Founding of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe grew out of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, whose Helsinki Final Act was signed in 1975 by thirty-five states, including the United States, Canada, the Soviet Union and almost all European countries. The act recognized the postwar borders in Europe and committed signatories to respect human rights and to cooperate on security, economics and science. It became a point of reference for dissidents in Eastern Europe. The process became a permanent organization in 1995 and was renamed accordingly, with its headquarters in Vienna. Today it has dozens of participating states and does election observation, arms control work and conflict prevention.

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