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Helsinki Commissioner Hilda L. Solis Elected to Human Rights Leadership Position in International Organization

Washington- Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) released the following statement regarding her recent election as Chairwoman of the Third General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly (PA). Congresswoman Solis was part of a Congressional delegation attending the 17th Annual Session of the OSCE PA in Astana, Kazakhstan, led by Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairmen of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission).

“I am honored to serve as Chair of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Questions for the OSCE PA. In the U.S. Congress, I have been an outspoken advocate for issues of importance to women and families,” said Congresswoman Solis. “In my new post, I will continue to support initiatives that protect vulnerable populations such as migrants, women, and children. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the OSCE PA to protect and improve human rights throughout the OSCE region.”

The OSCE PA is the parliamentary dimension of the OSCE. The primary task of the 320 member Assembly, comprised of elected officials from the 55 OSCE participating States, is to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue in an effort to meet the overall challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE region.

The General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions is responsible for addressing humanitarian and human rights-related threats to security and serves as a forum for examining the potential for cooperation on these issues within the OSCE region. Solis also serves as the Special Representative on Migration.

Congresswoman Solis is the first female in Congress to hold a leadership position in the OSCE PA and follows in the footsteps of Congressman Hastings, a former President of the OSCE PA, Senator Cardin who serves as a Vice President of the Assembly, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a former Vice President of the Assembly.

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