Canada’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation draws to a close

VIENNA, 13 December 2023 – Today, Canada held its closing plenary meeting as Chair of the OSCE’s Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC).

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly issued the following comment expressing the importance of the FSC and Canada’s commitment to it: “The OSCE was created in an era of division, and it once again finds itself divided – between an aggressive Russia and participating States that respect and defend their OSCE commitments and obligations under international law. While the FSC faces challenges, we remain convinced that it will play an important role in restoring the Euro-Atlantic security architecture.”

“Canada is honoured to have chaired the FSC, which remains an important forum for politico-military dialogue among participating States, especially in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,” emphasized Ambassador Jocelyn Kinnear, Permanent Representative of Canada to the OSCE.

Taking into account the current security situation in the OSCE region, and with the objective of stimulating frank and constructive discussion, during its four-month Chairpersonship Canada organized five security dialogues and side events on politico-military subjects including:

• Mine action, with a particular focus on effective measures to protect children;
• Command responsibility and international humanitarian law;
• Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and the improved outcomes in peace, security and operational effectiveness that are achieved through women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in the armed forces and in security processes;
• The mental health impacts of war; and,
• Information integrity in military space.

Prominent Canadian experts featured among the panelists during the events. Professor Valerie Oosterveld from Western University shared her extensive experience building legal cases relating to command responsibility and international humanitarian law, including cases of sexual and gender-based violence. Major-General Marc Bilodeau, Canadian Armed Forces Surgeon General, addressed the progress made by the Canadian Armed Forces in understanding and addressing the mental health impacts of war on its military personnel. Speaking on the WPS panel, Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan, Chief of Professional Conduct and Culture, Canadian Armed Forces, presented compelling arguments on the important impacts that gender equality has in the security sphere.

For media enquiries, please contact fsc2023.canada@international.gc.ca.