OSCE and UN co-operation in security sector governance and reform discussed at joint conference in Vienna

Co-operation between the OSCE and the United Nations in security sector governance and reform (SSG/R) was the topic of a conference that took place in Vienna on 7 July 2014. The conference was jointly organized by the OSCE and the UN and co-hosted by Switzerland and Slovakia.

The event brought together high-level representatives from foreign ministries, academia as well as the UN and the OSCE. Discussions centered on developing OSCE-wide approaches to SSG/R and sharing experiences with the UN. Two panels provided insights into regional co-operation between the two organizations, namely in South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said that with its rich normative framework and broad operational experiences, the OSCE can offer its expertise and comparative advantages as a regional organization under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.  By further building on its advantages, the OSCE will not only strengthen partnerships with other international organizations such as the UN but also increase its relevancy for the participating States, Zannier added.

The UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Rule of Law and Security Institutions Dmitry Titov pointed out the importance of national ownership and regional partnerships, and acknowledged that the OSCE can contribute towards these goals. The UN's co-operation and engagement with the OSCE, he noted, can contribute to strengthening regional building blocks, which represent major elements of the UN's approach to the security sector governance and reform. He also remarked that SSG/R is a tool that any country, from the West to the East, from the North to the South, can use to strengthen the accountability and governance of their security sector.

The conference concluded that the OSCE and the UN would strive to advance their co-operation on matters related to security sector governance and reform, and thus contribute to the efforts aimed at revitalizing the role of regional arrangements under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter. It has been emphasized, that the OSCE would take concrete measures to enhance coherence and efficiency of its support in SSG/R, namely through the recently founded ‘Group of Friends of SSG/R’ and the development of internal guidelines. Both organizations reaffirmed their interest in increasing exchanges on the working level and providing mutual support to advance co-operation.

For further information, please contact Christian Wägli from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre at Christian.Waegli@osce.org