“States should fulfill the promises they made in the Paris charter 30 years ago.” In Missouri, it is a joint state-federal program funded solely through tax contributions paid by employers, so no deductions are made from employees’ paychecks for this insurance. In 1990, all OSCE participating States pledged to hold free and fair elections and to invite international observers. The commission hosted OSCE PA officials for a briefing in December of 2019 to share a parliamentary perspective on the priorities and objectives of the Albanian chairmanship of the OSCE amid regional conflicts and resistance to democratic reforms in some countries in the OSCE region. Ms. Natalia Strigunova, deputy director of the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects of the Russian Federation Ministry for Economic Development, and Mr. Roger Albinyana, director of Mediterranean regional policies and human development at the European Institute of the Mediterranean, shared opportunities to advance women’s economic empowerment through legislative action that supports mothers, narrows gaps in educational attainment, and increases financial support for women participating in the labor force. He emphasized the United States’ determination to condemn and combat all manifestations of intolerance and stressed the significance of holding a Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in 2021 and requested the commission’s support to achieve this goal. Having a sound security plan in place to collect only what you need, keep it safe, and dispose of it securely can help you meet your … Copyright © 2016 Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: CSCE. In May 2020, Co-Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cardin urged U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to work with the European Union’s High Representative to advance EU Magnitsky Sanctions. The proposal was reintroduced over successive Ministerial Councils before its adoption in 2020. The most significant aspect of HDIM is that civil society representatives may speak during formal sessions on equal footing with government representatives. Director of National Intelligence. “We must press governments to uphold their human dimension commitments, give audience to the voices of civil society, and hold a Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in 2021 where governments are called to account for their actions,” he said. The Division of Employment Security (DES) supports the Department's vision statement by administering the state’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. Sen. Wicker has repeatedly urged Uzbekistan to request a review of its draft religion law by the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institution for Human Rights. Reflecting the extraordinary times, the 2020 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting was canceled by decision of the participating States. Ambassador to the OSCE James Gilmore; U.S Helsinki Commission Chief of Staff Alex Johnson; and Helsinki Commission staff Robert Hand, Janice Helwig, Rebecca Neff, Erika Schlager, Shannon Simrell, Dr. Mischa Thompson, and Alex Tiersky. Ministers agreed on the appointment of the OSCE’s top four leaders: Helga Schmid (Germany) as Secretary General, Maria Teresa Ribiero (Portugal) as Representative on Freedom of the Media, Matteo Mecacci (Italy) as Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and Kairat Abdrakhmanov (Kazakhstan) as High Commissioner on National Minorities. He emphasized, “These initiatives within the OSCE cannot replace efforts done elsewhere, including in our bilateral relations, but they can complement… those efforts with additional resources and expertise.” Looking forward, he highlighted several U.S. priorities for engagement at the OSCE. The Executive Orders issued by the Governor and OESC Executive Director that waived these requirements expires October 24, 2020. Even though Turkmenistan has been a CPC since 2014 and Tajikistan since 2016, presidents have always waived taking the presidential actions against them required by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Finally, on November 20, the Woodrow Wilson Center in cooperation with the U.S. Helsinki Commission also hosted an event, “Marking the 30th Anniversary of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe - Europe Whole and Free: The Future of the OSCE.” The discussion included the U.S. Helsinki Commission’s Ranking Member Sen. Ben Cardin and Commissioner Rep. Robert Aderholt, as well as other leading voices on European security and cooperation. Unfinished Business I look forward to the Biden administration’s renewed dedication to working closely with our allies to promote transparency and predictability in Europe. She elaborated on how the accelerated rate of environmental change also affects economies and puts livelihoods at risk. Trump fires director of Homeland Security agency who had rejected President's election conspiracy theories By Kaitlan Collins and Paul LeBlanc , CNN … By Zantana Ephrem, Max Kampelman Fellow The pandemic has revealed—and in some cases amplified—human rights shortcomings, democratic weaknesses, racial inequities, and social vulnerabilities across the region.”  She opened the session by highlighting existing gaps in women’s political and economic participation, even though many countries have adopted several policies to improve women’s economic empowerment and their economic advancement. })(); [video src="https://s3.wasabisys.com/ccns/virtual-events/civil-unrest-in-america-black-lives-matter-antifa-and-beyond.mp4" /], Civil Unrest in America: Black Lives Matter, Antifa and Beyond, The U.S.-Israeli Alliance and its National Security Implications, Gen. McInerney on REELTalk: “We are in the most perilous condition that we have ever been in our history”, The Battle Against Tyranny Whether Foreign or Domestic is a Perpetual Challenge for Constitutional Republics, Avril Haines, Director National Intelligence-Designate, LTG McInerney and MG Vallely on Election Fraud, China, and What Comes Next, Illinois Democrats Line Up to Help CAIR Fundraise, The Growing Threat to Israel and the Region, President Trump, Please Exercise Your Prerogative Power to Defeat Communism, Iran-Venezuela Relationship Grows Closer, Threatens US, What Will the Courts Do About the Election? These election observation missions have been recognized as one of the most transparent and methodical ways to encourage States’ commitment to democratic standards and have become a core element of the OSCE’s efforts to provide feedback on the election processes to the benefit of candidates and voters alike. Given the inability to hold a regular HDIM in 2020, if public health conditions permit, it would be ideal to move the HDIM forward in 2021. Despite a turbulent year, which included managing not only the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic but also the global anti-racism protests initiated following the killing of George Floyd; ongoing protracted conflicts in Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine; fraudulent elections and systemic human rights violations in Belarus; and a renewal of active conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, consensus was achieved on many, but not all, draft decisions. SEC rules help provide avenues for small businesses to raise capital efficiently from both public and private markets so they can create new jobs, develop life-changing innovations and technology, grow the economy and create opportunities for investors. ... and a member of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Congress is on the verge of creating a Senate-confirmed national cyber director within the White House who would advise the president on cybersecurity and coordinate the federal government’s related work. The guardrails held, and the work of the U.S. Congress continues,” said Sen. Wicker. Chairman Hastings and Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) also issued a statement regarding foreign affairs funding for diverse, global anti-racism programs, commemorating John Lewis’ yearly leadership in securing these appropriations requests. Foreign Minister of Sweden Ann Linde offered opening remarks, along with Agron Tare, Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, and Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä, Officer-in-Charge / OSCE Secretary General. There, the company hired a service provider to develop a browser toolbar. At the same time, hate crimes and racial profiling targeting black populations are increasing,” said Chairman Hastings. “The OSCE’s broad membership and comprehensive definition of security make it an ideal platform to advocate for our interests in a vital region,” stated Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker and Ranking Member Sen. Ben Cardin in a 2018 article describing the OSCE’s timeless value. By Erika Schlager, Counsel for International Law; The charter states, “Europe is liberating itself from the legacy of the past. Principled Foreign Policy Before the DNI was formally established, the head of the Intelligence Community was the director of central intelligence (DCI), who concurrently served as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).. As 2021 Chair-in-Office, Sweden will have the task of consulting with the participating States on the entire calendar of OSCE meetings and events, continuing to adjust plans as needed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States signed onto nine such statements to support the concept of women, peace and security outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1325; modernization of the politico-military framework of the Vienna Document; and a number of statements related to the OSCE’s role in addressing regional challenges like ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, improving human rights compliance by Belarus, countering Russian aggression in Ukraine and the Republic of Georgia, and addressing challenges relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative reflected the country’s historic leadership in the area of international humanitarian law and profound concerns regarding torture in the context of counterterrorism efforts. The Permanent Council also stated that this decision did not establish any precedent for the organization of future HDIMs. In November 2019, the Commission hosted a joint hearing with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the importance of the Open Skies Treaty, emphasizing its critical role in security and stability in Europe. Ahead of the election, Lukashenko eliminated his main political competition through disqualification or imprisonment. 2020 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting The sessions focused on racism, xenophobia, and intolerance and discrimination; combating racism and discrimination against Roma; the rule of law; access to information and freedom of the media; democratic lawmaking; multilingual education; and human rights defenders. Some drafts which did not reach consensus among all 57 states were turned into statements issued and signed by those countries that had supported their adoption. Otherwise, the consequences could be unpredictable and potentially dire.” As adopted, the decision includes explicit references to enforced disappearances and to incommunicado detention. LTG McInerney and MG Vallely on Election Fraud, China, and What Comes Next ... Avril Haines, Director National Intelligence-Designate. Giuliani Security & Safety (GSS) offers corporations, individuals, and governments a full platform of security, investigative and crisis management services. OSCE meetings in Vienna, where the OSCE is headquartered, were canceled for the second half of that month. ... Haines served as Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor from 2015-2017, during which time she led the National Security Council’s (NSC) Deputies Committee. Are central to a principled U.S. foreign policy Commission dealt at further length with the law, many... 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