The Helsinki Accords, also known as The Final Act of the Conference on Security
After World War Two American-Soviet relations had entered a phase known as detente that reduced tensions between the two superpowers. On August 1, 1975 the Helsinki Accords provided an example of the reduced tensions. Signed by the U.S., Canada, and every other European country, it recognized post World War Two borders in Europe. This reaffirmed Soviet control of many Eastern countries however the Accords also specified that the signatory powers recognize and respect the inherent rights of their citizens. By securing the borders of post World War Two Europe the Helsinki Accords ensured that total war would never be a problem because European nations had no reason to fight over land.
|
Peace and Freedoms
The Helsinki Accords included four different sections, known as baskets, that specified the principles of the Accords. The first basket is a declaration of the principles guiding relations between the participating states. The second basket is about economic, scientific, and environmental cooperation. The third basket deals with the humanitarian and cultural cooperation issues. The fourth basket is a follow-up of the conference.
The participating States will respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
They will promote and encourage the effective exercise of civil, political, economic, social, cultural and other rights and freedoms all of which derive from the inherent dignity of the human person and are essential for his free and full development.
Within this framework the participating States will recognize and respect the freedom of the individual to profess and practice, alone or in community with others, religion or belief acting in accordance with the dictates of his own conscience.
The participating States on whose territory national minorities exist will respect the right of persons belonging to such minorities to equality before the law, will afford them the full opportunity for the actual enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms and will, in this manner, protect their legitimate interests in this sphere.
The participating States recognize the universal significance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for which is an essential factor for the peace, justice and well-being necessary to ensure the development of friendly relations and co-operation among themselves as among all States....
-Excerpt from the Helsinki Accords
Soviet leader General Secretary Leonid I. Brezhnev believed signing the Accords would improve relations between with the West and make it seem that the Soviet Union was an equal participant in detente. However he did not count on so many people, inside and outside of the Soviet Union, taking the Accords very seriously. Human rights watchdog groups emerged to monitor internal U.S.S.R. to make sure they were treating their citizens fairly.
In Today's World
The Helsinki Accords were the foundations of continuous opposition in the Soviet Union until its collapse and the establishment of full human rights.