Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Flag Logo
Secretariat	Vienna, Austria
Official languages	English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish
Type	Intergovernmental organization with no legal personality
Membership	57 participating countries 11 partners for co-operation
Leaders
• Chairman-in-Office	Ian Borg
• Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights	Matteo Mecacci
• Representative on Freedom of the Media	Teresa Ribeiro
Establishment
• As the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe	July 1973
• Helsinki Accords	30 July – 1 August 1975
• Paris Charter	21 November 1990
• Renamed OSCE	1 January 1995
Area
• Total	50,119,801 km2 (19,351,363 sq mi)
Population
• 2022 estimate	1.3 billion (3rd)
• Density	25/km2 (64.7/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2022 estimate
• Total	US$53.1 trillion
• Per capita	US$40,900

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a large international group that works to keep peace and security in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. It helps countries with things like controlling weapons, protecting human rights, making sure the media is free, and holding fair elections.

The OSCE started in 1975 during the Cold War. It was a place for countries from the Western Bloc and Eastern Bloc to talk and try to reduce tensions. Today, it has 57 member countries. Most of these are in Europe, but some are in Asia and North America.

The main goals of the OSCE are to give early warnings about problems, prevent conflicts, manage crises, and help countries recover after conflicts.

How the OSCE Began and Grew

Early Days of the CSCE

Leaders like Helmut Schmidt and Gerald Ford at the 1975 CSCE summit in Helsinki, Finland.

The OSCE started as the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) in 1975. Countries had been talking about a European security group since the 1950s. But the Cold War made it hard to make progress.

Talks finally began in November 1972 in Espoo, Finland. The Soviet Union suggested these talks to keep control over its allies in Eastern Europe. Finland's President, Urho Kekkonen, hosted the talks to show his country's neutrality. Western European countries saw the talks as a way to ease tensions, improve trade, and help people in the Eastern Bloc.

The ideas from these talks led to the "Helsinki process." The CSCE officially opened in Helsinki on July 3, 1973, with 35 countries attending. The main part of the conference took place in Geneva from September 1973 to July 1975.

This led to the Helsinki Final Act. All 35 countries signed it in Finlandia Hall between July 30 and August 1, 1975. This agreement was a big step towards improving relations and protecting human rights.

From CSCE to OSCE

When the Soviet Union broke apart, the CSCE needed a new role. The Charter of Paris for a New Europe, signed in November 1990, started this change. On January 1, 1995, the CSCE officially became the OSCE. This happened after a conference in Budapest in 1994.

The OSCE then got a formal office (Secretariat), a Senior Council, a Parliamentary Assembly, a Conflict Prevention Centre, and an Office for Free Elections. This election office later became the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

In December 1996, the "Lisbon Declaration" said that security in Europe is for everyone and cannot be divided. In Istanbul in 1999, the OSCE called for peace in Chechnya and adopted a Charter for European Security.

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) watches elections in member countries. It helps make sure elections are fair and open. Between 1994 and 2004, the OSCE sent observers to over 150 elections. In 2004, the ODIHR even observed the US presidential election. This was the first time the OSCE monitored a US presidential election.

OSCE Missions and Operations

The OSCE sends teams to different countries to help prevent and solve problems. Here are some examples:

Helping Georgia in 1992

The OSCE Mission to Georgia started in November 1992 in Tbilisi. This mission ended on December 31, 2008.

Supporting Moldova in 1993

The mission in Moldova helps find a lasting solution to the Transnistria conflict. It aims to strengthen Moldova's independence and borders. The OSCE helped create the 5+2 format for talks in 2005. These talks stopped after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995

After the Bosnian War ended in 1995 with the Dayton Agreement, the OSCE mission helps build a stable and democratic state. It works to create strong democratic groups, good governance, and respect for human rights.

Kosovo Mission in 1998

The OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission started in October 1998. It was closed in June 1999. The 1999 OSCE Mission in Kosovo then took over. It focuses on building institutions, democracy, and human rights in Kosovo.

Macedonia Mission in 2001

The mission in Macedonia helps carry out the Ohrid Framework Agreement. This agreement ended the armed conflict in North Macedonia in 2001.

Serbia Mission in 2001

The mission to Serbia began after Slobodan Milošević lost power in 2000. It helps the government and people develop democracy and protect human rights. This includes the rights of minority groups.

Montenegro Mission in 2006

The mission in Montenegro started after the country's independence vote in 2006. It helps Montenegro follow OSCE principles for security and stability.

Observing Elections in Texas (2012)

Before the US presidential elections in November 2012, the OSCE planned to send observers to Texas. The Attorney General of Texas, Greg Abbott, warned that OSCE officials could be arrested if they broke Texas law. The US Department of State said OSCE observers had special protections. No problems happened during the elections.

Turkey Constitutional Referendum (2017)

In April 2017, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized the OSCE. The OSCE had reported that people campaigning against the referendum faced bans and arrests. Erdoğan told the OSCE to "know your place."

OSCE's Role in Ukraine (2014–2021)

OSCE SMM watching heavy weapons in eastern Ukraine.

On March 21, 2014, the OSCE sent its Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. This was at Ukraine's request. The mission has received mixed reviews. Some people praised it as the "eyes and ears of the international community." Others accused it of being biased.

In April 2014, a group in Sloviansk took eight OSCE mission members hostage. During the war in Donbas, an OSCE observer allowed Russian separatists to use an OSCE vehicle. This led to claims that the OSCE was biased. The organization said it regretted the incident.

The OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk also faced criticism. Only two checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border were watched. The US ambassador to the OSCE called this "seriously inadequate."

The mission was also criticized for being slow to use drones and for withdrawing them due to Russian electronic attacks. Drones were brought back in 2018.

In 2014, a Ukrainian official wrongly claimed that most OSCE observers near Mariupol were Russian citizens with ties to Russian security agencies. In reality, only one out of 17 observers in Mariupol was Russian. Overall, 39 out of 720 observers were Russian citizens (about 5.4%). The organization was also accused of sharing Ukrainian troop locations with Russian forces.

In December 2014, the mission reported hearing artillery fire near its position and leaving for safety. No observer was wounded. In October 2015, a suspended OSCE monitor confirmed he was a former Russian intelligence officer. The OSCE said he was fired for breaking the code of conduct.

In April 2016, photos showed OSCE monitors at a Russian separatist wedding. The OSCE said this was "unprofessional behavior" and that the monitors were no longer with the mission. In April 2017, an OSCE vehicle hit a mine, killing one member and injuring two.

In July 2018, a German broadcaster reported that Russian intelligence got secret information about the OSCE mission from a staff member. The OSCE was worried about this security breach.

Russia has accused OSCE members of working for Ukraine's security service and spying on separatists. Russia also said the mission was biased for reporting separatist troop movements but ignoring similar moves from Ukraine. Russia's foreign minister also claimed the mission did not pay enough attention to human rights in Ukrainian-controlled areas.

OSCE's Role in Ukraine (2022–Present)

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022. The OSCE's mission in Ukraine ended on March 31, 2022, because Russia objected. On April 24, 2022, the OSCE protested the detention of four staff members in Donetsk and Luhansk. In September, two Ukrainian OSCE staff were sentenced to 13 years in prison by a court in the Luhansk People’s Republic for "alleged high treason and espionage."

In March 2022, 45 countries asked for an independent expert mission to look into violations during Russia's war against Ukraine. The report, presented in April 2022, found clear violations of international law by Russian forces. The OSCE continues to monitor these violations.

In June 2022, the same 45 countries asked for a new expert mission. This report, presented in July 2022, confirmed the earlier findings. It identified serious violations of international law and human rights, mostly by Russian forces.

Russia's delegation was not invited to the 29th OSCE Ministerial Council in December 2022. There were calls to assess what Russia should pay for the damage it caused. Since the invasion, Russia has taken €2.7 million worth of armored vehicles from the OSCE mission. Russia claims these are "evidence" and has started criminal cases against former OSCE staff for spying.

Armenia Mission in 2022

An OSCE team was sent to Armenia from October 21 to 27, 2022. This was after the Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis. Armenia asked for international experts to monitor its border with Azerbaijan.

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is made up of 323 members of parliament from the 57 member countries. They pass resolutions on political, security, economic, environmental, democracy, and human rights issues. These resolutions help ensure countries follow their OSCE promises. The Assembly also watches elections.

In 2004, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly sent election observers to the US presidential elections. The president of the Assembly at the time was Alcee Hastings. Some criticized the OSCE for this, given Hastings's past.

In 2010, the Latvian delegation criticized the Parliamentary Assembly for not being transparent or democratic enough. The Secretary General, R. Spencer Oliver, had rules that made it very hard to replace him. One Latvian member called these rules "quite shocking" for an organization that monitors elections.

OSCE Members and Languages

Official Languages

The six official languages of the OSCE are English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian.

Participating States

OSCE signatories as of 2012

     signed Helsinki Final Act and Paris Charter      signed Helsinki Final Act only      non-signatory participant      partner for cooperation

The OSCE has 57 participating states. Here is a list of when they joined and which key agreements they signed:

State	Admission	Signed the
		Helsinki Final Act	Charter of Paris
Albania	19 June 1991	16 September 1991	17 September 1991
Andorra	25 April 1996	10 November 1999	17 February 1998
Armenia	30 January 1992	8 July 1992	17 April 1992
Austria	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Azerbaijan	30 January 1992	8 July 1992	20 December 1993
Belarus	30 January 1992	26 February 1992	8 April 1993
Belgium	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Bosnia and Herzegovina	30 April 1992	8 July 1992
Bulgaria	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Canada	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Croatia	24 March 1992	8 July 1992
Cyprus	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Czech Republic	1 January 1993
Denmark	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Estonia	10 September 1991	14 October 1991	6 December 1991
Finland	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
France	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Georgia	24 March 1992	8 July 1992	21 January 1994
Germany → as  West Germany → as  East Germany	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Greece	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Holy See	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Hungary	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Iceland	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Ireland	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Italy	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Kazakhstan	30 January 1992	8 July 1992	23 September 1992
Kyrgyzstan	30 January 1992	8 July 1992	3 June 1994
Latvia	10 September 1991	14 October 1991	6 December 1991
Liechtenstein	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Lithuania	10 September 1991	14 October 1991	6 December 1991
Luxembourg	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Malta	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Moldova	30 January 1992	26 February 1992	29 January 1993
Monaco	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Mongolia	21 November 2012
Montenegro	22 June 2006	1 September 2006
Netherlands	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Macedonia	12 October 1995	8 July 1992
Norway	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Poland	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Portugal	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Romania	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Russia (as  Soviet Union)	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
San Marino	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Serbia (as  Yugoslavia)	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Slovakia	1 January 1993
Slovenia	24 March 1992	8 July 1992	8 March 1993
Spain	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Sweden	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Switzerland	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Tajikistan	30 January 1992	26 February 1992
Turkey	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Turkmenistan	30 January 1992	8 July 1992
Ukraine	30 January 1992	26 February 1992	16 June 1992
United Kingdom	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1975
United States	25 June 1973	1 August 1975	21 November 1990
Uzbekistan	30 January 1992	26 February 1992	27 October 1993

Partners for Co-operation

The OSCE also works with other countries that are not full members. These are called "Partners for Co-operation."

How the OSCE Works

The OSCE is unique because its main agreement, the Helsinki Final Act, is not a formal treaty. Instead, it's a political promise made by country leaders. This means the OSCE can be flexible and adapt to new challenges.

By signing, countries agreed that how they treat their own citizens is also an international concern. This open approach helped build democracy in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, leading to the end of the Cold War.

Structure and Key Groups

A meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Austria.

Leaders of countries give political direction during special meetings called summits. The last summit was in Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2010. The OSCE Ministerial Council, made up of foreign ministers, meets every year to make big decisions. The OSCE Permanent Council meets weekly in Vienna and handles daily decisions.

The OSCE's main office, called the Secretariat, is in Vienna, Austria. It also has offices in other cities like Copenhagen and Warsaw. As of 2021, the OSCE had over 3,500 staff members. Most of them work in field operations in different countries.

The Młodziejowski Palace in Warsaw, home to the ODIHR.

The oldest OSCE group is the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). It started in 1991 and is based in Warsaw, Poland. The ODIHR watches elections, helps with democratic development, human rights, and fights against discrimination. It has observed over 300 elections since 1995.

The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media started in 1997. It acts like a watchdog, giving early warnings about problems with freedom of expression in OSCE countries. It also helps countries follow rules about free media.

The High Commissioner on National Minorities was created in 1992. Its job is to find and solve ethnic tensions that could threaten peace.

The OSCE also has an Academy in Kyrgyzstan. It helps promote cooperation and good governance in Central Asia.

Field Operations

Most of the OSCE's field operations have been in countries that were once part of Yugoslavia or the Soviet Union.

Active Missions

Here are some of the missions that are currently active:

Mission	Region	Deployed	Notes
Presence in Albania	Albania	1999
Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1995	Dayton Agreement
Mission in Kosovo	Kosovo	1999	Kosovo Conflict
Mission to Montenegro	Montenegro	2006
Mission to Serbia	Serbia	2001
Mission to Skopje	Macedonia	2001	Ohrid Agreement (2001)
Mission to Moldova	Moldova	1992	Transnistria conflict
Centre in Ashgabat	Turkmenistan	1999
Programme Office in Astana	Kazakhstan	1998
Programme Office in Bishkek	Kyrgyzstan	1998
Programme Office in Dushanbe	Tajikistan	1994
Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan	Uzbekistan	1995
Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office on the Conflict Dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference	Armenia  Azerbaijan	1995	Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Completed Missions

Some OSCE missions have finished their work:

Mission	Region	Start	End	Notes
Missions of Long Duration in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina	Federal Republic of Yugoslavia  ∟ Kosovo  ∟ Sandjak  ∟ Vojvodina	8 September 1992	July 1993	Yugoslav wars
Mission to Georgia	Georgia	November 1992	31 December 2008
Mission to Estonia	Estonia	15 February 1993	31 December 2001
Mission to Latvia	Latvia	19 November 1993	31 December 2001
Mission to Ukraine	Ukraine	24 November 1994	30 April 1999
Representative to the Estonian Expert Commission on Military Pensioners	Estonia	1994	1996
Liaison Office in Central Asia	Uzbekistan	16 March 1995	December 2000
Representative to the Joint Committee on the Skrunda Radar Station	Latvia	6 April 1995	31 October 1999
Assistance Group to Chechnya	Russia  ∟ Chechnya	26 April 1995	16 December 1998	First Chechen War
Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for Article IV, Annex 1-B of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1995	2015	Dayton Agreement
Mission to Croatia / Office in Zagreb	Croatia	July 1996	17 January 2012	Croatian War of Independence
Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus	Belarus	January 1998	31 December 2002
Kosovo Verification Mission / Task force for Kosovo	Federal Republic of Yugoslavia  ∟ Kosovo	October 1998	June 1999	Kosovo conflict
Office in Yerevan	Armenia	16 February 2000	31 August 2017
Office in Baku / Project Co-ordinator in Baku	Azerbaijan	July 2000	31 December 2015
Office in Minsk	Belarus	1 January 2003	31 March 2011
Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk	Russia	24 July 2014	30 September 2021
Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine	Ukraine	March 2014	March 2022	Russo-Ukrainian war
Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine	Ukraine	June 1999	March 2022
Needs Assessment Team in Armenia	Armenia	21 October 2022	27 October 2022	Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Leadership: The Chairman-in-Office

OSCE Permanent Council meeting place in Vienna.

Each year, a different member country leads the OSCE. The foreign minister of that country becomes the Chairman-in-Office (CiO). This person is the most senior leader of the OSCE.

The Chairman-in-Office helps coordinate the OSCE's work. They also represent the OSCE to the world. They oversee activities like preventing conflicts and helping countries recover after problems. The CiO gets help from the previous and next chairmen, forming a group called the "Troika."

For 2023, North Macedonia holds the chair, with Bujar Osmani as Chairman-in-Office. For 2024, Malta will take over.

History of Chairmanship

Year	Country	Chairman-in-Office
1991	Germany	Hans-Dietrich Genscher (from June)
1992	Czechoslovakia	Jiří Dienstbier (until 2 July); Jozef Moravčík (from 3 July)
1993	Sweden	Margaretha af Ugglas
1994	Italy	Beniamino Andreatta (until 11 May); Antonio Martino (from 12 May)
1995	Hungary	László Kovács
1996	Switzerland	Flavio Cotti
1997	Denmark	Niels Helveg Petersen
1998	Poland	Bronisław Geremek
1999	Norway	Knut Vollebæk
2000	Austria	Wolfgang Schüssel (until 4 February); Benita Ferrero-Waldner (from 5 February)
2001	Romania	Mircea Geoană
2002	Portugal	Jaime Gama (until 6 April); António Martins da Cruz (from 7 April)
2003	Netherlands	Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (until 3 December); Bernard Bot (from 4 December)
2004	Bulgaria	Solomon Passy
2005	Slovenia	Dimitrij Rupel
2006	Belgium	Karel De Gucht
2007	Spain	Miguel Ángel Moratinos
2008	Finland	Ilkka Kanerva (until 4 April); Alexander Stubb (from 5 April)
2009	Greece	Dora Bakoyannis (until 5 October); George Papandreou (from 6 October)
2010	Kazakhstan	Kanat Saudabayev
2011	Lithuania	Audronius Ažubalis
2012	Ireland	Eamon Gilmore
2013	Ukraine	Leonid Kozhara
2014	Switzerland	Didier Burkhalter
2015	Serbia	Ivica Dačić
2016	Germany	Frank-Walter Steinmeier
2017	Austria	Sebastian Kurz (until 18 December); Karin Kneissl (from 18 December)
2018	Italy	Angelino Alfano (until 1 June); Enzo Moavero Milanesi (from 1 June)
2019	Slovakia	Miroslav Lajčák
2020	Albania	Edi Rama
2021	Sweden	Ann Linde
2022	Poland	Zbigniew Rau
2023	North Macedonia	Bujar Osmani
2024	Malta	Ian Borg
2025	Finland

The Secretary General

The Secretary General is the OSCE's chief manager. They help the Chairman-in-Office and manage the organization's daily work.

Secretary General	Country	Term of office
Wilhelm Höynck [de]	Germany	1993–1996
Giancarlo Aragona	Italy	1996–1999
Ján Kubiš	Slovakia	1999–2005
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut	France	2005–2011
Lamberto Zannier	Italy	2011–2017
Thomas Greminger	Switzerland	2017–2020
Helga Schmid	Germany	2020–present

OSCE's Main Areas of Work

The OSCE focuses on three main areas, often called "dimensions," to ensure security and cooperation.

Politico-Military Security

This area deals with military security and preventing conflicts. The OSCE helps countries be more open and cooperative about their military activities.

• Arms Control: The OSCE helps stop the illegal spread of weapons. It also helps countries destroy extra weapons. It hosts information exchanges about treaties like the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty.
• Border Management: The OSCE helps countries manage their borders. This includes preventing conflicts and building stronger border systems.
• Fighting Terrorism: The OSCE uses its experience in conflict prevention to help fight terrorism worldwide.
• Preventing Conflicts: The OSCE works to stop conflicts from starting. It also helps find lasting political solutions for existing conflicts. It supports countries in recovering after conflicts.
• Police Work: OSCE police operations are important for preventing conflicts and helping countries rebuild after them.

Economic and Environmental Security

This area focuses on how economic and environmental issues can affect security. The OSCE watches for threats and helps countries create policies that promote security.

• Economic Activities: This includes helping with migration, transport, and energy security. The OSCE often works with other groups on these activities.
• Environmental Activities: The OSCE works on environmental issues that can threaten security. This includes projects on hazardous waste, water management, and access to environmental information.

Human Rights and Democracy

This area focuses on making sure countries respect human rights and freedoms. It also promotes democracy and tolerance.

• Fighting Human Trafficking: Since 2003, the OSCE has worked to fight human trafficking. This means raising awareness and helping governments stop it. The OSCE works with governments, law enforcement, and other organizations. It focuses on all types of trafficking, including forced labor, forced marriages, and child trafficking.
• Promoting Democracy: The OSCE helps countries build and strengthen democratic systems.
• Education: Education programs are a key part of the OSCE's efforts to prevent conflicts and help countries recover.
• Elections: The OSCE helps countries with their elections. However, some critics point out that despite OSCE's efforts, some countries it works with, like Kazakhstan, are still not very democratic.
• Gender Equality: The OSCE works to ensure equal opportunities for men and women. It aims to include gender equality in all its policies.
• Human Rights: The OSCE focuses on important human rights issues. These include freedom of movement, freedom of religion, and preventing torture.
• Media Freedom: The OSCE watches for problems with freedom of expression in its member countries. It helps promote free media.
• Minority Rights: Ethnic conflict is a major cause of violence in Europe. The OSCE works to find and solve ethnic tensions early. It also sets standards for the rights of minority groups.

OSCE Democracy Defender Award

The Democracy Defender Award honors people or groups who have done great things to promote democracy and human rights. This award started in 2016.

Year	Recipient	Nationality	Notes	Reference
2022	ZMINA Memorial	Ukraine  Russia	Ukrainian Human Rights Centre Zmina and to the Russian Memorial Human Rights Centre in recognition of their courageous and important efforts to promote human rights and democracy.
2020	Viasna Human Rights Centre	Belarus	Belarusian organisation established in 1996 which advocates for the rights of political prisoners in Belarus and against the government of Alexander Lukashenko.
2019	Union of Informed Citizens (UIC)	Armenia	Armenian organisation which intends to raise public awareness on important issues and reduce the impact of misinformation on decision-making.
2018	CRTA	Serbia	Serbian organisation established in 2002 to improve the democratic culture, the rule of law and the freedom of the Media
2017	Golos	Russia	Russian organisation established in 2000 to protect the electoral rights of citizens and to foster civil society
2016	Oleksandra Matviychuk	Ukraine	Ukrainian activist, coordinator of Euromaidan SOS and leader of Civil Rights Center

Images for kids

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  Leaders like Helmut Schmidt and Gerald Ford at the 1975 CSCE summit in Helsinki, Finland.

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  OSCE SMM watching heavy weapons in eastern Ukraine.

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  A meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Austria.

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  The Młodziejowski Palace in Warsaw, home to the ODIHR.

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  OSCE Permanent Council meeting place in Vienna.

See Also

In Spanish: Organización para la Seguridad y la Cooperación en Europa para niños