Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

UNITED STATES HELSINKI COMMISSION

An independant agency of the United States Government charged with monitoring and encouraging compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other commitments of the 55 countries participating in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). 

LIVE WEBCAST AND WITNESS ADDED: U.S. HELSINKI COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING ON MISSING PERSONS WITH QUEEN NOOR

U.S. Helsinki Commission to hold Hearing on Missing Persons with Queen Noor

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) today announced the following hearing:

Healing the Wounds of Conflict and Disaster: Clarifying the Fate of Missing Persons in the OSCE Area

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

2:00 p.m.

Room 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

The Commission will hold a hearing to examine efforts by governments and their partners in clarifying the fate of persons missing within a number of OSCE participating States and partner countries, especially in the western Balkans and northern Caucasus.  The hearing will also appraise the adequacy of assistance to governments and other entities engaged in locating missing persons, the obstacles that impede progress in some areas, as well as how rule of law mechanisms help governments fulfill their obligations to the affected families and society in clarifying the fate of missing persons. 

Currently, over a million persons are reported missing from wars and violations of human rights.  In addition, there are thousands of reported cases a year of persons missing from trafficking, drug-related violence, and other causes.  Locating and identifying persons missing as a result of conflicts, trafficking in humans and human rights violations and other causes remains a global challenge, with significant impact within the OSCE area. 

The following witnesses have been invited to testify:

Her Majesty Queen Noor, Commissioner, the International Commission on Missing Persons

Mr. Amor Masovic, Member of the Board of Directors of the Missing Persons Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ms. Fatima Tlisova, Writer/Editor/Producer, Voice of America

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The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent agency of the Federal Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 56 countries.  The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.