Sweden and the OSCE

The OSCE works with security issues from a broad perspective. The point of departure for the organisation's activities is the comprehensive concept of security that includes the politico-military dimension, the human dimension (democracy and human rights) and the economic and environmental dimension. An increasing amount of the organisation's work deals with issues extending over all three dimensions, such as trafficking in human beings, terrorism and border surveillance.

The OSCE is the only security policy co-operation organ in Europe in which all European states as well as the United States, Canada and the countries of Central Asia participate on equal terms. The organization has 56 participating States, from Europe, Canada, the United States, Central Asia and the Caucasus. The latest new participating State to join was Montenegro, last summer.

Summits - meetings of the participating countries' heads of state and government - are the highest decision-making bodies of the OSCE. The Ministerial Council is the second highest decision-making body of the organisation after the Summit. This Council, also called the Ministerial Meeting, normally convenes once a year at foreign minister level. This year's Ministerial Meeting will take place in November in Madrid. 

Everyday activities of the organisation are led by the Permanent Council in Vienna. Here the participating states are represented by their OSCE ambassadors who meet every week (on Thursday). Under the Permanent Council are a number of working groups, convening practically every day.

Sweden and the OSCE

• Sweden is especially interested in the comprehensive field activities and conflict prevention of the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM). Currently the  diplomat Ambassador Knut Vollebaek is serving as HCNM.
  
  
• Another important OSCE institution is the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The purpose of OSCE field missions is not only to prevent conflicts, safeguard respect for human rights, promote democracy and the principles of the rule of law but also to mediate in conflicts that have already emerged and participate in political reconstruction efforts when conflicts have ceased.
  
  
• The role of women in conflict prevention and crisis management ha been highlighted by Sweden. Following a Swedish initiative, the OSCE Ministerial Council 2005 decided to especially underline the importance of implementing UNSCR 1325 (2000), with a special focus on recruiting women to key positions within the organization as well as improving gender mainstreaming of policies and projects. 
  
  
• Sweden is also especially interested in police-cooperation through the OSCE. Swedish policemen and police-instructors are working in Croatia, Kyrgystan, fYROM, Serbia (including Kosovo) and Montenegro.
  
  
• Arms Control in the form of military policy confidence- and security building measures are an important part of OSCE activities and plays a very important role for security and stability in Europe. These measures aim at increasing security in Europe by strengthening mutual confidence and thereby reducing the risk of military conflicts. This is primarily done by increasing transparency on military conditions. Sweden plays a very active role in these activities in order to further strengthen the implementation of the existing agreements.
  
  
• Special efforts are made in order to contribute to the implementation of the Code of Conduct and the OSCE Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). These documents play a very important role in the matter of conflict prevention. OSCE Code of Conduct is a politically binding document for OSCE participating States and prescribes democratic control of armed forces and their integration in the civil society. Of special importance is the commitment to train military personnel in international human rights. Sweden has been actively involved in spreading information about this code of conduct and ensuring its compliance, for example through training of military staff. OSCE Document on SALW is the most comprehensive and extensive international agreement that so far has been drawn up with regard to small arms and light weapons. It contains norms as well as concrete measures. Through the adoption of this document, OSCE participating States have made a large number of commitments with regard to control of the production, sales, labeling and possession of small arms and light weapons.