Key instruments

In the Helsinki Final Act 1975 and successive Summits and Ministerial Council meetings, the CSCE/OSCE was equipped with an array of tools to attempt to head off looming or solve existing conflicts. These instruments constitute the Organization’s toolbox to become involved at different stages of the conflict cycle.

Field operations

Missions and other field operations and activities are the OSCE's principal instrument for long-term conflict prevention, crisis management, conflict resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation.

OSCE Field operations

Personal representatives of the Chairperson-in-Office

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office can designate personal or special representatives to help deal with a crisis or conflict. They have a clear and precise mandate.

Representatives

Fact-finding and rapporteur missions

Fact-finding and rapporteur missions are short-term visits by experts and personalities from OSCE participating States with the task to establish facts, report on their findings and—in certain cases—make recommendations to OSCE decision-making bodies. They can be deployed in all three dimensions and serve as instruments for conflict prevention and crisis management.

See Helsinki Document 1992, chapter III, paragraphs 12–16

Mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes

The OSCE has developed several mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes. These are procedures that facilitate prompt and direct contact between the parties to the conflict and help to mobilize concerted action by the OSCE. The advantage of these mechanisms is that they do not require consensus, and thus can be activated by a limited number of participating States, allowing for rapid reaction.

Court of Conciliation and Arbitration

Ad hoc steering groups

The Helsinki Document 1992 provides for the OSCE to establish ad hoc steering groups, which—on a case-by-case basis—can assist the Chairperson-in-Office, in particular in the field of conflict prevention, crisis management and dispute resolution. The groups are composed of a restricted number of participating States, including the Troika.

See Helsinki Document 1992, chapter I, paragraphs 16–21

Peacekeeping activities

Another OSCE instrument provided for by the Helsinki Document 1992, and further elaborated in the Budapest Document 1994, is that of peacekeeping. It states that the OSCE may engage in peacekeeping activities in cases of conflict within or among participating States to help maintain peace and stability in support of an ongoing effort at a political solution.

See Helsinki Document 1992, chapter III, paragraphs 17–20

Instruments to confront 21st century threats

Several OSCE instruments have been developed to deal with new threats that have emerged in the early decades of the 21st century. This includes the OSCE Strategy to Address Threats to Security and Stability in the Twenty-First Century as well as action plans on the fight against terrorism and against trafficking in human beings.

Strategy to Address Threats to Security and Stability in the Twenty-First Century

Bucharest Plan of Action for Combating Terrorism

Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings