A joint resolution to designate August 1, 1992, as "Helsinki Human Rights Day".
PL 102-333 (S.J.Res.310), enacted 08/04/1992

PUBLIC LAW 102-333—AUG. 4, 1992 
106 STAT. 855 
Public Law 102-338 
102d C!ongress 
Joint Resolution 
To designate August 1, 1992, as "Helsinki Human Rights Day". 
Whereas August 1, 1992, is the seventeenth anniversary of the 
signing of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) (hereafter in this preamble 
referred to as the "Helsinki accords"); 
Whereas the Helsinki accords were agreed to by the Grovemments 
of Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Byelarus, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech 
and Slovak Federal RepubKc, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, 
Georgia, Germany, Greece, the Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ire-
land, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, 
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, the Nether-
lands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, 
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistsin, Turkey, 
Turkmenistan, IHa'aine, the United Kingdom, the United States 
of America, Uzbekistan, £ind Yugoslavia; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords express the commitment of the pai-
ticipating States to "respect human rights and fundamental free-
doms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, reUgion or 
beUef, for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or 
religion"; 
Whereas tiie participating States have committed themselves to 
"ensure that their laws, regulations, practices and poUcies con-
form with their obUgations under international law and are 
brought into harmony with the provisions of the Declaration 
of Principles and other CSCE commitments"; 
Whereas the participating States have committed themselves to 
"respect the equal rights of peoples and their right to self-deter-
mination, acting at all times m conformity with the purposes 
and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and with 
the relevant norms of international law, including those relating 
to territorial integrity of States"; 
Whereas the participating States have affirmed that the "ethnic, 
cultural, linguistic and religious identity of nationed minorities 
will be protected and that persons belonging to national minorities 
have the right to freely express, preserve and develop that identity 
without any discrimination and in fiill equaUty before the law"; 
Whereas the participating States have recognized that the free 
will of the individual, exercised in democracy and protected by 
the rule of law, forms the necessary basis for successftd economic 
and social development; 
Whereas the participating States have committed themselves to 
respect ftdly the right of everyone to leave any country, including 
their own, and to return to their country; 
Aug. 4.1992 
[S.J. Res. 310] 
106 STAT. 856 
PUBLIC LAW 102-333—AUG. 4, 1992 
Whereas the participating States recognize that "democratic govern-
ment is based on the will of the people, expressed regularly 
through free and fair elections; and democracy has as its founda-
tion respect for the person and the rule of law; and democracy 
is the best safeguard of freedom of expression, tolerance of all 
groups of society, and equsility of opportunity for each person"; 
Whereas on November 21, 1990, the heads of State or government 
from the signatory States signed the Charter of Paris for a 
New Europe, a docimient which has added clarity and precision 
to the obligations undertaken by the participating States; 
Whereas the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
has made major contributions to the positive developments in 
Europe, including greater respect for the human rights and fun-
damental freedoms of individuals and groups; 
Whereas the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
provides an excellent frsunework for the further development 
of genuine security and cooperation among the participating 
States; and 
Whereas, despite significant improvements, all participating States 
have not yet fully implemented their obligations xinder the Hel-
sinki accords: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of 
America in Congress assembled, That— 
(1) August 1,1992, the seventeenth anniversary of the signing 
of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation 
in Europe (hereinafter referred to as the "Helsinki accords") 
is designated as "Helsinki Human Rights Day"; 
(2) the President is authorized and requested to issue a 
proclamation reasserting the American commitment to ftill 
implementation of tiie human rights and hiunanitarian provi-
sions of the Helsinki accords, urging all signatory States to 
abide by their obUgations under the Helsinki accords, and 
encouraging the people of the United States to join the Presi-
dent and Congress in observance of Helsinki Human Rights 
Day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; 
(3) the Rresident is further requested to continue his efforts 
to achieve fiill implementation of the human rights and humani-
tarian provisions of the Helsinki accords by raising the issue 
of noncompUance on the part of any signatory State which 
may be in violation; 
(4) the President is further requested to convey to all sig-
natories of the Helsinki accords that respect for hirnian rights 
and fundamental freedoms continues to be a vital element 
of further progress in the ongoing Helsinki process; and 
PUBLIC LAW 102-333—AUG. 4, 1992 
106 STAT. 857 
(5) the President is further requested, in view of the consider-
able progress made to date, to develop new proposals to advance 
the human rights objectives of the Helsinki process, and in 
so doing to address the major problems that remain. 
SEC. 2. The Secretary of State is directed to transmit copies 
of this joint resolution to the Ambassadors or representatives to 
the United States of the other fifty-one Helsinki signatory States. 
Approved August 4, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE fflSTORY—S.J. Res. 310: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
June 16, considered and passed Senate. 
July 27, considered and passed House.