Helsinki Commission
The Helsinki Commission, more formally the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe or CSCE, is according to its website "an independent agency of the United States Government charged with monitoring and encouraging compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other commitments of the 56 countries participating in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)."[1]
Contents
Overview
"The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine members from the U.S. House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce. The positions of Chair and Co-Chair are shared by the House and Senate and rotate every two years, when a new Congress convenes. A professional staff assists the Commissioners in their work.
"The Commission contributes to the formulation of U.S. policy on the OSCE and takes part in its execution, including through Member and staff participation on U.S. Delegations to OSCE meetings and in certain OSCE bodies. Members of the Commission have regular contact with parliamentarians, government officials, NGOs, and private individuals from other OSCE participating States.
"The Commission convenes public hearings and briefings with expert witnesses on OSCE-related issues; issues public reports concerning implementation of OSCE commitments in participating States; publishes a monthly Digest with up-to-date information on OSCE developments and Commission activities; and organizes official delegations to participating States and OSCE meetings to address and assess democratic, economic, and human rights developments firsthand."
To avoid confusion
The Helsinki Commission should not be confused with the British Helsinki Human Rights Group (BHHRG)
Helsinki Commission members
U.S. Senate
Benjamin L. Cardin, Maryland, Chairman
Christopher J. Dodd, Connecticut
Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
Tom Udall, New Mexico
Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire
Sam Brownback, Kansas
Saxby Chambliss, Georgia
Richard Burr, North Carolina
Roger Wicker, Mississippi
U.S. House of Representatives
Alcee L. Hastings, Florida, Co-Chairman
Louise McIntosh Slaughter, New York
Mike McIntyre, North Carolina
G. K. Butterfield, North Carolina
Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey
Joseph R. Pitts, Pennsylvania
Robert B. Aderholt, Alabama
Mike Pence, Indiana
Executive Branch Commissioners
Vacant, Department of State
Vacant, Department of Commerce
Vacant, Department of Defense
Staff:
Fred L. Turner Chief of Staff
Cliff Bond Senior State Department Advisor
Orest Deychakiwsky Policy Advisor
Shelly Han Policy Advisor
Robert Hand Policy Advisor
Janice Helwig Policy Advisor
Alex T. Johnson Policy Advisor
Marlene Kaufmann General Counsel
Ronald J. McNamara Policy Advisor
Michael Ochs Policy Advisor
Winsome Packer Representative of the Helsinki Commission to the USOSCE
Kyle Parker Policy Advisor
Daniel R. Redfield Office Manager
Erika B. Schlager Counsel for International Law
Josh Shapiro Staff Associate
Mischa E. Thompson Policy Advisor
Contact details
234 Ford House Office Building
3rd and D Streets SW
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-1901
Fax: (202) 226-4199
Email: info AT csce.gov
Web: http://www.csce.gov
Related Sourcewatch articles
References
- ↑ Home page, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, accessed March 2008.
- ↑ Commissioners, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, accessed March 2008.
