Overseas Security Advisory Council: Helping Protect American Businesses and Organizations Overseas

The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was created in 1985 to foster the exchange of security information between the Department of State and U.S. private sector organizations operating overseas. OSAC helps its constituents cope with security threats by sharing information on crime and terrorism, and by providing insight into political, economic, social and cultural climates around the globe.

OSAC has more than 2,500 constituents, including businesses, religious groups, universities, colleges, and other nongovernmental organizations. Any American enterprise that is incorporated in the United States and has overseas interests may become an OSAC constituent and receive OSAC services. Many federal, state, and local law enforcement and security organizations also look to OSAC for overseas security information.

Nine analysts in OSAC’s Research and Information Support Center (RISC) research security situations throughout the world, examining security concerns and other issues that might affect regional security, such as election campaigns, the price of fuel and food, and social and cultural matters. Last year, RISC provided more than 2,000 telephone consultations and conducted more than 25 briefings for constituent groups last year.

OSAC also shares information through its Web site, www.ds-osac.org. The site reaches more than 1.8 million visitors per month. In addition, OSAC sends e-mail messages to an average of 200,000 recipients a month. The messages contain daily news highlights, security incident reports, embassy and consulate warden messages, and country-specific crime and safety reports.

OSAC is replicated around the globe through its country council program. Presently established in 80 cities around the world, the councils provide the forum that brings together U.S. diplomatic personnel and the private sector to share information about security issues of mutual concern in the region. Each country council operates its own Web site, so that there is a continuous link between the public and private sectors. OSAC’s goal is to have 100 country councils by the end of 2004.