Current security challenges, war against Ukraine, at heart of OSCE Secretary General participation in 77th United Nations General Assembly

NEW YORK CITY, 23 September 2022 – OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid concluded her visit to New York City today, where she attended the high-level meeting and the general debate of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Throughout the week, she met with senior officials from the United Nations and OSCE participating States in order to strengthen co-operation in the face of security challenges across the OSCE region – not least Russia’s war against Ukraine. Enhanced co-operation to address challenges to regional and global security was at the center of her meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.  

Secretary General Schmid reiterated the OSCE’s commitment to strengthening the long-standing and fruitful cooperation with the UN to address the complex security challenges facing our region and the world.

“It is so important that we work with the UN and its agencies to co-ordinate our efforts. We each bring unique strengths and expertise, and this co-operation ensures that we can work efficiently and effectively for the benefit of all affected by security challenges – whether traditional conflict or terrorism, climate change, human trafficking, or sexual violence. Security means putting people first,” said Schmid.

Secretary General Schmid also met with Ministers from participating States and officials from other international and regional organizations to discuss how best to tackle a broad range of challenges to security, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, border disputes, terrorism, climate change and environmental degradation, human trafficking, sexual violence, and more.

Schmid also participated in side-events on sexual violence in conflict, avoiding humanitarian crises through mediation, and human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the context of the war against Ukraine.