OSCE Secretariat
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.
The Secretariat consists of administrative and programmatic departments and units focused on conflict prevention, economic and environmental activities, co-operation with Partner countries and organizations, gender equality, anti-trafficking, as well as transnational threats, including anti-terrorism, border management and policing reform. They monitor trends, provide expert analysis and implement projects in the field.
The Secretariat assists the OSCE Chairmanship; supports OSCE field activities; maintains contacts with international and non-governmental organizations, and provides conference, language, administrative, financial, personnel and information technology services.
History, Leadership and Structure
The Secretariat was established by the Charter of Paris for a New Europe in 1990.
Current Secretary General:
- Helga Maria Schmid (Germany)
Previous Secretaries General:
- Thomas Greminger (Switzerland): July 2017 - July 2020
- Lamberto Zannier (Italy): July 2011 – June 2017
- Marc Perrin de Brichambaut (France) : June 2005 – June 2011
- Ján Kubiš (Slovak Republic): June 1999 – June 2005
- Giancarlo Aragona (Italy): June 1996 – June 1999
- Wilhelm Höynck (Germany): June 1993 – June 1996