The OSCE consists of 56 member-states drawn from Europe, Central Asia and America. As the world's largest regional security organization, it brings comprehensive and co-operative security from Vancouver to Vladivostok. It offers a forum for political negotiations and decision-making in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, and puts the political will of the participating States into practice through its unique network of field missions.
The Organization employs about 3,000 staff in 18 missions and field operations located in South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They work 'on the ground' to facilitate political processes, prevent or settle conflicts, and promote civil society and the rule of law.
OSCE's activities involves several aspects within three main areas; politico-military dimension, economic- and environmental (EED) dimension and the human dimension.
Politico-Military Dimension
The OSCE takes a comprehensive approach to the politico-military dimension of security, which includes a number of commitments by participating States and mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. The Organization also seeks to enhance military security by promoting greater openness, transparency and co-operation.
Human Dimension
Within the OSCE, activities related to human rights and democratisation are normally discussed under the human dimension. OSCE participating States in aim to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; to abide by the rule of law; to promote the principles of democracy by building, strengthening and protecting democratic institutions; and to promote tolerance throughout the OSCE region. The Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) is an annual meeting where OSCE participating States and partner states, as well as NGOs and other representatives for the civil society get together to exchange views on the human dimension situation within the OSCE area.
The Economic and Environmental Dimension (EED)
During the Ministerial Council in the Hague in December 2003 the OSCE adopted a new set of committments within the economic and environmental dimension. Activities in the economic and environmental dimension include the monitoring of developments in this area among participating States, with the aim of alerting them to any threat to security and stability, while assisting in the creation of economic and environmental policies and related initiatives to promote security and co-operation in the OSCE region.