Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe—OSCE

In December 1994 the summit conference adopted the new name of Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), in order to reflect the organization's changing political role and strengthened secretariat. The Forum for Security Co-operation, comprising representatives of delegations of member states, meets weekly in Vienna to negotiate and consult on measures aimed at strengthening security and stability throughout Europe. In November 1999 OSCE heads of state and of government, convened in Istanbul, Turkey, signed a Charter for European Security, which aimed to strengthen co-operation with other organizations and institutions concerned with international security and to formalize existing norms regarding the observance of human rights. In November 2000 an OSCE Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons was adopted, aimed at curtailing the spread of armaments in member states. In April the OSCE convened a conference that addressed the use of biometric data to counter terrorism.