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With 57 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) aims to bring security to a vast region that stretches from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Recognised as an organisation created under a regional agreement as per Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, the OSCE is an instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. As suggested by its name, the OSCE aims to strengthen security through cooperation. The OSCE approach to security is comprehensive, dealing simultaneously with three dimensions:
Security-related dimension
The activities included in the first dimension concern politico-military issues and those related to trans-national threats.
OSCE activities related to politico-military issues have at their core the enforcement of military security and stability in Europe. This is based on the ‘Vienna-Document’ which groups the political commitments in order to ensure and increase the level of transparency on military decision-making in the participating States through a system of exchange of information and verification measures. Other fields of action are arms-control, the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) and ammunition, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as gender, peace and security and the democratic control on security forces.
Concerning transnational threats, the OSCE deals with issues related to policing, combatting terrorism and violent extremism, the protection and management of border control and cyber security.
More on transnational threats can be found on:
Economic and environmental dimension
Economic prosperity being one of the cornerstones of stability, the OSCE has a special focus on promoting a healthy economic environment in its participating States, working in areas such as combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, promoting good governance, supporting transport development and security, assisting migration management, promoting the integrated management of water resources, helping to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous waste, implementing the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC), and promoting and supporting dialogue on energy security.
More information on the economic and environmental dimension
The human dimension
The commitments made by the OSCE participating States in the human dimension aim to foster democratic processes, establish the rule of law, ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, promote freedom of the media and education, and combat various forms of human trafficking. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is the main body responsible for promoting human rights and democracy in the OSCE area. In order to encourage democratization, the OSCE-ODIHR carries out election observation missions internationally and implements projects to support the proper conduct of elections, including preparative and monitoring tasks. The OSCE’s activities in the area of human rights focus on certain priorities: ensuring freedom of movement, strengthening the guarantees against torture, ensuring freedom of religion and belief, and helping to combat trafficking in persons.
More information on the OSCE commitments of Participating States in the human dimension
Activities
- Field operations: some 2300 people work for the OSCE in its 18 missions or field operations in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (in 2016). OSCE personnel are deployed on the ground to facilitate political processes, prevent or resolve conflicts, and strengthen civil society and the rule of law.
- Election observation missions: in accordance with the OSCE’s commitments, participating States have an obligation to invite the Organisation for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), an autonomous institution of the OSCE, to observe their elections. Universality, equality, fairness, secrecy, freedom, transparency and accountability are the fundamental principles which the 57 participating States have pledged to respect. The mission of ODIHR is to observe the electoral process as a whole, including its administrative organization, political campaigning, voting procedure, media coverage and human rights issues.
