Designating August 1, 1991, as "Helsinki Human Rights Day".
PL 102-93 (H.J.Res.264), enacted 08/14/1991

PUBLIC LAW 102-93—AUG. 14, 1991 
105 STAT. 475 
Public Law 102-93 
102d Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Designating August 1, 1991, as "Helsinki Human Rights Day". 
Whereas August 1, 1991, is the 16th anniversary of the signing of 
the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
Europe (CSCE) (hereinafter in this preamble referred to as the 
"Helsinki accords"); 
Whereas on August 1, 1975, the Helsinki accords were agreed to by 
the Governments of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, C)nprus, 
Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, the German Demo-
cratic Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, the 
Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxem-
bourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Por-
tugal, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, 
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom, the 
United States of America, and Yugoslavia; 
Whereeis the Helsinki accords express the commitment of the 
participating states to "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"; 
Whereas the participating States have committed themselves to 
"ensure that their laws, regulations, practices and policies con-
form with their obligations 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 in 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 recognized that respect for 
human rights is an essential aspect for the protection of the 
environment and for economic prosperity; 
Whereas the participating States have committed themselves to 
respect fully the right of everyone to leave any country, including 
their own, and to return to their country; 
Whereas the participating States have affirmed that the "ethnic, 
cultural, linguistic and religious identity of national minorities 
will be protected and that persons belonging to national minori-
ties have the right to freely express, preserve and develop that 
identity without any discrimination and in full equality before the 
law"; 
WhereEis 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 
Aug. 14, 1991 
[H.J. Res. 264] 
105 STAT. 476 
PUBLIC LAW 102-93—AUG. 14, 1991 
the best safeguard of freedom of expression, tolerance of all 
groups of society, and equality 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 document which has added clarity and precision to the 
obligations undertaken by the States signing the Helsinki accords; 
Wheregis the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe has 
made major contributions to the positive developments in Eastern 
and Central Europe and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 
including greater respect for the human rights and fundamental 
freedoms of individuals and groups; 
WhereEis the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
provides an excellent framework 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 under 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, 1991, the 16th 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 full 
implementation of the human rights and humanitarian provi-
sions of the Helsinki accords, urging all signatory States to 
abide by their obligations 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 President is further requested to continue his efforts to 
achieve full implementation of the human rights and humani-
tarian provisions of the Helsinki accords by raising the issue of 
noncompliance on the part of any signatory State which may be 
in violation; 
(4) the President is further requested to convey to all signato-
ries of the Helsinki accords that respect for human rights and 
fundamental freedoms is a vital element of further progress in 
the ongoing Helsinki process; and 
(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 
PUBLIC LAW 102-93—AUG. 14, 1991 
105 STAT. 477 
doing to address the major problems that remain, including the 
question of self-determination of peoples. 
SEC. 2. The Secretary of State is directed to transmit copies of this 
joint resolution to the Ambassadors to the United States of the other 
34 Helsinki signatory States. 
Approved August 14, 1991. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.J. Res. 264: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 137 (1991): 
July 29, considered and passed House. 
July 31, considered and passed Senate.