The Chairperson-in-Office's Special and Personal Representatives visited Vienna for high-level discussions on strengthening conflict resolution efforts

VIENNA, 20 October 2021- This week, the Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship hosted the second high-level retreat for Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde’s Special and Personal Representatives dealing with conflicts in the OSCE region as well as her Special Envoy outside Vienna from 20-21 October.

One of Sweden's main priorities as Chair is to contribute to conflict resolution in the OSCE region. The retreat provided an opportunity for representatives to discuss common challenges and exchange experiences of their work on conflict resolution. Issues discussed included ways to make conflict resolution processes more inclusive and the OSCE’s role in strengthening the participation of civil society and of women and girls in these processes.

The two-day retreat was organised in partnership with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC), and co-facilitated by the CPC and the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). The retreat was a follow-up to a first event held in Stockholm and online in May.

 “By coming together, we can explore and discuss ways for the OSCE to increase its capacity to resolve the existing conflicts in our region”, said Ambassador Ulrika Funered, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OSCE and Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 3/11 on elements of the conflict cycle related to enhancing the OSCE’s capabilities in early warning, early action, dialogue facilitation and mediation support, and post-conflict rehabilitation. Throughout the year, the Swedish Chairpersonship has marked this tenth anniversary with a series of meetings and seminars on how to strengthen the OSCE’s work on the conflict cycle.