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Implementation Of The Helsinki Accords Vol. VIII – U.S. Compliance: Human Rights

Members

Hon. Clairborne Pell

Co-Chairman

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. Jacob Javits

Commissioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. Jonathan Bingham

Commissioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. John Buchanan

Commissioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Hon. Millicent Fenwick

Commissioner

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Witnesses

Peter Bell

Deputy Undersecretary

Department of Health, Education and Welfare

Louis Nunez

Staff Director

U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Sarah Weddington

Special Assistant to the President

White House

Ray Marshall

Secretary

Department of Labor

John Huerta

Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights

Department of Justice

Robert Bernstein

Chairman

Helsinki WATCH

John Carey

Chairman

Helsinki WATCH Subcommittee on Domestic Compliance

Brent Simons

Staff Attorney

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Phyllis Segal

Legal Director

NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund

Gilbert Padilla

Secretary-Treasurer

United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO

Amy Young-Anawaty

Executive Director

International Human Rights Law Group

Morton Sklar

Chairman

Washington Helsinki WATCH Committee for the United States

Dale Swartz

Director

Alien Rights Law Project of Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Robert T. Coulter

Executive Director

Indian Law Resource Center

Maudine Cooper

Assistant Vice-President for Public Policy

National Urban League

Alvin Bronstein

Executive Director

American Civil Liberties Union, National Prison Project

Ted Mitchell

Executive Director

Micronesia Legal Services Corporation.

Commissioner Claiborne Pell and others in attendance, in this series of hearings, looked at their own country’s record on the Helsinki Final Act of 1975. This hearing signified the first time that a state belonging to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), or the “Conference,” had looked at its own record in such a manner, taking into account criticism by other signatories and private domestic monitoring groups, no less.

This series of hearings’ purpose was to ascertain progress accomplished, learn what more needs to be achieved, and proclaim a reaffirmation of the U.S. commitment to the Helsinki Final Act’s full implementation.

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Hearings

Hamas’ Hostages, Putin’s Prisoners, and Freeing Inte...

Oct 25, 2023

The practice of seizing hostages and political prisoners, as well as actively terrorizing civilians is a constant displayed by Hamas in Israel and Russia’s war against Ukraine. To highlight issues related to the United States’ strategy to free hostages and political prisoners, last year the Commission’s Ranking Member Congressman Steve Cohen and Chairman Joe Wilson […]

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Articles

Helsinki Commission Advances Human Rights, Demands f...

Oct 19, 2023

By Shannon Simrell, Senior Policy Advisor Between October 2-13, 11 Helsinki Commission staff joined approximately 1,400 representatives of OSCE participating States (pS) and civil society representatives in Warsaw, Poland in an annual review of the human rights records of OSCE States. U.S. leadership highlighted demands for accountability from Russia and Belarus for their human rights […]

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Digests

Helsinki Commission Digital Digest May 2022

Jun 01, 2022

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Briefings

Russia’s Swiss Enablers

May 05, 2022

Long known as a destination for war criminals and kleptocrats to stash their plunder, Switzerland is a leading enabler of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and his cronies. After looting Russia, Putin and his oligarchs use Swiss secrecy laws to hide and protect the proceeds of their crimes. Close relations between Swiss and Russian authorities have […]

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Hearings

Russian War Crimes in Ukraine

May 04, 2022

Well-documented Russian bombings and missile strikes in Ukraine have decimated hospitals, schools, and apartment buildings, including a theater in Mariupol where hundreds of children were sheltering and the Kramatorsk rail station where thousands were waiting to escape the Russian onslaught. The withdrawal of Russian troops from towns like Bucha, Chernihiv, and Sumy has revealed horrific […]

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Digests

Helsinki Commission Digital Digest April 2022

Apr 29, 2022

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Briefing to Examine Swiss Enabli...

Apr 29, 2022

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following online briefing: RUSSIA’S SWISS ENABLERS Thursday, May 5, 2022 10:00 a.m. Register: https://ushr.webex.com/ushr/j.php?RGID=r72f85e0c40a09b609b328a9481f54063 Long known as a destination for war criminals and kleptocrats to stash their plunder, Switzerland is a leading enabler of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and […]

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Digests

Helsinki Commission Digital Digest March 2022

Mar 31, 2022

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Hearing to Examine Ways to Count...

Mar 30, 2022

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following hearing: COUNTERING OLIGARCHS, ENABLERS, AND LAWFARE Wednesday, April 6, 2022 2:30 p.m. Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 562 Watch live: www.youtube.com/HelsinkiCommission As influential proxies of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Russian oligarchs work to weaken Western democracies from […]

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Statements

Chairman Cardin Emphasizes the Importance of the Glo...

Mar 23, 2022

Madam President, reserving the right to object to the request from the Senator from Idaho, it is my understanding that the Senator’s modification would not include provisions that were included in the Housepassed legislation that modifies the global Magnitsky sanction regime. I just would like to speak for a moment, if I might. There is […]

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Briefings

Conflict of Interest?

Feb 16, 2022

Turkey is at a crossroads. Even as the Turkish Government insists that it remains committed to its NATO partners and to future EU integration, its actions—both foreign and domestic—call those promises into question. Turkey has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine and Turkish officials have announced plans to normalize relations with Armenia and moved to […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Briefing to Examine Intersection...

Feb 10, 2022

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following online briefing: CONFLICT OF INTEREST? Foreign Policy and Human Rights in Turkey Wednesday, February 16, 2022 11:00 a.m. Register: https://bit.ly/3Je5Ck4 Turkey is at a crossroads. Even as the Turkish Government insists that it remains committed to its NATO […]

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