Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Aim
Address a wide range of security-related concerns that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism, anti-trafficking measures and economic and environmental activities.
History
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 politico-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. 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.
IRD Activities
- Minority Rights
The OSCE identifies and seeks early resolution of ethnic tensions that might endanger peace or stability including interreligious dialogue
- Tolerance and Non-Discrimination
The OSCE actively supports its 57 participating States in combating all forms of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination, including anti-Semitism, and discrimination against Christians and Muslims. Interreligious dialogue is one tool that is important to reduce discrimination.
Main Focus Countries of Activities
Albania - Austria - Belgium - Canada - Czechia - Finland - Germany - Hungary - Italy - Latvia - Luxembourg - Monaco - Norway - Romania - Serbia - Spain - Tajikistan - Turkmenistan - USA - Andorra - Azerbaijan - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Croatia - Denmark - France - Greece - Iceland - Kazakhstan - Liechtenstein - Malta - Montenegro - Poland - Russian Federation - Slovakia - Sweden - Macedonia - Ukraine - Uzbekistan - Armenia - Belarus - Bulgaria - Cyprus - Estonia - Georgia - Holy See - Ireland - Kyrgyzstan - Lithuania - Moldova - Mongolia - Netherlands - Portugal - San Marino - Slovenia - Switzerland - Turkey - UK - Albania - Austria - Belgium - Canada - Czechia - Finland - Germany - Hungary - Italy - Latvia - Luxembourg - Monaco - Norway - Romania - Serbia - Spain - Tajikistan - Turkmenistan - USA - Andorra - Azerbaijan - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Croatia - Denmark - France - Greece - Iceland - Kazakhstan - Liechtenstein - Malta - Montenegro - Poland - Russian Federation - Slovakia - Sweden - Macedonia - Ukraine - Uzbekistan - Armenia - Belarus - Bulgaria - Cyprus - Estonia - Georgia - Holy See - Ireland - Kyrgyzstan - Lithuania - Moldova - Mongolia - Netherlands - Portugal - San Marino - Slovenia - Switzerland - Turkey - UK - Kosovo