- World
- Dec 08
What is the OSCE?
• The 32nd meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council concluded in Vienna on December 5.
• More than 1,200 participants attended the event chaired by Finland.
• The Council reviewed and addressed the security situation across the OSCE region.
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
• With 57 participating States in North America, Europe and Asia, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organisation.
• The OSCE works to build and sustain stability, peace and democracy for more than one billion people, through political dialogue and projects on the ground.
• It is a forum for political dialogue on a wide range of security issues and a platform for joint action to improve the lives of individuals and communities.
• The Organisation helps to bridge differences, build trust and foster cooperation within and between States.
• Where there is instability, the OSCE works to prevent conflict, manage crises, and promote post-conflict rehabilitation.
• With its expert units, institutions and network of field operations, the OSCE addresses issues that have an impact on our common security such as arms control, terrorism, good governance, energy security, human trafficking, democratisation, media freedom and national minorities.
• The OSCE’s origins date back to the early 1970s, to the Helsinki Final Act (1975) and the creation of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which during the Cold War served as an important multilateral forum for dialogue and negotiations between East and West.
• The Helsinki Final Act, which was signed on August 1, 1975, contains a number of key commitments on politico-military, economic and environmental and human rights issues.
• It also established 10 fundamental principles (the ‘Decalogue’) that govern the behaviour of States towards each other, as well as towards their citizens.
• In 1994, the CSCE was renamed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Its work is organised into three dimensions:
i) Politico-Military Dimension: Focusing on military transparency, arms control, and conflict prevention.
ii) Economic and Environmental Dimension: Promoting economic development and the sustainable management of natural resources, as well as climate change and the climate-biodiversity-security nexus.
iii) Human Dimension: Ensuring respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law.
Functioning of OSCE
• A Ministerial Council is held annually to review OSCE activities and provide overall political direction.
• Summits of Heads of State or government of OSCE participating States take place periodically to set priorities at the highest political level.
• A different participating State chairs the OSCE each year, with that country’s foreign minister serving as Chairperson-in-Office (CiO) and working alongside the previous and succeeding Chairs — together the three Chairs form the OSCE Troika.
• Elected for a three-year term by the Ministerial Council, the Secretary General heads the Secretariat located in Vienna and directly supports the OSCE Chair.
The OSCE includes three institutions dedicated to specialised areas of work:
1) The Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) promotes democratic development and human rights. Its work includes election observation, supporting the rule of law, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination and improving the situation of Roma and Sinti. ODIHR hosts the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, the largest annual human rights conference in the OSCE region.
2) The Vienna-based Representative on Freedom of the Media monitors media developments and provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom, promoting full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments.
3) As an instrument of conflict prevention, the High Commissioner on National Minorities, based in The Hague, uses quiet diplomacy and early action to seek resolution of ethnic tensions that might endanger peace, security and stability.