Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Logo of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Logo
Location of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
SecretariatVienna, Austria
Official languagesEnglish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish
TypeIntergovernmental organization
with no legal personality
Membership57 participating countries
11 partners for co-operation
Leaders
Ian Borg
Matteo Mecacci
Teresa Ribeiro
Kairat Abdrakhmanov
Helga Schmid
Establishment
July 1973
30 July – 1 August 1975
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[1] (3rd)
• Density
25/km2 (64.7/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)2022 estimate
• Total
US$53.1 trillion[2]
• Per capita
US$40,900
Website
osce.org

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, the promotion of human rights, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections. It employs around 3,460 people, mostly in its field operations but also in its secretariat in Vienna, Austria, and its institutions.[3] It has observer status at the United Nations.[4]

The OSCE had its origins in 1975: its predecessors came together during the era of the Cold War to form a forum for discussion between the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc.[5] Most of its 57 participating countries are in Europe, but with some members in Asia or in North America. The participating countries comprise much of the land-area of the Northern Hemisphere.

The OSCE is concerned with early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation.

  1. ^ "OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 2022". Countryeconomy.com.
  2. ^ "OSCE - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 2022". Countryeconomy.com.
  3. ^ Galbreath, David J. (2007). The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Routledge global institutions (Volume 14). New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN 9780203960943.
  4. ^ "United Nations". www.osce.org. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022. On 26 May 1993, a Framework for Co-operation and Co-ordination between the United Nations Secretariat and the CSCE was agreed upon, and in October of the same year, the UN granted the CSCE observer status.
  5. ^ Galbreath, David J. (2007). The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Routledge global institutions (Volume 14). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 41. ISBN 9780203960943. Like the CSCE, the purpose was to promote trust and confidence between East and West.