Foreword by the Secretary General
The OSCE addresses police-related activities through a
comprehensive approach, drawing on the combined strength
of its institutions and its network of field operations. These
police-related activities contribute substantially to the OSCE’s
mandate on conflict prevention, crisis management and postconflict rehabilitation.
Based on a comprehensive set of mandates and tasks –
provided by various Ministerial Council and Permanent
Council decisions since 1998 – the OSCE continues to share
best practices on policing throughout the OSCE region.
Cutting across all three security dimensions, the OSCE promotes an innovative strategy to
policing, focusing on building modern, democratic and proactive police services that are
fit to respond to a range of security issues. The OSCE also supports initiatives to develop
professional skills that will prepare law enforcement for current and future challenges.
Over the last five years, we have witnessed a gradual shift in the focus in the OSCE’s policerelated activities. General police development and reform – including community policing,
police-public relations and crime prevention – still encompass more than half of the activities
in this field, but activities related to gender-based violence, counter-terrorism and violent
extremism have received increased attention. I am, however, concerned over the reduction
of human rights and police accountability initiatives compared to the previous year and will
make arrangements to encourage OSCE executive structures to enhance their focus on these
important areas of policing.
Security challenges from transnational threats such as organized crime, terrorism, cybercrime
and trafficking in human beings, arms and illicit drugs transcend national borders. Addressing
such challenges requires effective international co-operation and co-ordination.
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