What is

the OSCE?

Organization for Security and

Co-operation in Europe
Who are we?

The OSCEs work on the ground enables the Organization to

tackle crises as they arise. The OSCE has deployed hundreds
of monitors to Ukraine with the aim of reducing tensions.

With 57 participating States in North The OSCE is a forum for prevention, crisis management
political dialogue on a wide and post-conflict rehabilitation.
America, Europe and Asia, the OSCE range of security issues and With its institutions,
a platform for joint action to expert units and network
is the worlds largest regional security improve the lives of individuals of field operations, the
and communities. Through OSCE addresses issues
organization. The OSCE works for its comprehensive approach that have an impact on
to security that encompasses our common security,
stability, peace and democracy for the politico-military, economic including arms control,
and environmental, and human terrorism, good governance,
more than a billion people, through dimensions and its inclusive energy security, human
membership, the OSCE trafficking, democratization,
political dialogue about shared helps bridge differences and media freedom and
build trust between states national minorities.
values and through practical work by co-operating on conflict

that makes a lasting difference.

Whats our history?

The OSCE traces

its origins 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
The Helsinki Final Act, signed on 1 August 1975, established ten fundamental principles (the Decalogue)
as an important governing the behaviour of States towards each other as well as towards their citizens. The document guides
the OSCEs work to this day.
multilateral forum
for dialogue
The Helsinki Final Act, which With the end of the Cold War, helping to manage crises
and negotiation was signed on 1 August the Paris Summit of November and re-establish peace.
1975, contained a number 1990 set the CSCE on a new In 1994, the CSCE, having
between East of key commitments on course. In the Charter of evolved well beyond its initial
politico-military, economic Paris for a New Europe, the role, became the Organization
and West. and environmental and CSCE was called upon to for Security and Co-operation
human rights issues. It also play its part in managing the in Europe. Thanks to its
established ten fundamental historic change taking place inclusive membership and
principles (the Decalogue) in Europe and responding developing partnerships, its
governing the behaviour of to the new challenges of the comprehensive approach
States towards each other as post-Cold War period. This and its flexibility, the OSCE
well as towards their citizens. led to its acquiring permanent has continued to provide
structures, including a its participating States with
From 1975 through to the secretariat and institutions, effective, efficient tools
1980s, the CSCE, through and the establishment of and means to address
a series of meetings and the first field missions. current security issues.
conferences built on and
extended the participating After the break-up of the
States commitments, former Yugoslavia and
while periodically reviewing the ensuing conflicts, the
their implementation. CSCE was on the frontline,
How we work

Inclusiveness
underpins
everything the
OSCE does.
OSCE participating
States enjoy
equal status and
take decisions
by consensus.

The OSCE is an intergovernmental organization in which the 57

participating States work as equals in all decision-making bodies.

Decision-making bodies form the OSCE Troika. Democratic Institutions the High Commissioner on
Each week ambassadors meet and Human Rights (ODIHR), National Minorities, based
at the Permanent Council, Secretariat which promotes democratic in The Hague, uses quiet
the OSCEs regular decision- The Secretary General heads development and human diplomacy and early action
making body, and the Forum the Secretariat based in rights. Areas of its work include to seek resolution of ethnic
for Security Co-operation, Vienna, and directly supports election observation, the rule tensions that might endanger
where decisions are taken the Chairmanship. The of law, promoting tolerance peace, security and stability.
regarding military aspects of Secretariat comprises the and non-discrimination and
security. A Ministerial Council is Conflict Prevention Centre improving the situation of The Parliamentary
held annually to review OSCE and departments and units Roma and Sinti. ODIHR hosts Assembly brings together
activities and provide overall focusing on economic and the annual Human Dimension more than 300 lawmakers
direction. Summits of Heads of environmental activities, Implementation Meeting, the from the parliaments of OSCE
State or Government of OSCE co-operation with Partner largest annual human rights participating States to facilitate
participating States take place countries and organizations, conference in the OSCE region. dialogue and co-operation
periodically to set priorities gender equality, anti-trafficking, and to promote accountability.
at the highest political level. as well as transnational threats The Vienna-based OSCE parliamentarians
including anti-terrorism, border Representative on Freedom also play a leading role in
Chairmanship management and policing of the Media observes media the Organizations election
A different participating reform. They monitor trends, developments and provides observation activities,
State holds the OSCE provide expert analysis and early warning on violations of conduct field visits, and drive
Chairmanship each year implement projects in the field. freedom of expression and organizational reform.
with that countrys foreign media freedom, promoting
minister as Chairperson-in- Institutions full compliance with OSCE
Office, working alongside The OSCE also includes media freedom commitments.
the previous and succeeding institutions such as the
Chairmanships, who together Warsaw-based Office for As a tool of conflict prevention,
What do we do?

The OSCE approaches security Human rights and radicalization and violent
fundamental freedoms extremism, organized
through three dimensions - the are the bedrock of stable crime, cybercrime and
societies. The OSCE helps trafficking in drugs, arms
politico-military, the economic and its participating States build and human beings. It
democratic institutions; hold promotes stronger ties and
environmental, and the human. genuine and transparent co-operation between states,
democratic elections; creating partnerships between
promote gender equality; the private and public sectors,
In military matters, it seeks Economic and ensure respect for human and engaging civil society.
to create greater openness, environmental issues are rights, media freedom,
transparency and co-operation also key factors in building the rights of national The OSCE works closely with
and has developed the worlds security. Promoting good minorities and the rule of other international and regional
most advanced regime of arms governance, tackling law, and promote tolerance organizations and co-operates
control and confidence- corruption, environmental and non-discrimination. with its Mediterranean and
building measures. Areas of awareness, sharing natural Asian Partner countries.
work include security sector resources and sound On a broader level, the
reform and the safe storage management of environmental OSCE addresses security
and destruction of small waste are amongst the challenges that pose a threat
arms, light weapons and ways the OSCE helps. across borders, such as
conventional ammunition. climate change, terrorism,

The many branches Good governance

of the OSCE
Roma and Sinti

Gender equality

Democratization
Media freedom
and development

Arms control Tolerance and

non-discrimination

National minority
issues Military reform
and co-operation

Economic
activities
Rule of law

Elections

Transnational threats,
border management,
Conflict prevention combating terrorism,
and resolution and policing

Human rights
Education
Environmental
Combating human activites
trafficking
On the ground

Most of the OSCEs staff and Field operations are solution to the Nagorno-
established at the invitation of Karabakh conflict; and
resources are deployed in field the respective host countries the Geneva International
and their mandates are Discussions, launched
operations in South-Eastern agreed by consensus of the after the August 2008
participating States. They conflict in Georgia, which
Europe, Eastern Europe, the South support host countries in the Organization co-chairs
developing their capacities along with the United Nations
Caucasus and Central Asia. through projects that and the European Union.
respond to their needs.
Together, the different parts
The OSCE also works to of the OSCE support the
address protracted conflicts participating States in building
in its region through agreed trust and working toward a
formats. These include free, democratic, common and
negotiations aimed at indivisible Euro-Atlantic and
Recognizing that schools are an excellent place achieving a comprehensive Eurasian security community.
to nurture mutual trust, break down stereotypes political settlement of the
and broaden understanding of universal Transdniestrian conflict; the
human rights, the OSCE engages actively OSCE Minsk Group, which
with children, young people and educators. seeks a peaceful negotiated

The OSCE observes elections, Independent and professional

and advises governments on media are a cornerstone of
how to develop and sustain democratic societies, and a key
democratic institutions. focus of the OSCEs work.

Promoting professional and The OSCE, through its field

effective policing is an integral operations, helps to stop the
part of the OSCEs efforts in spread of surplus weapons
conflict prevention and post- and offers assistance
conflict rehabilitation. with their destruction.
Facts and figures
(as of September 2015)
Up-to-date figures can be found at www.osce.org/whatistheosce/factsheet

Budget: Staffing: Gender balance:

141.1 million 3,077 staff Share of female and male staff in

OSCE budget for 2015 employed by the OSCE different posts across the OSCE.

2,558 staff Male Female

engaged in its 17 field operations in
South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, General Staff 54% 46%
the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
Professional Staff 51% 49%
Both the OSCE Special Monitoring The Secretariat and the Institutions
Mission to Ukraine and the OSCE together employ Managerial Staff 65% 35%
Observer Mission at the Russian
Checkpoints Donetsk and Gukovo are 519 staff. Total 54% 46%
funded by extra-budgetary contributions.

OSCE participating States Partners for

Co-operation
Albania Cyprus Ireland Montenegro Sweden Afghanistan
Andorra Czech Republic Italy Netherlands Switzerland Japan
Armenia Denmark Kazakhstan Norway Tajikistan Republic of Korea
Austria Estonia Kyrgyzstan Poland the former Yugoslav Thailand
Azerbaijan Finland Latvia Portugal Republic of Macedonia Australia
Belarus France Liechtenstein Romania Turkey Algeria
Belgium Georgia Lithuania Russian Federation Turkmenistan Egypt
Bosnia and Germany Luxembourg San Marino Ukraine Israel
Herzegovina Greece Malta Serbia United Kingdom Jordan
Bulgaria Holy See Moldova Slovakia United States Morocco
Canada Hungary Monaco Slovenia Uzbekistan Tunisia
Croatia Iceland Mongolia Spain

Follow OSCE Vacancies For more information OSCE Secretariat

and internship about the OSCE, Wallnerstrasse 6
opportunities are its work and A-1010 Vienna, Austria
posted regularly on structures, visit the Tel.: +43 1 514 36 6000
the OSCE website: website: osce.org [email protected]
osce.org/
employment

Organization for Security and

Co-operation in Europe
OSCE structure

Decision-making bodies
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the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE.
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meeting weekly in Vienna. meet weekly to consult on military
stability and security.

Personal Representatives Chairmanship

A different participating State holds the OSCE Chairmanship each year with
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Chairmanship co-ordinates decision-making and sets the OSCEs priorities
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conflicts in the OSCE region, and to ensure
co-ordination in specific areas like gender and
youth issues, and to promote tolerance and Troika
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Chairmanships.

Executive structures
Secretary General Office for Democratic Representative on High Commissioner on
Elected to a three-year term by the Institutions and Human Freedom of the Media, National Minorities,
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The Secretariat assists the
Chairmanship in its activities, and
provides operational and
administrative support to field
operations and, as appropriate, to
other Institutions.

OSCE in the field

The OSCEs field operations assist host countries in putting their OSCE commitments into practice and fostering local
capacities through concrete projects that respond to their needs. The field operations enable the OSCE to tackle crises as
they arise, and in many places play a critical post-conflict role, helping to restore trust among affected communities.

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OSCE-related bodies
Joint Consultative Group Open Skies Consultative Court of Conciliation and Arbitration
This Vienna-based body deals with questions Commission This Geneva-based Court serves as a mechanism for
relating to compliance with the provisions of This body meets regularly in Vienna and consists the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance
the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in of representatives from each of the 34 States that with international law and OSCE commitments.
Europe. have signed the Open Skies Treaty.