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OSCE Secretariat

What we do

Under the direction of the Secretary General, the Secretariat provides operational support to the Organization. Based in Vienna, it also comprises the OSCE Documentation Centre in Prague.
Border management
Borders are the first lines of a country’s defence, and the movement of trade across them is critical to the health of economies across the globe. In 2005, the OSCE committed itself to achieving a balance between the need to maintain security against the cross-border threats and the freedom of movement for persons, goods, services and investments. Co-operation among participating States is key to this border management and security strategy, in particular on international risks such as drug trafficking, terrorism, migration, transport security and organized crime.
Action against terrorism
Anti-terrorist activities play a central role in the OSCE’s efforts to address transnational threats to security. These efforts are guided by the ‘OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight against Terrorism’ which highlights operational principles and identifies the strategic focus of current and future OSCE counter-terrorism activities. Activities promote the implementation of the international legal framework against terrorism and the rule of law, prevent violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism, counter the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, suppress the financing of terrorism, and help protect critical infrastructures and other vulnerable targets.
Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (CTHB)
Trafficking in human beings concerns all OSCE participating States, both as a security threat and a human rights issue. Virtually all countries in the region are countries of origin, transit, or destination, or a combination of the above. The OSCE addresses all relevant issues: human rights and rule of law; corruption and crime control; discrimination and inequality; and economic, labour, and migration policies. In 2003, the Organization set up the Office and post of Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings to help participating States develop and implement effective policies. 
Conflict prevention and resolution
The OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security is closely tied to the concept of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation, also named the “conflict cycle.” The Organization’s main methods to address this cycle include its network of field operations and the Conflict Prevention Centre. Created in 1990 to help reduce the risk of conflict, the Centre now provides policy advice, support, and analysis to the Secretary General, Chairmanship, participating States, and field operations. It acts as an OSCE-wide early warning focal point, facilitates negotiation, mediation, and other conflict prevention and resolution efforts, and supports regional co-operation initiatives. It also assists the Forum for Security Co-operation, an autonomous OSCE decision-making body dealing with military security; and supports the Organization’s programme and project management work.
Cyber/ICT Security
Information Communication Technologies (ICT) have become the very fibre that connects us in the modern world, and are a principal driver of economic and social growth.
Gender equality
Migration
In accordance with the OSCE's mission to build bridges between countries and peoples, and to find ways to replace confrontation with dialogue, the migration phenomenon is increasingly at the centre of the organization's action.
Policing
The Organization has worked with police forces across its region for many years. It maintains a network of police advisers in several of its field operations and provides assessments, expert advice, and assistance to participating States to help them develop accountable policing services that protect and aid their citizens.