The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

The UK also participates in the "Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe" (OSCE) which is a Europe-wide organisation comprising 54 states.

The OSCE has a secretariat in Vienna where the UK has a permanent delegation. The OSCE's main roles are:

• promotion of: human rights and fundamental freedom, early warning, conflict prevention and post-conflict rehabilitation, democracy and the rule of law
• election monitoring
• conventional arms control
• confidence building measures

A number of field missions are currently deployed under OSCE auspices in Central and Eastern Europe, to promote peace and stability. The OSCE's role in implementing the Bosnia Peace Agreement arms control provisions and organising elections in Bosnia demonstrates the value of its work on conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation.