now. The ODIHR continued to develop its programmatic activities within the framework of its five thematic programmes: Democratization, Elections, Human Rights, Tolerance and Nondiscrimination, and Roma and Sinti Issues. As Europe’s leading election observation agency, the ODIHR conducted eight observation missions, in addition to monitoring elections in longer-standing and post-transitional democracies in the OSCE region through the deployment of two assessment missions. The Organization’s ability to react quickly to unfolding crises was tested in 2005. After the violent events in Andijan in May, the Chairman-in-Office felt compelled to inform the participating States of serious cases of alleged nonimplementation of human dimension commitments, on the basis of information provided by the ODIHR. In Kyrgyzstan, the ODIHR was able to contribute to the OSCE’s efforts to stabilize the situation after the turbulent events in March following the flawed February elections. Problems affecting human security continue to challenge the Organization and its participating States year after year: far too many peo- ANNUAL REPORT 2005 ple are deprived of access to security because they are refugees or internally displaced persons, victims of trafficking in human beings, or human rights defenders and journalists who do not enjoy fundamental freedoms like those of expression, association or assembly; furthermore, the threat of terrorism is also threatening the balance between state power and individual rights and freedoms. Despite some progress in these areas, much work remains to be done. We need to improve capacities to protect, prevent, and prosecute. We need to maintain an approach centred on the rights of individuals in order to be faithful to the commitments, and to the Organization’s security concept. We need to give effective redress to victims. And we need to keep the debate on target: implementing commitments effectively, throughout the region. This report provides insights into the scope and impact of our activities. Together with our publications and website, it should be seen as an invitation for feedback. I wish to thank our many partners throughout the OSCE region, including OSCE field missions, institutions, and the Secretariat, as well as other international organizations and participating States, for their continued support and co-operation. Special thanks go to Minister Rupel and his Chairmanship teams in Ljubljana and Vienna for their untiring support. And my warmest thanks go again to the dedicated staff of the ODIHR. Ambassador Christian Strohal ODIHR Director 5