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Tunisia

A member of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners, Tunisia’s partnership with the OSCE dates back the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, which recognized the close relationship between European security and Mediterranean security. In 1994, a contact group was formed to formally involve the southern Mediterranean countries with the OSCE.

Since beginning its transition to democracy following the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, Tunisia has made use of the resources available to it as an OSCE Mediterranean Partner to strengthen its fledgling democratic institutions. In 2011, Tunisia invited more than seventy OSCE observers to its first democratic elections, who concluded that the elections had provided genuine choice for the voters. In 2012, Tunisia requested that ODHIR carry out projects supporting democratic structures in the area, and ODIHR supported Tunisia in undertaking key electoral and legislative reforms, consolidating democratic institutions, and increasing the participation of women in public life. Since 2012, ODIHR has served as a consultant for Tunisia’s Ministries of Justice, Interior, Human Rights, Transitional Justice, the Election Management Body and the National Constituent Assembly. The OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has also reviewed many pieces of Tunisian legislation.

Staff Contact: Bakhti Nishanov, senior policy advisor

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Press Releases

Chairman Hastings Leads Bipartisan Delegation to Tun...

Oct 08, 2019

WASHINGTON—From September 28 to October 6, Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20) led a bipartisan, bicameral U.S. delegation to Tunisia, Israel, and Morocco to assess the state of security, human rights, and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. The delegation concluded with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Autumn Meeting in Marrakech, […]

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Speeches

Remarks to the Mediterranean Forum

Oct 04, 2019

Autumn Meeting of the OSCE PA *NOTE: As prepared for delivery* Before arriving in Morocco, I led a bicameral and bipartisan Congressional delegation to Tunisia and Israel. While in these countries, my colleagues and I held high-level exchanges with national leadership, civil society, religious leaders, and others to assess the current state of regional security, […]

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Publications

The Helsinki Process: A Four Decade Overview

Jun 28, 2019

In August 1975, the heads of state or government of 35 countries – the Soviet Union and all of Europe except Albania, plus the United States and Canada – held a historic summit in Helsinki, Finland, where they signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. This document is known […]

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Briefings

How to Get Human Rights Abusers and Kleptocrats Sanc...

Mar 13, 2018

The workshop provided human rights organizations, transparency advocates, and congressional staff with the tools they need to effectively petition the U.S. government to review and potentially designate individuals and organizations for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act. Sanctions experts described, from an operational perspective, how the U.S. government identifies, vets, and ultimately sanctions individuals. They […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Workshop to Explain Global Magni...

Mar 07, 2018

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced a workshop to provide human rights organizations, transparency advocates, and congressional staff with the tools they need to effectively petition the U.S. government to review and potentially designate individuals and organizations for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act. HOW […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Workshop to Explain Global Magni...

Mar 07, 2018

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced a workshop to provide human rights organizations, transparency advocates, and congressional staff with the tools they need to effectively petition the U.S. government to review and potentially designate individuals and organizations for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act. HOW […]

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Press Releases

U.S. Delegation to OSCE PA Drives International Acti...

Jul 08, 2016

WASHINGTON—Seven members of Congress traveled to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) Annual Session in Tbilisi, Georgia last week to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. At the Annual Session, which brought together nearly 300 parliamentarians from 54 of the 57 […]

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Publications

Security in the Mediterranean Region: Challenges and...

Nov 13, 2015

From October 20-21, 2015, the OSCE held its annual Mediterranean Conference focused on “Security in the Mediterranean Region – Challenges and Opportunities.” It included four distinctive themes: Session I: Common Security in the Mediterranean Region; Session II: Addressing Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism; Session III: The Role of Interfaith/Intercultural Dialogue; and Session […]

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Press Releases

Chairman Smith and Rep. McGovern Introduce “Global M...

Jan 30, 2015

WASHINGTON—Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02), today introduced the “Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act” (H.R. 624). The bill prohibits foreign human rights offenders and corrupt officials operating anywhere in the world from entering into […]

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2014
Hearings

Political Pluralism in the OSCE Mediterranean Partners?

Jul 16, 2014

This hearing discussed developments within the OSCE Mediterranean Partnership countries and the Southern Mediterranean region..  In particular, the Commission focused on the conflicts in Iraq and Syria and the resulting refugee crisis.  Several witnesses stressed the need for the OSCE countries to support strategic investment in positive civic engagement and educational resources for vulnerable populations […]

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Press Releases

Cardin, Smith Advance Security and Human Rights duri...

Jul 07, 2014

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan 8-member Congressional delegation led by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), visited Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova. In Baku, Azerbaijan, Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04), Co-Chairman of the Commission, headed the U.S. delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) from […]

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Press Releases

U.S. Helsinki Commission to Hold Briefing on OSCE Me...

Jun 27, 2014

WASHINGTON – Today the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) announced the following hearing: Political Pluralism in the OSCE Mediterranean Partners? Wednesday, July 9, 2014 10:00 am U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Room SVC 203/202 The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and its Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) have cooperated […]

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