General committees

The General committee for Political Affairs and Security

The Committee for Political Affairs and Security, also known as the “first committee”, is responsible for issues concerning political relations between different countries and military security, including security measures, disarmament, peace-keeping, the prevention of conflicts, crisis management and the peaceful solution of differences.
 

	Glanzmann Ida NR, CE, LU
	Kuprecht Alex CE, UDC, SZ

The General committee for Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment

The “second committee” deals with questions that correspond to the “second basket” of the Helsinki Final Act and goes by the name of the General committee for Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and the Environment. At a time when, within the OSCE, questions of military security are less controversial and fundamental human rights are universally accepted, economic cooperation and the development of market economies in countries which did not have such a system before are of growing importance.
 

	Aebi Andreas NR, V, BE
	Niederberger Paul SR, CE, NW

The General committee for Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues

Human rights have been at the core of the OSCE’s activities since the start of the Helsinki Process. Reflecting the development of the situation in Europe, the “third committee” is officially called the General committee for Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues. This committee addresses the sensitive humanitarian issues that are included in the “third basket” of the Helsinki Final Act. A large part of the problems that arise in this area are dealt with by the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw, as well as by the High Commission for National Minorities and the OSCE representative for free media.

	Egerszegi-Obrist Christine SR, RL, AG
	Fässler Hildegard NR, S, SG

Substitute

	Hêche Claude SR, S, JU
	Hiltpold Hugues NR, RL, GE