OSCE factsheet.pdf

8/18/2019 OSCE factsheet.pdf

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What isthe OSCE?

Organization for Security andCo-operation in Europe


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Who are we?

With 57 participating States in North

America, Europe and Asia, the OSCEis the world’s largest regional securityorganization. The OSCE works forstability, peace and democracy formore than a billion people, throughpolitical dialogue about shared

values and through practical workthat makes a lasting difference.

The OSCE — the Organizationfor Security and Co-operationin Europe — is a forum forpolitical dialogue on a widerange of security issues anda platform for joint action toimprove the lives of individualsand communities. Throughits comprehensive approachto security that encompassesthe politico-military, economicand environmental, and humandimensions and its inclusivemembership, the OSCE

helps bridge differences andbuild trust between states

by co-operating on conictprevention, crisis managementand post-conict rehabilitation.

With its Institutions,expert units and networkof eld operations, theOSCE addresses issuesthat have an impact onour common security,including arms control,terrorism, good governance,energy security, humantrafcking, democratization,

media freedom andnational minorities.

The OSCE’s work on the ground enables the Organization totackle crises as they arise. The OSCE has deployed hundredsof monitors to Ukraine with the aim of reducing tensions.


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The OSCE tracesits origins to theearly 1970s, tothe Helsinki Final

Act (1975) andthe creation ofthe Conferenceon Security andCo-operation inEurope (CSCE),which during the

Cold War servedas an importantmultilateral forumfor dialogueand negotiationbetween East

and West.

The Helsinki Final Act, whichwas signed on 1 August1975, contained a numberof key commitments onpolitico-military, economicand environmental andhuman rights issues. It alsoestablished ten fundamentalprinciples (the ‘Decalogue’)governing the behaviour ofStates towards each other aswell as towards their citizens.

From 1975 through to the1980s, the CSCE, througha series of meetings andconferences built on and

extended the participatingStates’ commitments,while periodically reviewingtheir implementation.

With the end of the Cold War,the Paris Summit of November1990 set the CSCE on a newcourse. In the Charter ofParis for a New Europe, theCSCE was called upon toplay its part in managing thehistoric change taking placein Europe and respondingto the new challenges of thepost-Cold War period. Thisled to its acquiring permanentstructures, including asecretariat and institutions,and the establishment ofthe rst eld operations.

After the break-up of theformer Yugoslavia andthe ensuing conicts, theCSCE was on the frontline,

helping to manage crisesand re-establish peace.In 1994, the CSCE, havingevolved well beyond its initialrole, became the Organizationfor Security and Co-operationin Europe. Thanks to itsinclusive membership anddeveloping partnerships, itscomprehensive approachand its exibility, the OSCEhas continued to provideits participating States witheffective, efcient toolsand means to addresscurrent security issues.

What’s our history?

The Helsinki Final Act, signed on 1 August 1975, established ten fundamental principles (the ‘Decalogue’)governing the behaviour of States towards each other as well as towards their citizens. The document guidesthe OSCE’s work to this day.


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Inclusivenessunderpinseverything theOSCE does.OSCE participatingStates enjoyequal status andtake decisionsby consensus.

Decision-making bodiesEach week ambassadors meetat the Permanent Council,the OSCE’s regular decision-making body, and the Forumfor Security Co-operation,where decisions are takenregarding military aspects ofsecurity. A Ministerial Council isheld annually to review OSCEactivities and provide overalldirection. Summits of Heads ofState or Government of OSCEparticipating States take placeperiodically to set prioritiesat the highest political level.

Chairmanship A different par ticipatingState holds the OSCEChairmanship each yearwith that country’s foreign

minister as Chairperson-in-Ofce, working alongsidethe previous and succeedingChairmanships, who together

form the OSCE Troika.

Secretariat The Secretary General headsthe Secretariat based in

Vienna, and directly supportsthe Chairmanship. TheSecretariat comprises theConict Prevention Centreand departments and unitsfocusing on economic andenvironmental activities,co-operation with Partnercountries and organizations,gender equality, anti-trafcking,as well as transnational threatsincluding anti-terrorism, bordermanagement and policingreform. They monitor trends,provide expert analysis andimplement projects in the eld.

Institutions The OSCE also includesinstitutions such as theWarsaw-based Ofce for

Democratic Institutionsand Human Rights (ODIHR) ,which promotes democraticdevelopment and humanrights. Areas of its work includeelection observation, the ruleof law, promoting toleranceand non-discrimination andimproving the situation ofRoma and Sinti. ODIHR hoststhe annual Human DimensionImplementation Meeting, thelargest annual human rightsconference in the OSCE region.

The Vienna-basedRepresentative on Freedomof the Media observes mediadevelopments and providesearly warning on violations offreedom of expression andmedia freedom, promoting

full compliance with OSCEmedia freedom commitments.

As a tool of conict prevention,

the High Commissioner onNational Minorities , basedin The Hague, uses quietdiplomacy and early actionto seek resolution of ethnictensions that might endangerpeace, security and stability.

The Parliamentary Assembly brings togethermore than 300 lawmakersfrom the parliaments of OSCEparticipating States to facilitatedialogue and co-operationand to promote accountability.OSCE parliamentariansalso play a leading role inthe Organization’s electionobservation activities,conduct eld visits, and driveorganizational reform.

How we work

The OSCE is an intergovernmental organization in which the 57participating States work as equals in all decision-making bodies.


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Arms control

Elections

Conict preventionand resolution

Education

Economicactivities

Media freedomand development

Combating humantrafficking

National minorityissues

The many branchesof the OSCE

Human rights

Reform and co-operationin the security sector

Gender equality

Rule of law

Roma and Sinti

Tolerance andnon-discrimination

Good governance

Transnational threats,border management,combating terrorism,and policing

Environmental

activites

Democratization

The OSCE approaches securitythrough three dimensions - thepolitico-military, the economic andenvironmental, and the human.

Human rights andfundamental freedomsare the bedrock of stablesocieties. The OSCE helpsits participating States builddemocratic institutions; holdgenuine and transparentdemocratic elections ;promote gender equality ;

ensure respect for humanrights, media freedom ,the rights of nationalminorities and the rule oflaw , and promote toleranceand non-discrimination .

On a broader level, theOSCE addresses securitychallenges that pose a threatacross borders, such asclimate change , terrorism,

radicalization and violentextremism , organizedcrime , cybercrime andtrafcking in drugs , armsand human beings . Itpromotes stronger ties andco-operation between states,creating partnerships betweenthe private and public sectors,

and engaging civil society.

The OSCE works closely withother international and regionalorganizations and co-operateswith its Mediterranean and

Asian Partner countries.

In military matters , it seeksto create greater openness,transparency and co-operationand has developed the world’smost advanced regime of armscontrol and condence-building measures. Areas ofwork include security sectorreform and the safe storageand destruction of smallarms, light weapons andconventional ammunition.

Economic andenvironmental issues arealso key factors in buildingsecurity. Promoting goodgovernance , tacklingcorruption , environmentalawareness , sharing naturalresources and soundmanagement of environmentalwaste are amongst theways the OSCE helps.

What do we do?


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The OSCE observes elections,and advises governments onhow to develop and sustain

democratic institutions.

Recognizing that schools are an excellent placeto nurture mutual trust, break down stereotypesand broaden understanding of universalhuman rights, the OSCE engages activelywith children, young people and educators.

Promoting professional andeffective policing is an integralpart of the OSCE’s efforts inconict prevention and post-conict rehabilitation.

Independent and professionalmedia are a cornerstone ofdemocratic societies, and a key

focus of the OSCE’s work.

The OSCE, through its eldoperations, helps to stop thespread of surplus weaponsand offers assistancewith their destruction.

Most of the OSCE’s staff andresources are deployed in eldoperations in South-EasternEurope, Eastern Europe, the SouthCaucasus and Central Asia.

Field operations areestablished at the invitation ofthe respective host countriesand their mandates areagreed by consensus of theparticipating States. Theysupport host countries indeveloping their capacitiesthrough projects that

respond to their needs.

The OSCE also works toaddress protracted conictsin its region through agreedformats. These includenegotiations aimed atachieving a comprehensivepolitical settlement of the

Transdniestrian conict; theOSCE Minsk Group, whichseeks a peaceful negotiated

solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conict; andthe Geneva InternationalDiscussions, launchedafter the August 2008conict in Georgia, whichthe Organization co-chairsalong with the United Nationsand the European Union.

Together, the different par tsof the OSCE support theparticipating States in buildingtrust and working toward afree, democratic, common andindivisible Euro-Atlantic andEurasian security community.

On the ground


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Vacanciesand internshipopportunities areposted regularly on

the OSCE website:osce.org/ employment

For more informationabout the OSCE,its work andstructures, visit the

website: osce.org

OSCE SecretariatWallnerstrasse 6

A-1010 Vienna, Austria Tel.: +43 1 514 36 6000

[email protected]

Follow OSCE

Facts and gures

Partners forCo-operation

Afghanistan AustraliaJapanRepublic of Korea

Thailand

AlgeriaEgypt

IsraelJordanMorocco

Tunisia

OSCE participating States

Albania Andorra Armenia Austria AzerbaijanBelarusBelgiumBosnia and

HerzegovinaBulgariaCanadaCroatia

CyprusCzech RepublicDenmark EstoniaFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermany

GreeceHoly SeeHungaryIceland

IrelandItalyKazakhstanKyrgyzstanLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourg

MaltaMoldovaMonacoMongolia

MontenegroNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussian FederationSan Marino

SerbiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpain

SwedenSwitzerland

Tajikistanthe former Yugoslav

Republic of

Macedonia

Turkey Turkmenistan

UkraineUnited KingdomUnited StatesUzbekistan

€141.1 millionOSCE budget for 2015

(as of March 2016)

Both the OSCE Special MonitoringMission to Ukraine and the OSCEObserver Mission at the RussianCheckpoints Donetsk and Gukovo arefunded by extra-budgetary contributions.

3,462 staffemployed by the OSCE

Budget: Stafng: Gender balance:

Share of female and male staff indifferent posts across the OSCE

Male Female

General staff 54% 46%

Professional staff 51% 49%

Managerial staff 69% 31%

Total 54% 46%

Organization for Security andCo-operation in Europe

2,949 staff engaged in its 17 eld operations inSouth-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe,the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

The Secretariat and the Institutions together employ

513 staff

Up-to-date gures can be found at www.osce.org/whatistheosce/factsheet


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OSCE structure

Joint Consultative Group This Vienna-based body deals with questionsrelating to compliance with the provisions ofthe Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces inEurope.

Open Skies ConsultativeCommission This body meets regularly in Vienna and consistsof representatives from each of the 34 States thathave signed the Open Skies Treaty.

Court of Conciliation and Arbitration This Geneva-based Court serves as a mechanism forthe peaceful settlement of disputes in accordancewith international law and OSCE commitments.

OSCE-related bodies

The OSCE’s eld operations assist host countries in putting their OSCE commitments into practice and fostering localcapacities through concrete projects that respond to their needs. The eld operations enable the OSCE to tackle crises asthey arise, and in many places play a critical post-conict role, helping to restore trust among affected communities.

South-Eastern Europe• Presence in Albania• Mission to Bosnia andHerzegovina

• Mission in Kosovo• Mission to Montenegro• Mission to Serbia• Mission to Skopje

South Caucasus• Office in Yerevan• Personal Representative of theOSCE Chairperson-on-Office on theconict dealt with by the OSCEMinsk Conference

Eastern Europe• Mission to Moldova• Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine• Special Monitoring Mission toUkraine

• Observer Mission at the RussianCheckpoints Gukovo and Donetsk

Central Asia• Centre in Ashgabat• Programme Office in Astana• Centre in Bishkek • Office in Tajikistan• Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan

OSCE in the eld

Decision-making bodies

Personal Representativesof the Chairperson-in-Office The Personal Representatives are tasked by theChair to work on preventing and managingconicts in the OSCE region, and to ensureco-ordination in specic areas like gender andyouth issues, and to promote tolerance andnon-discrimination.

Forum for SecurityCo-operation The Forum is an autonomous

decision-making body whererepresentatives of participating Statesmeet weekly to consult on militarystability and security.

Permanent Council The Permanent Council is the regularbody for political dialogue and

decision-making amongrepresentatives of all OSCE States,meeting weekly in Vienna.

Ministerial Council The meeting of foreign ministers from OSCE States, the Ministerial Council isthe central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE.

ChairmanshipA different participating State holds the OSCE Chairmanship each year withthat country's foreign minister acting as Chairperson-in-Office. TheChairmanship co-ordinates decision-making and sets the OSCE’s prioritiesduring its year in office.

Troika The Troika consists of representatives of the current, preceding and futureChairmanships.

SummitMeetings of Heads of State or Government of OSCE participating States setpriorities, take decisions and provide orientation at the highest political level.

High Commissioner onNational Minorities, The Hague The High Commissioner’s role is toprovide early warning and takeappropriate early action to preventethnic tensions from developinginto conict.

Office for DemocraticInstitutions and HumanRights, WarsawODIHR promotes democraticelections, respect for human rights,the rule of law, tolerance andnon-discrimination, and the rights ofRoma and Sinti communities.

Secretary GeneralElected to a three-year term by theMinisterial Council, the SecretaryGeneral heads the OSCE Secretariat inVienna, acting under the guidance ofthe Chairperson-in-Office.

Secretariat, Vienna The Secretariat assists theChairmanship in its activities, andprovides operational andadministrative support to eldoperations and, as appropriate, toother Institutions.

Representative onFreedom of the Media,Vienna The Representative observes mediadevelopments in all 57 OSCEparticipating States and providesearly warning on violations of freeexpression and media freedom.

Executive structures

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly The OSCE PA is made up of more than 300parliamentarians from the OSCE's 57 States,offering parliamentary input and takingaction on OSCE-related work and facilitatingco-operation between lawmakers.

OSCE factsheet.pdf

Documents

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