Fields of work

Youth

Young people’s voices, including in multilateral organizations, are often not heard when discussing the security and stability of nations, although many are standing up to advocate for democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms. The OSCE, since its earliest days, has made the youth and security agenda an important part of its activities.

This content is available in: English Study / report

Working With and For Youth: Practical ideas to foster youth engagement in policies, processes and programs

DateDateLocationLocation

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Our challenge

Many factors can affect security and stability, often across borders, population segments or the OSCE’s three dimensions.

Many young women and men in our region are actively promoting a culture of peace, dialogue, justice, peaceful coexistence, trust and reconciliation. However, despite their efforts to stand up for democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, the democratic space continues to shrink regionally and globally. Young women are particularly vulnerable to such changes due to multiple challenges and stereotypes that are obstacles to their meaningful inclusion.

We […] acknowledge that youth are an important part of society and the role that they can play in supporting participating States in the implementation of commitments in all three dimensions.

Our action

Building on our comprehensive and co-operative approach to security, we work on strategies to tackle the issue head-on.

The Secretariat operationalizes the OSCE’s Youth and Security commitments with the aim to contribute to building a peaceful and prosperous future for our societies. Activities include the Perspectives 20-30 initiative, a platform developed to enable youth to discuss with decision-makers their vision of a safer future.The OSCE Secretariat also established the OSCE Pool of Young Experts initiative, gathering together young alumni of OSCE activities and young experts on key security issues affecting the OSCE region, aiming at promoting their meaningful engagement in broader peace and security debates.

Mandate

Our teams

Our institutions, field operations and offices bring to the task expert skills and knowledge to develop tailor-made solutions for each challenge.

Our institutions and offices

All three OSCE institutions are working with and for youth within their respective mandates, ranging from strengthening youth political and public engagement to working with youth from minority communities and young media professionals and students of journalism.

The OSCE Secretariat is active in promoting the inclusion of youth perspectives in the security debate, including through the Perspectives 20-30 initiative, a platform for young women and men to discuss with decision-makers their vision of a safer future for the OSCE area.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office has also appointed a Special Representative on Youth.

Logo of the OSCE Representative of Freedom of the Media
Homepage

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

The Representative’s activities can be divided into two groups: observing media developments as part of an early warning function and helping participating States abide by their commitments to freedom of expression and free media. This includes efforts to ensure the safety of journalists; assist with the development of media pluralism; promote decriminalization of defamation; combat hate speech while preserving freedom of expression; provide expert opinions on media regulation and legislation; promote Internet freedom; and assist with the process of switching from analogue to digital broadcasting. The Representative also holds annual regional media conferences, bringing together journalists, representatives of civil society and government, as well as academics, to discuss current media freedom issues.

Our operations on the ground

Many of our field operations work with their host countries on youth-related initiatives, helping to build inclusive and democratic societies. Their work includes, among other issues, strengthening youth engagement and confidence-building between youth groups, building up youth resilience and stimulating critical thinking.

Mission in Kosovo

Set up on 1 July 1999, the Mission has its headquarters in Prishtinë/Priština and maintains five regional offices. It runs a wide array of activities.

Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Established on 8 December 1995, the Mission works on human rights, education, the rule of law, gender equality, governance and security co-operation.

Mission to Montenegro

Established on 29 June 2006, the Mission assists Montenegro with its reform agenda and helps it further strengthen its democratic development.

Mission to Serbia

The Mission, set up on 11 January 2001, is based in Belgrade and assists Serbia in building accountable democratic institutions.

Mission to Skopje

Established on 18 September 1992, the Mission’s key priorities are constructive inter-ethnic relations and the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement.

Presence in Albania

Established on 27 March 1997 with the mandate to promote democratization, the rule of law and human rights, and to consolidate democratic institutions.

Projects

Initiatives funded by individual states and organizations

Projects

Events

Upcoming conferences, meetings and training events

Workshop

Social Video Contest “Break the Chain of Domestic Violence!”

The contest invites participants to help raise public awareness about the unacceptability of tolerating domestic violence, the ways to overcome this issue, and the available help and resources for survivors. Original social video clips…
DateDateLocationLocation

Ukraine
Ceremony

Opening of the art exhibition Peace Through Art on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River, 2025

On 20 November, the OSCE Mission to Moldova will open an art exhibition featuring paintings by the art students from “Alexandru Plamadeala” Republican College of Fine Arts from Chisinau and “Victor Postoikin” Higher Education Art College…
DateDateLocationLocation

Tiraspol Office of the OSCE Mission…
Conference

Stronger Together: Psychosocial Support for Children and Adults in Communities During the War. International Conference

Latest approaches to psychosocial support for children and adults affected by the war will be in focus of the international conference “Strong Together: Psychosocial Support for Children, Adults and Communities in Times of War”, to be held…
DateDateLocationLocation

Kyiv, Ukraine
All events

Studies and reports

Reports, studies and analyses for policymakers, researchers and all those interested in this field of our work

All studies and reports

Manuals and guides

Practice-oriented manuals, guides, handbooks and recommendations for policymakers and practitioners working in this field

All manuals and guides

OSCE stories

Read up on the OSCE, our people on the ground and our work

All stories All news