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Helsinki Commission to Hold Briefing on the Rise in Hate Crimes and Discrimination in Europe

WASHINGTON – Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will hold a briefing on Tuesday, November 6 at 10:00 a.m. in room 1539 Longworth House Office Building. The briefing entitled, “Combating Hate Crimes and Discrimination in the OSCE,” will focus on intolerance and discrimination within the 56 countries that make up the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In recent weeks, the media has reported numerous incidents of violent hate crimes, xenophobic political platforms, and everyday discrimination impacting ethnic, racial, and religious minorities throughout Europe. The briefing will discuss why these events are taking place, its negative impact on human rights and security, and what governments and the OSCE have done and should be doing to address these pressing issues.

Speakers will include:

Dr. Dou Dou Diene, United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

Dr. Tiffany Lightbourn, Department Homeland Security, Science & Technology Directorate

Micah H. Naftalin and Nickolai Butkevich, UCSJ: Union of Councils for Soviet Jews

 

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