Terms of Use

Cookie statement

When you access an OSCE website via a supported browser, see standards and requirements, cookies may be downloaded on your computer or mobile device. Cookies are tiny files that are used to recognize whether you have visited a website previously and adjust OSCE services accordingly.

Why do we use cookies?

We use cookies to improve and tailor our services to your needs. Where possible, we aggregate or anonymize such information. However, some cookies may record form inputs or device identifiers that constitute personal data under OSCE rules.

Which cookies are served through our website?

Cookies are either served directly (first party) or by a partner (third party) to you. In a nutshell, there are four types of cookies:

  1. Essential
    These first party cookies are absolutely necessary for smooth operation of the website. Common visitors who read and download information do not require them. They become necessary when you are asked to provide personal information which is required to process your request, such as submitting contact forms, signing up to newsletters or authenticating to secure areas.
     
  2. Preferences
    This group of cookies remembers choices that you have previously made. For example, they are used for personalization, such as preferred settings or consenting to (and hiding) our privacy notification.
     
  3. Statistical
    These third party cookies collect anonymous information about users for the purpose of assessing the website's performance. In this respect, we rely on the following service providers:
  4. Targeting
    The OSCE shares webpages or embeds content from the listed Social Media presences. Their cookies, similar to statistical cookies, collect information about users' behaviour, which helps us to target certain audiences. Individual cookie policies apply to these services:

What kind of information is collected via cookies?

We generate reports for the purposes of evaluating the success of our communication campaigns, such as analysing page impressions, browsing patterns, audience profiles and geographic location. These reports do not contain any directly identifiable personal information or data. Where feasible, reports are aggregated or anonymized.

We may also use your IP address and browser type to help diagnose problems with our infrastructure. An IP address is a numeric code that identifies your computer on the Internet that is captured when retrieving a cookie. For specific services, such as Google Analytics, IP addresses are anonymized.

We retain the records created by cookie use for as long as needed to provide the service or for security, analytics or legal purposes. Retention periods for third-party cookies are determined by the respective providers.

Do I have to consent to the use of cookies?

When you use our website, cookies may be placed on your device in accordance with this Cookie Statement. As described on this page, we use cookies primarily for statistical and analytical purposes to help us understand how our website is used and to improve its functionality.

If you are visiting our website only to read or download information, you can generally access most content even if you choose to block cookies through your browser settings. The OSCE aims to provide clear and transparent information about its use of cookies and similar technologies. If you have questions or require further clarification about this Cookie Statement, please consult the OSCE Privacy Notice or contact the OSCE through the channels indicated on the website.

If you wish to block or delete cookies, you can manage these settings directly in your browser. Guidance on how to do this is available at: http://www.allaboutcookies.org/manage-cookies/.

How to manage cookies

You can refuse or delete non-essential cookies via your browser settings or by using the OSCE cookie-banner preference panel. Further information about your rights in relation to personal data is available in our Privacy notice.