The OSCE PA's Isabel Santos (right) and Mehmet Sevki Kulkuloglu (center) stand alongside OSCE PA Deputy Secretary General Gustavo Pallares before boarding their flight to Guantanamo. COPENHAGEN, 29 January 2015 – The leadership of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions has completed a visit to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and today called on OSCE countries to proactively assist

COPENHAGEN, 29 January 2015 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today issued the following statement on the Russian Supreme Court’s rejection of a request by the Justice Ministry to close the human rights group Memorial: "The decision of the Supreme Court to not shut down one of the country’s most prestigious and important human rights

OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva COPENHAGEN, 27 January 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) today called on Russia to close its international border with Ukraine to help counter the alarming increase in violence in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks. "Russian leaders have spoken of their support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. In keeping with that pledge, I call on Russia to close the

OSCE PA human rights Chair Isabel Santos COPENHAGEN, 23 January 2015 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today expressed concern about the sentencing of prominent Tajikistani lawyer and opposition figure Shukhrat Kudratov and the state of civil and political liberties in the country. She also noted the new charges brought against Zayd

OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (seated left) and OSCE PA human rights Chairperson Isabel Santos (seated center) meet Syrian children at Harran refugee camp, 21 January. COPENHAGEN, 21 January 2015 – A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly led by President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) and human rights and humanitarian committee Chairperson Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal) today visited a refugee camp in Harran, Turkey, near the

Top (left to right): OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver is greeted by Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili; Oliver following his meetings with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tamar Beruchashvili Bottom: Oliver meets with Georgian Parliament Chairperson David Usupashvili COPENHAGEN, 17 January 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Spencer Oliver met today with Georgian Prime