About us

Since the early 1970s, the OSCE, then known as the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, has occupied a unique and central place in European security. Equipped with operational capabilities on the ground, we work for stability, peace and democracy for more than a billion people.

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Chairpersonship Participating States

What is the OSCE?

With 57 participating States in North America, Europe and Asia, the OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization. The OSCE works for stability, peace and democracy for more than a billion people, through political dialogue about shared values and through practical work that makes a lasting difference.

The Organization comprises 57 participating States and has a rotating Chairpersonship.

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Participating States

57 participating States, from Vancouver to Vladivostok.

Helsinki Cathedral lit up at dusk, reflecting on the waterfront, under a purple sky.

Country

Finland – OSCE Chairpersonship 2025

Programme, priorities and updates from the Chairpersonship

There are four OSCE decision-making bodies with clearly delineated, distinct mandates.

Summits

The highest decision-making body of the OSCE

Ministerial Councils

The OSCE’s central decision-making and governing body

Permanent Council

Responsible for the day-to-day business of the Organization

Forum for Security Co-operation

Dealing with the politico-military dimension of security

The OSCE’s leadership includes the Chairperson-in-Office, the Secretary General, and the heads of its institutions and field operations.

Our people

Elina Valtonen

2025 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office

Our people

Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu

OSCE Secretary General

Our people

Maria Telalian

Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

Our people

Christophe Kamp

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

Our people

Jan Braathu

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

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Leadership

The OSCE’s senior leadership

The OSCE maintains a privileged relationship with 11 Partner States, and also partners with many other international, regional and sub-regional organizations.

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Partners for Co-operation

The OSCE maintains privileged relations with 11 Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation to better address shared security challenges.

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Partnerships

Other regional partnerships

Since the early 1970s, the participating States have hammered out a set of principles and commitments, and created instruments and institutions, to strengthen Europe’s security architecture.

The OSCE traces its origins to the political détente phase of the early 1970s when the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) was created to serve as a multilateral forum for dialogue and negotiation between East and West.

Our history

By considering security from a comprehensive viewpoint that includes a politico-military, economic and environmental, and a human dimension, the OSCE States recognize that true security transcends traditional boundaries.

Our approach to security

The OSCE works for stability, peace and democracy, through political dialogue on shared values and joint action. The basis for this are the principles agreed in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and subsequent political decisions.

Principles and commitments

Recognizing that some situations require rapid reaction, the participating States developed several OSCE mechanisms and procedures that help facilitate prompt and direct contact between conflicting parties.

Mechanisms and procedures

The participating States gave the OSCE several tools to attempt to resolve situations that have the potential of escalating into conflict.

Key instruments

The OSCE is a decentralized organization comprising institutions, field operations and offices spread across the region.

Organizational Structure

Roles, relationships and responsibilities within the OSCE

Finance and administrative personnel build and maintain the logistical and operational structure of the Organization.

Funding and budget

The OSCE is funded by contributions from its 57 participating States.

Internal Oversight

An independent framework to oversee the OSCE’s work

Employment

Some 2,200 people work in the OSCE’s offices, institutions and field operations.

Regulatory framework

Instructions for OSCE staff

Procurement

Opportunities to do business with the OSCE

Networking with civil society organizations, academic institutions, researchers and other groups are an important pathway for the OSCE to broaden the debate on European security issues.

Networks

Researchers, academics, analysts and students working on security issues

Researcher-in-Residence programme

Access to the archives of the CSCE and OSCE

Public documents

Access to OSCE documents issued to the public

Visiting groups

Visits for University students and professional groups

Although not directly initiatives of the Organization, several bodies are related to the OSCE and focus on negotiations, compliance verification and the implementation of multilateral arms control treaties.