 • Human Rights Defenders in the OSCE Region NGOs in Europe setting out minimum standards in this field, which was adopted on 10 October 2007 by the CoE Committee of Ministers.4 In November 2006, a Colloquy held by the Council of Europe on “Protecting and Supporting Human Rights Defenders in Europe” identified issues affecting human rights defenders. A number of conclusions were drawn by the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights.5 Following the Colloquy, the CoE Group of Specialists on Human Rights Defenders began its work on preparing a report and drafting a Committee of Ministers Declaration on the protection of human rights defenders and promotion of their activities. In June 2004, the Council of the European Union adopted guidelines on human rights defenders that provide practical suggestions for enhancing EU action in support of human rights defenders. The guidelines promote the role of EU missions in supporting and protecting human rights defenders and provide for intervention for those at risk. This report follows a number of OSCE meetings highlighting the situation of human rights defenders. It responds, in particular, to recommendations made at the March 2006 Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on “Human Rights Defenders and National Human Rights Institutions: Legislative, State and Non-State Aspects”.6 In follow-up to this meeting, the ODIHR established a focal point to monitor and report on the situation of human rights defenders in the OSCE region and to strengthen systematic involvement with national human rights institutions in this regard (See Annex II)”. Most recently, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, at its annual meeting on 59 July 2007 in Kyiv, adopted a Resolution on Strengthening OSCE Engagement with Human Rights Defenders and National Human Rights Institutions (see Annex IV). Recent Positive Developments and Responses in the OSCE Region This report highlights key issues regarding the situation of human rights defenders 4 CoE Committee of Ministers, 10 October 2007, Recommendation, “Fundamental Principles on the Status of Non-governmental Organisations in Europe”, <https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?Ref=CM/ Rec(2007)14&Language=lanEnglish&Ver=original&Site=CM&BackColorInternet=9999CC&BackColo rIntranet=FFBB55&BackColorLogged=FFAC75>. 5 CoE, Commissioner for Human Rights, Colloquy “Protecting and Supporting Human Rights Defenders in Europe”, Strasbourg, 13-14 November 2006, <http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/ Activities/event_files/061113HRdefenders_en.asp>. 6 OSCE SHDM, “Human Rights Defenders and National Human Rights Institutions: Legislative, State and Non-State Aspects”, Final Report, Vienna, 30-31 March 2006, <http://www.osce.org/ item/18830.html>.