Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
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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 | |
Ian Borg | |
• Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
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Matteo Mecacci |
• Representative on Freedom of the Media
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Teresa Ribeiro |
Establishment | |
• As the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
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July 1973 |
30 July – 1 August 1975 | |
• Paris Charter
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21 November 1990 |
• Renamed OSCE
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1 January 1995 |
Area | |
• Total
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50,119,801 km2 (19,351,363 sq mi) |
Population | |
• 2022 estimate
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1.3 billion (3rd) |
• Density
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25/km2 (64.7/sq mi) |
GDP (nominal) | 2022 estimate |
• Total
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US$53.1 trillion |
• Per capita
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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.
Contents
- How the OSCE Began and Grew
- OSCE Missions and Operations
- Helping Georgia in 1992
- Supporting Moldova in 1993
- Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995
- Kosovo Mission in 1998
- Macedonia Mission in 2001
- Serbia Mission in 2001
- Montenegro Mission in 2006
- Observing Elections in Texas (2012)
- Turkey Constitutional Referendum (2017)
- OSCE's Role in Ukraine (2014–2021)
- OSCE's Role in Ukraine (2022–Present)
- Armenia Mission in 2022
- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
- OSCE Members and Languages
- How the OSCE Works
- OSCE's Main Areas of Work
- OSCE Democracy Defender Award
- Images for kids
- See Also
How the OSCE Began and Grew
Early Days of the CSCE
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)
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

The OSCE has 57 participating states. Here is a list of when they joined and which key agreements they signed:
State | Admission | Signed the | |
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Helsinki Final Act | Charter of Paris | ||
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19 June 1991 | 16 September 1991 | 17 September 1991 |
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25 April 1996 | 10 November 1999 | 17 February 1998 |
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30 January 1992 | 8 July 1992 | 17 April 1992 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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30 January 1992 | 8 July 1992 | 20 December 1993 |
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30 January 1992 | 26 February 1992 | 8 April 1993 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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30 April 1992 | 8 July 1992 | |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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24 March 1992 | 8 July 1992 | |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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1 January 1993 | ||
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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10 September 1991 | 14 October 1991 | 6 December 1991 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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24 March 1992 | 8 July 1992 | 21 January 1994 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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30 January 1992 | 8 July 1992 | 23 September 1992 |
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30 January 1992 | 8 July 1992 | 3 June 1994 |
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10 September 1991 | 14 October 1991 | 6 December 1991 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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10 September 1991 | 14 October 1991 | 6 December 1991 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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30 January 1992 | 26 February 1992 | 29 January 1993 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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21 November 2012 | ||
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22 June 2006 | 1 September 2006 | |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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12 October 1995 | 8 July 1992 | |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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1 January 1993 | ||
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24 March 1992 | 8 July 1992 | 8 March 1993 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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30 January 1992 | 26 February 1992 | |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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30 January 1992 | 8 July 1992 | |
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30 January 1992 | 26 February 1992 | 16 June 1992 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1975 |
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25 June 1973 | 1 August 1975 | 21 November 1990 |
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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."
Japan (1992–present)
South Korea (1994–present)
Thailand (2000–present)
Afghanistan (2003–present)
Australia (2009–present)
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
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 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 |
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Presence in Albania | ![]() |
1999 | |
Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina | ![]() |
1995 | Dayton Agreement |
Mission in Kosovo | ![]() |
1999 | Kosovo Conflict |
Mission to Montenegro | ![]() |
2006 | |
Mission to Serbia | ![]() |
2001 | |
Mission to Skopje | ![]() |
2001 | Ohrid Agreement (2001) |
Mission to Moldova | ![]() |
1992 | Transnistria conflict |
Centre in Ashgabat | ![]() |
1999 | |
Programme Office in Astana | ![]() |
1998 | |
Programme Office in Bishkek | ![]() |
1998 | |
Programme Office in Dushanbe | ![]() |
1994 | |
Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan | ![]() |
1995 | |
Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office on the Conflict Dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference | ![]() ![]() |
1995 | Nagorno-Karabakh conflict |
Completed Missions
Some OSCE missions have finished their work:
Mission | Region | Start | End | Notes |
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Missions of Long Duration in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
8 September 1992 | July 1993 | Yugoslav wars |
Mission to Georgia | ![]() |
November 1992 | 31 December 2008 | |
Mission to Estonia | ![]() |
15 February 1993 | 31 December 2001 | |
Mission to Latvia | ![]() |
19 November 1993 | 31 December 2001 | |
Mission to Ukraine | ![]() |
24 November 1994 | 30 April 1999 | |
Representative to the Estonian Expert Commission on Military Pensioners | ![]() |
1994 | 1996 | |
Liaison Office in Central Asia | ![]() |
16 March 1995 | December 2000 | |
Representative to the Joint Committee on the Skrunda Radar Station | ![]() |
6 April 1995 | 31 October 1999 | |
Assistance Group to 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 | ![]() |
1995 | 2015 | Dayton Agreement |
Mission to Croatia / Office in Zagreb | ![]() |
July 1996 | 17 January 2012 | Croatian War of Independence |
Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus | ![]() |
January 1998 | 31 December 2002 | |
Kosovo Verification Mission / Task force for Kosovo | ![]() ![]() |
October 1998 | June 1999 | Kosovo conflict |
Office in Yerevan | ![]() |
16 February 2000 | 31 August 2017 | |
Office in Baku / Project Co-ordinator in Baku | ![]() |
July 2000 | 31 December 2015 | |
Office in Minsk | ![]() |
1 January 2003 | 31 March 2011 | |
Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk | ![]() |
24 July 2014 | 30 September 2021 | |
Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine | ![]() |
March 2014 | March 2022 | Russo-Ukrainian war |
Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine | ![]() |
June 1999 | March 2022 | |
Needs Assessment Team in Armenia | ![]() |
21 October 2022 | 27 October 2022 | Nagorno-Karabakh conflict |
Leadership: The Chairman-in-Office

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 |
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1991 | ![]() |
Hans-Dietrich Genscher (from June) |
1992 | ![]() |
Jiří Dienstbier (until 2 July); Jozef Moravčík (from 3 July) |
1993 | ![]() |
Margaretha af Ugglas |
1994 | ![]() |
Beniamino Andreatta (until 11 May); Antonio Martino (from 12 May) |
1995 | ![]() |
László Kovács |
1996 | ![]() |
Flavio Cotti |
1997 | ![]() |
Niels Helveg Petersen |
1998 | ![]() |
Bronisław Geremek |
1999 | ![]() |
Knut Vollebæk |
2000 | ![]() |
Wolfgang Schüssel (until 4 February); Benita Ferrero-Waldner (from 5 February) |
2001 | ![]() |
Mircea Geoană |
2002 | ![]() |
Jaime Gama (until 6 April); António Martins da Cruz (from 7 April) |
2003 | ![]() |
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (until 3 December); Bernard Bot (from 4 December) |
2004 | ![]() |
Solomon Passy |
2005 | ![]() |
Dimitrij Rupel |
2006 | ![]() |
Karel De Gucht |
2007 | ![]() |
Miguel Ángel Moratinos |
2008 | ![]() |
Ilkka Kanerva (until 4 April); Alexander Stubb (from 5 April) |
2009 | ![]() |
Dora Bakoyannis (until 5 October); George Papandreou (from 6 October) |
2010 | ![]() |
Kanat Saudabayev |
2011 | ![]() |
Audronius Ažubalis |
2012 | ![]() |
Eamon Gilmore |
2013 | ![]() |
Leonid Kozhara |
2014 | ![]() |
Didier Burkhalter |
2015 | ![]() |
Ivica Dačić |
2016 | ![]() |
Frank-Walter Steinmeier |
2017 | ![]() |
Sebastian Kurz (until 18 December); Karin Kneissl (from 18 December) |
2018 | ![]() |
Angelino Alfano (until 1 June); Enzo Moavero Milanesi (from 1 June) |
2019 | ![]() |
Miroslav Lajčák |
2020 | ![]() |
Edi Rama |
2021 | ![]() |
Ann Linde |
2022 | ![]() |
Zbigniew Rau |
2023 | ![]() |
Bujar Osmani |
2024 | ![]() |
Ian Borg |
2025 | ![]() |
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 |
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Wilhelm Höynck | ![]() |
1993–1996 |
Giancarlo Aragona | ![]() |
1996–1999 |
Ján Kubiš | ![]() |
1999–2005 |
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut | ![]() |
2005–2011 |
Lamberto Zannier | ![]() |
2011–2017 |
Thomas Greminger | ![]() |
2017–2020 |
Helga Schmid | ![]() |
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 |
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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 | ![]() |
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) | ![]() |
Armenian organisation which intends to raise public awareness on important issues and reduce the impact of misinformation on decision-making. | |
2018 | CRTA | ![]() |
Serbian organisation established in 2002 to improve the democratic culture, the rule of law and the freedom of the Media | |
2017 | Golos | ![]() |
Russian organisation established in 2000 to protect the electoral rights of citizens and to foster civil society | |
2016 | Oleksandra Matviychuk | ![]() |
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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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
- Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty
- Armenia–OSCE relations
- Azerbaijan–OSCE relations
- Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
- Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia
- Council of Europe
- European Union
- International Federation for Human Rights
- International organisations in Europe
- NATO
- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe statistics
- OSCE Minsk Group
- Silence procedure
- Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
- Western European Union