COPENHAGEN, 9 February 2012 – In a U.S. Helsinki Commission hearing yesterday featuring the OSCE Chair-in-Office, Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore, the Head of the OSCE PA's U.S. Delegation Chris Smith welcomed the Irish Chairmanship's security agenda and highlighted the work of the Parliamentary Assembly on child safety.

Pointing to a resolution adopted at the Belgrade Annual Session last year, Smith said that international child abductions is a key issue that the Helsinki Commission is focusing on in 2012.

"Last year, the Parliamentary Assembly passed a resolution urging the OSCE to take up the issue of international parental child abduction and urging a ministerial decision on that issue," said Smith, Chairman of the Helsinki Commission and OSCE PA Special Representative on Human Trafficking. "Governments and national courts need to do more to live up to their obligations under the Hague Convention."

Gilmore noted that the Chairmanship's priorities this year include protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as making progress on resolving protracted conflicts. "The continuing threat to fundamental freedoms and human rights in a number of OSCE participating States is a cause of real concern," he said.

Chris Smith expressed confidence in Ireland's new leadership role in the organization. "Ireland has for a long time been one of the most constructive countries within the OSCE, enhancing the credibility of the organization it now leads," he said.