by Tuula Yrjölä, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre
Looking at the name of our Centre, I often find myself in a paradox. As the name suggests, we indeed help prevent conflicts. But importantly, we also help mitigate the consequences of conflict, and work on post-conflict rehabilitation.
Arms control. Disarmament. Non-proliferation. What images come to mind? Stocks of ammunition? Missile installations? Men in grey suits? Men in uniform? Young women from Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, and Norway? That last image might not be typical, but it could be. We know that sustainable security demands that women play an integral part in the decision-making processes around security. And while this is often raised in the context of negotiations on peace processes, which is crucial, the reality is that shaping security involves so much more – and women need to be included across the board. Yet we see that young women still face additional hurdles when it comes to areas long seen as the domain of men – including arms-control, disarmament and non-proliferation.
by Franz Petutschnig, Team Leader of the Regional Trial Monitoring Project at the OSCE Mission to Skopje.
Security is not limited to hard political and military issues. It also manifests itself in the air we breathe. The simple act of breathing clean air has a tremendous impact on our everyday lives but can all too often be taken for granted.
by Giulia Manconi, Associate Energy Security Officer, Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
Today’s global energy crisis is a stark reminder of how accustomed we have become to the availability of affordable and reliable energy around the clock. As energy sustains the functioning of most critical services in our societies, supply disruptions, blackouts, and damage to critical energy infrastructure – whether man-made or as a result of natural disasters – constitute major security threats with far-reaching consequences on our health, public safety, economies, and the environment.
The OSCE and Mediterranean regions are interdependent and face similar challenges. This reality is behind the long-standing co-operation between the OSCE’s 57 participating States and our six Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.
by Ambassador Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
Water is a strategic resource and an essential element in national and regional security. Water management can also bridge borders and be a powerful tool of co-operation, enhancing security, prosperity and environmental protection. Therefore, transboundary water co-operation and water diplomacy are essential tools for the OSCE, which has a long track record in water management projects, such as transboundary water co-operation, water diplomacy and good water governance.
Including youth voices in decision-making processes is not just the right thing to do, it’s essential. Sustainability of our collective efforts to promote security and stability for future generations requires dialogue and solidarity with younger generations.