Bill Browder speaks with Committee Chair Matteo Mecacci before the meeting, 23 Feb 2012. VIENNA, 23 February 2012 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's 11th Winter Meeting began today with a panel discussion on judicial systems and prison reform in the Assembly's human rights committee. Chaired by Italian parliamentarian Matteo Mecacci, the committee heard presentations from former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak, Bill Browder of

COPENHAGEN, 16 February 2012 – The OSCE PA was represented by Deputy Director for Field Operations Roberto Montella on an election Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to Serbia on 8-10 February, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Parliamentary elections are expected to be held in Serbia this spring. NAM participants met with all the major players to discuss the political situation in Serbia and the

COPENHAGEN, 14 February 2012 – Parliamentarians from more than 50 countries will debate arms control, judicial systems and prison reform, counter-terrorism and the global financial crisis at the OSCE PA Winter Meeting 23-24 February in Vienna. The Winter Meeting kicks off with an international panel addressing the Assembly's human rights committee about torture, prisons and justice. Scheduled to appear: Manfred Nowak, former UN Special

COPENHAGEN, 13 February 2012 – OSCE PA President Petros Efthymiou made the following statement today on the selection of Switzerland and Serbia to chair the OSCE in 2014 and 2015, respectively: "I would like to express my sincere congratulations to Switzerland and Serbia on being awarded the OSCE Chairmanship for 2014 and 2015 respectively. I am very pleased that the OSCE participating States agreed to this joint proposal and I wish our Swiss

OSCE PA President Petros Efthymiou participates in memorial ceremony at the Hall of Rememrance at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. 13 February 2012. JERUSALEM, 13 February 2012 – OSCE PA President Petros Efthymiou today made the following statement at a ceremony at the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem: "The Holocaust was an unprecedented and incomparable crime against humanity. As we remember the lives lost and communities destroyed, we call on OSCE

COPENHAGEN, 10 February 2012 – João Soares, OSCE PA President Emeritus and Special Representative for South Caucasus today expressed concern regarding reports of a law enforcement raid on the Tskinvali headquarters of Alla Dzhioyeva, former education minister and former opposition candidate, which left Dzhioyeva hospitalized with injuries. "I call on the relevant authorities in the region of South Ossetia to respect the rule of law and human