United Nations
In 1992, the participating States declared the OSCE (at that time CSCE) to be "a regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations".
On 26 May 1993, a Framework for Co-operation and Co-ordination between the United Nations Secretariat and the CSCE was agreed upon, and in October of the same year, the UN granted the CSCE observer status. Since 2004, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office has delivered annual reports to the Security Council on areas of co-operation and the state of play of the OSCE region.
Enhanced co-operation between the UN and regional organizations was affirmed in 2005 through Resolution 1631, further strengthening the active role that the OSCE plays in the European security framework and the implementation of the UN’s global goals. In particular, the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security, inclusive membership and flexibility has strengthened the UN’s regional work in key areas such as;
- Conflict prevention and resolution
- Women, Peace and Security
- Gender equality,
- Human rights
- Countering terrorism and violent extremism
- Human Trafficking
- Sustainable development
- Climate Security.
On May 26th 2023, the two organizations will celebrate three decades of mutually beneficial close collaboration at both senior and staff levels relating to maintaining international peace and security, promoting respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.
Framework for co-operation
- High-level tripartite meetings between the respective Chairpersons and Secretaries General of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, as well as the Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, and others, have been held annually since 1993.
- Target-oriented meetings at staff level precede each high-level tripartite meeting.
- High-level meetings between the UN and regional organizations, to strengthen co-operation in facing challenges to international peace and security, held regularly since 1994.
- UN Security Council meetings with regional organizations on thematic issues related to peace and security, have been held annually since 2003.
- The OSCE has observer status in the UN General Assembly, while the UN is invited to participate in OSCE Ministerial Council and Summit meetings. UN representatives are frequently invited to address the OSCE Permanent Council.
- Representatives of relevant United Nations entities are invited to participate in the main annual OSCE events, including the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, the Economic Forum and the Annual Security Review Conference.
- Annual UN-OSCE staff-level meetings serve as an important venue for the exchange of information and co-ordination of activities.