Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE)

• The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the United Nations.
• Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, promotion of human rights, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections.
• It has its origins in the mid 1975 Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) held in Helsinki, Finland.
• The OSCE is concerned with early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation.
• The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities.

Members

• Most of its 57 participating countries are in Europe, but there are a few members present in Asia and North America.
• The participating states cover much of the land area of the Northern Hemisphere. It was created during the Cold War era as an East–West forum.
• All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.