Transnational Threats Department Border Security and Management Unit Who we are The Border Security and The Border Security and Border Security and Management Unit works to Management Concept Management Unit of the OSCE enhance standards in border services by facilitating the The Unit’s work is guided Transnational Threats Department exchange of and promoting by the Border Security and best practices through Management Concept, supports OSCE participating States workshops and training adopted by OSCE participating courses, co-ordinating States in 2005. and Partners for Co-operation a national focal points network on border security The Concept’s central theme to address emerging border and management, and is a “commitment to promoting supporting the capacity- the open and secure borders security risks and challenges. building activities of OSCE in a free, democratic and field operations on the ground. more integrated OSCE area The Unit also works closely without dividing lines.” with other regional and international organizations. The Concept covers all three areas of the OSCE’s work in the politico-military, economic and environmental, and human dimensions, and addresses transnational threats such as: • Terrorism; • Organized Crime; • Trafficking in Human Beings; • Smuggling of Weapons and Drugs; • Corruption.
Given the range of security challenges emanating from the The Unit works with border services across the OSCE area to build Mediterranean region, the Unit encourages information sharing and risk their capacities both through workshops and by supporting field analysis between OSCE participating States and the Partners for Co- offices’ projects such as the Winter Search and Rescue Training operation through joint workshops such as this field activity in Malta. Course for border officers of Tajikistan and Afghanistan. What we do The Border Security and Anti-corruption Delimitation and demarcation Management Unit assists border Through the delivery of an interactive anti-corruption Workshops supporting the services in OSCE participating Train-the-Trainer programme, boundary commissions of the Unit strives to improve OSCE participating States States through workshops, the capacities of border are conducted by the Unit, guards, customs services and providing a platform for the capacity development training anti-corruption authorities sharing of best practices to prevent, investigate and and lessons learned on and expert advice. prosecute corruption-related the demarcation and cases, with emphasis on delimitation of borders. the cross-border related The Unit supports activities OSCE participating States to aspects of such cases. Illicit trafficking in in the following areas: better address this threat. cultural property Gender Identifying Enhancing Travel mainstreaming The Unit provides participating potential Foreign Document Security States with new and innovative Terrorist Fighters The Unit’s Women Leadership ways to better address the Through specially designed and Empowerment Initiative cross-border dimension of this Foreign Terrorist Fighters capacity-building activities established an OSCE-wide emerging transnational threat. now constitute a major threat the Unit works to increase platform on gender equality to regional and international membership in International within border security and Addressing security. Through the Civil Aviation Organization’s management. This project migration-related establishment of an OSCE Public Key Directory, increase provides OSCE participating challenges Mobile Training Team to the use of Advance Passenger States with sustainable deliver training on identifying Information, better detect mechanisms to expand the role The increasing flow of migrants and interviewing potential forged travel documents, of women at all levels of border and refugees from the Middle Foreign Terrorist Fighters at and improve identity security and management. East and Sub-Saharan Africa the borders in the OSCE area, management systems. is a serious challenge for the the Unit supports and assists OSCE, and the Unit works closely with its Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation in this area. The Unit assists the border security and management services of the Partners to strengthen their overall capacities, helping them to launch new mechanisms for co-operation, information sharing and risk analysis.
The Unit raises awareness and promotes good practice in addressing new and emerging challenges to the work of border services such as the illicit trafficking in cultural property. How we work The Border Security and National Focal OSCE Border Points Network Management Staff Management Unit brings innovation College The Unit works closely with to the forefront of capacity its Border Security and The OSCE Border Management National Focal Management Staff College, development and training, introducing Points Network, which brings which is supported by the together more than 100 official Unit and operates within new teaching methodologies while representatives from 52 OSCE the Office in Tajikistan, is a participating States. The unique educational institution integrating emerging technologies. Network’s annual meetings integrating all three OSCE and participation in OSCE dimensions: politico-military, border-related activities creates economic and environmental, a forum for the exchange of and human dimensions. Among the tools and methodologies used by the Unit to information, experience and Opened in Dushanbe in build the capacities of border security and management best practices, and allows for 2009, the College is open to professionals are: technical dialogue between representatives of all border national border services and security and management • Table Top Exercises, • Real-time Electronic relevant national structures. services of participating an interactive teaching tool Polling, an IT-based States and Partners for Co- using specially designed teaching tool, which helps operation. In its educational scenarios to maximize to foster thoughtful and programme, it offers: the effectiveness of the interactive discussion on learning experience; a variety of border-related • The Border Management subjects ranging from Staff Course; • Mobile Training Teams anti-corruption to gender • The Border Security and to deliver on-site training mainstreaming; Management Senior to border security and Leadership Course; management officials to • Multimedia that • Thematic seminars, help them better identify includes short films workshops and conferences and interview potential and animation clips are promoting international and Foreign Terrorist Fighters incorporated into the Unit’s cross-border co-operation. in full compliance with projects to educate, guide international human rights and inspire individuals standards; working in the border security and management services.
Follow OSCE OSCE Secretariat Transnational Threats Department Border Security and Management Unit Wallnerstrasse 6 A-1010 Vienna, Austria
Office: +43 1 514 36 6702 E-mail: borders-at@osce.org www.osce.org/secretariat/borders