About
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) unique character derives from its composition, which enables Canada to participate as a full member in an organization that addresses European issues. The OSCE favours inclusiveness and dialogue over selective admission, which enables it to keep communication channels between Western democracies and countries with less exemplary democratic records. Whereas the key goals of the Council of Europe are to promote and defend democratic development and human rights, and to hold member governments accountable for their performance in these areas, the OSCE aims to foster the development of an expansive, conflict-free geographic area – from Vancouver to Vladivostok – and to advance democratic principles in participating states.
Established in 1975 by the Helsinki Final Act as the “Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe” (CSCE), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was given its current name at the Budapest Summit in December 1994, and is a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention and crisis management. The OSCE participating states, currently 57 in number, are the European states, the United States, Canada, the states that made up the former Soviet Union and Mongolia. The OSCE maintains special relations with 11 other states from the Mediterranean area and the Asia-Pacific region, referred to as “Partners for Co-operation.” The OSCE is recognized as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, which requires that participating UN Member States “make every effort to achieve pacific settlement of local disputes through such regional arrangements or by such regional agencies before referring them to the Security Council.” However, the OSCE is not an international organization in the strict sense of international law.
- Matthieu Boulianne, Association Secretary
- Grégoire Gayard, Advisor of the Association
- Brian Hermon, Advisor of the Association
- Anne-Marie Therrien-Tremblay, Advisor of the Association