• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

The OSCE traces its origins to the détente phase of the early 1970s, when the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) was created to serve as a multilateral forum for dialogue and negotiation between East and West.

Meeting over two years in Helsinki and Geneva, the CSCE reached agreement on the Helsinki Final Act, which was signed on 1 August 1975. This document contained a number of key commitments on polito-military, economic and environmental and human rights issues that became central to the so-called 'Helsinki process'. It also established ten fundamental principles (the 'Decalogue') governing the behaviour of States towards their citizens, as well as towards each other.

Until 1990, the CSCE functioned mainly as a series of meetings and conferences that built on and extended the participating States' commitments, while periodically reviewing their implementation. However, with the end of the Cold War, the Paris Summit of November 1990 set the CSCE on a new course. In the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the CSCE was called upon to play its part in managing the historic change taking place in Europe and responding to the new challenges of the post-Cold War period, which led to its acquiring permanent institutions and operational capabilities.

As part of this institutionalization process, the name was changed from the CSCE to the OSCE by a decision of the Budapest Summit of Heads of State or Government in December 1994.

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

Security touches on many aspects of the way we live and are governed. The OSCE's comprehensive view of security covers three “dimensions”: the politico-military; the economic and environmental; and the human.The OSCE's activities cover all three of these areas, from "hard" security issues such as conflict prevention to fostering economic development, ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources, and promoting the full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Organization comprises 57 participating States, 6 Mediterranean and 5 Asian Partners for Co-operation. Most of the OSCE’s staff and resources are deployed in the OSCE’s field operations in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The Organization has a number of institutions and structures that help it implement its mandate. In addition, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly brings together parliamentarians from all participating States.

Secretariat in Vienna, led by the Secretary General, assists participating States in addressing security challenges in all three dimensions throughout the OSCE area. The Conflict Prevention Centre is the Organization’s key instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation and assists the OSCE field operations to carry out their respective mandates.

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities strengthens security and stability by promoting international co-operation on economic and environmental issues. The Transnational Threats department addresses terrorism, organized crime, cyber threats, and the illicit trafficking in narcotics, tackling multidimensional and cross-country threats to security. The Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings helps participating States develop and implement effective policies to fight human trafficking. The Gender Section gives support to all OSCE structures, field operations and participating States to ensure that a gender perspective is integrated into all activities. Besides providing operational support to field missions, all Secretariat entities promote research and organize events to disseminate information on security issues.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights [ODIHR] in Warsaw provides support, assistance and expertise to partici­pating States and civil society in five broad areas: elections, democratization, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimina­tion, and Roma and Sinti issues. The Office observes elections, reviews legislation and advises governments on how to develop and sustain democratic institutions, and supports civil society in developing greater capacity to aid in the development of these institutions. It also conducts training programmes for government and law-enforcement officials and non-governmen­tal organizations on how to uphold, promote and monitor human rights, and to counter intolerance and discrimination. Through its Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, ODIHR advances the rights and participation in the political and economic life of their societies for Roma and Sinti individuals and communities.

The Parliamentary Assembly activities in Copenhagen are channelled into the three OSCE dimensions through three General Committees. The committees work on the preparation of a Final Declaration, adopted yearly at the Annual Session, which guides the Organization’s priorities and future activities. The PA provides political leadership to OSCE election observation, engages in parliamentary diplomacy and has been actively involved in the Helsinki +40 process, organizing a series of seminars examining the past, present and future of the Organization in partnership with prominent think tanks.

The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in The Hague gets involved in a situation if, in his/her judge­ment, there are tensions involving national minorities which could develop into a conflict. Much of the day-to-day work is in identifying and addressing causes of ethnic tensions and conflicts. The High Commissioner addresses the short-term triggers of inter-ethnic tension or conflict and long-term structural concerns. If a participating State is not meeting its political commitments or international norms, the High Commissioner will assist by providing analysis and recommen­dations. Based on the institution’s unique experience, the HCNM publishes thematic Recommendations and Guidelines that give advice on common challenges and best practice. The High Commissioner also provides structural support through small collaborative projects that aim to achieve sustainability through increasing local ownership.