Civil society’s role as a cornerstone of a resilient democracy highlighted at OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference

VIENNA, 3 December 2025 — The 2025 OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference, held today in Vienna, highlighted the vital role of civil society in advancing security, including human rights and democracy throughout the OSCE region. Actionable recommendations were presented to OSCE leaders and participating States ahead of the 32^nd OSCE Ministerial Council on 4 and 5 December.

At the event, the Civic Solidarity Platform, a coalition of civic organizations and groups from countries across the OSCE region, presented the Vienna Declaration entitled “Reviving the Helsinki Principles, Strengthening Security in a Comprehensive Way, and Ensuring Meaningful Civil Society Participation”. The Declaration called for the strategic involvement of civil society with institutions within and beyond the OSCE, and it draws from expert discussions, analytical papers and the final documents of the Helsinki+50 Reflection Process, supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany and the Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the OSCE. 

The Helsinki Recommendations for enhancing civil society engagement were presented by Anu Juvonen, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Civil Society. The recommendations aim to support the OSCE in ensuring a more systematic, strategic and meaningful co-operation with civil society.

In the concluding session the current and incoming OSCE Chairpersons-in-Office exchanged thoughts on the relationship between shrinking civic space and security, civil society engagement and recommendations presented at the conference. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, emphasised that free, strong and independent civil society is a fundamental cornerstone of a functioning and resilient democracy. 

“In times of democratic backsliding and restrictions on fundamental freedoms in many parts of the OSCE area, support to civil society is needed more than ever before. As indicated by the OSCE Moscow Mechanism reports, countries that suppress human right and fundamental freedoms at home are more likely to commit aggression abroad,” she said.

The head of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, stressed that citizen participation and the contribution of civil society are vital to any democracy — in Switzerland through direct involvement in state decisions, and across the OSCE region through citizens’ active exercise of their rights and duties, which strengthens social cohesion and drives innovation. 

He added: “Switzerland will remain committed to comprehensive security and to safeguarding citizens’ freedom and their ability to shape collective decisions — essential conditions for stability and prosperity.”

The Special Representative Anu Juvonen highlighted the growing pressures on civic space, noting: “Across the OSCE region, civic space is shrinking. Restrictions on freedom of association and peaceful assembly are increasing, fundamental rights are under pressure, and human rights defenders face growing challenges. In these times, it is vital to strengthen the role of civil society—both within the OSCE and beyond.”

The Conference was also attended by Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions Maria Telalian, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and Human Rights (ODIHR) Jan Braathu, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Christophe Kamp and President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pere Joan Pons Sampietro.

 "Civil society is essential in fostering trust, co-operation, and respect for the democratic principles and human rights that underpin our collective security. Without trust between and within societies, peace will always remain fragile. The OSCE offers a unique platform for dialogue, bringing together all participating States, institutions and civil society," said OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu.

The Civil Society Conference is organized by the Civic Solidarity Platform with the support of the Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship. The Conference has taken place every year on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council since 2010.