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, 2003-2008 x