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(26) The participating States recognize that vigorous democracy depends on the existence as an integral part of national life of democratic values and practices as well as an extensive range of democratic institutions. They will therefore encourage, facilitate and, where appropriate, support practical co-operative endeavours and the sharing of information, ideas and expertise among themselves and by direct contacts and co- operation between individuals, groups and organizations in areas including the following:
constitutional law, reform and development,
-electoral legislation, administration and observation,
-establishment and management of courts and legal systems,
-the development of an impartial and effective public service where recruitment and
advancement are based on a merit system,
-law enforcement,
---local government and decentralization,
-access to information and protection of privacy,
developing political parties and their role in pluralistic societies,
-free and independent trade unions,
-co-operative movements,
developing other forms of free associations and public interest groups,
-journalism, independent media, and intellectual and cultural life,
-the teaching of democratic values, institutions and practices in educational
institutions and the fostering of an atmosphere of free enquiry.
Such endeavours may cover the range of co-operation encompassed in the human dimension of the CSCE, including training, exchange of information, books and instructional materials, co-operative programmes and projects, academic and professional exchanges and conferences, scholarships, research grants, provisions of expertise and advice, business and scientific contacts and programmes.
(27) The participating States will also facilitate the establishment and strengthening of independent national institutions in the area of human rights and the rule of law, which may also serve as focal points for co-ordination and collaboration between such institutions in the participating States. They propose that co-operation be encouraged between parliamentarians from participating States, including through existing inter- parliamentary associations and, inter alia, through joint commissions, television debates involving parliamentarians, meetings and round-table discussions. They will also encourage existing institutions, such as organizations within the United Nations system and the Council of Europe to continue and expand the work they have begun in this area.
(28) The participating States recognize the important expertise of the Council of Europe in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms and agree to consider further ways and means to enable the Council of Europe to make a contribution to the human dimension of the CSCE. They agree that the nature of this contribution could be examined further in a future CSCE forum.
(29) The participating States will consider the idea of convening a meeting or seminar of experts to review and discuss co-operative measures designed to promote and sustain viable democratic institutions in participating States, including comparative studies of legislation in participating States in the area of human rights and fundamental freedoms, inter alia drawing upon the experience acquired in this area by the Council of Europe and the activities of the Commission "Democracy through Law".
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