WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced he has been selected as a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission.
The Helsinki Commission, an independent government agency that is comprised of members of Congress and Administration officials, has a mandate to monitor the acts of the 56 other signatories of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). This includes the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms like the freedom of thought, religion and the press. The Commission also focuses on economic, humanitarian, and security cooperation between the United States and other signatories.
The Helsinki Commission will hold its first hearing of the 115th Congress tomorrow at 9:30am, which will focus on democracy and human rights abuses in Russia.
“It’s an honor to serve on the Helsinki Commission, an important component to strengthening America’s cooperation with Europe and promoting international peace and stability,” said Senator Tillis. “Throughout its history, the Helsinki Commission has been a valuable platform that has shined light on human rights violations, human trafficking, and terrorist threats. Moving forward, I look forward to working with other commissioners to focus on a number of critical issues, starting with Russia’s slide back to authoritarianism and its increasing hostility against its neighbors.”
Tillis is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Personnel.
During his tenure in the Senate, Tillis has worked to expand America’s role in combatting human rights violations across the globe. In 2016, Tillis joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) to introduce the bipartisan Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act. Co-sponsored by 13 other Senators, this bipartisan legislation aims to ensure that the U.S. government works in a coordinated manner using its full range of tools, including diplomatic, political, financial, and intelligence capabilities, to provide early warnings about at-risk communities and states in order to help prevent mass atrocities against civilians.
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