Isabel Santos speaks at the OSCE PA Annual Session in Helsinki, 6 July 2015. COPENHAGEN, 17 December 2015 – The Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions Committee, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today expressed concern about new legislation in Russia that allows the country’s Constitutional Court to decide on whether to implement rulings of international human rights courts, including

Ola Elvestuen COPENHAGEN, 16 December 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) has appointed Norwegian parliamentarian Ola Elvestuen as the PA’s first Special Representative for Arctic Issues. The newly established position will help ensure that the Assembly is kept informed of the latest developments and trends concerning the Arctic and will enhance the Assembly’s co-operation with other international

Vice-Chairperson Nilza Sena COPENHAGEN, 14 December 2015 – The Paris climate deal represents a historic breakthrough in efforts to minimize warming of the planet and countries must seize the new momentum to meet goals and set bolder ones, said Nilza Sena (MP, Portugal), the Vice-Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, today. “I welcome the Paris Agreement, which

Chairperson Isabel Santos COPENHAGEN, 9 December 2015 – The Chairperson of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today welcomed the release from prison of Azerbaijani rights activist Leyla Yunus on humanitarian grounds. “Leyla Yunus’s health was in rapid decline, and so I welcome this humane gesture by the court. Of course, the international community

COPENHAGEN, 9 December 2015 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions Chairperson, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today expressed deep disappointment at the inability of governments to agree any decisions or declarations on promoting human rights at the recently concluded OSCE Ministerial Council in Belgrade. “What does it say when more than 40 foreign ministers and hundreds of high-level diplomats

OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (center) ahead of his address to the Ministerial Council, alongside OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic (left) and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, 3 December 2015. BELGRADE, 3 December 2015 – Far-reaching action by the international community is needed to deal with a world that “sometimes seems to be spiralling out of control,” OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva