SCHAKOWSKY TO JOIN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON FACT-FINDING VISIT TO GUANTANAMO BAY TO EXAMINE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS
SCHAKOWSKY TO JOIN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ON FACT-FINDING VISIT
TO GUANTANAMO BAY TO EXAMINE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) will join a Congressional fact-finding trip to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo naval base on Saturday, July 26, 2003. The trip will be headed by U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, U.S. Representative Benjamin L. Cardin, senior Democrat on the Commission.
The members will meet with U.S. officials to discuss the detention of suspected terrorists and will review the procedures under which the suspects are being interrogated and their overall treatment.
"It is critical for members of Congress to examine firsthand the conditions and treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo naval base and I look forward to reporting those findings back to my colleagues and my constituents," Schakowsky said.
The Helsinki Commission was created in 1976 by Congress as an independent U.S. agency charged with monitoring military security, economic cooperation, human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe, Central Asia, and North America. The Commission also undertakes a variety of diplomatic efforts designed to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts among participating states. The Helsinki Commission monitors the activities of the 55 nations, including the United States, who are participating members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is the largest regional security organization in the world.