A joint resolution to designate August 1, 1988, as "Helsinki Human Rights Day".
PL 100-377 (S.J.Res.338), enacted 08/01/1988

PUBLIC LAW 100-377—AUG. 1, 1988 
102 STAT. 883 
Public Law 100-877 
100th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
To designate August 1, 1988, as "Helsinki Human Rights Day". 
Whereas August 1, 1988, will be the thirteenth anniversary of the 
signing of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and 
Cooperation in Europe (hereafter 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, Cyprus, 
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; 
Whereas the participating States have committed themselves to 
balanced progress in all areas of the Helsinki accords; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords recognize the inherent relationship 
between respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and 
the attainment of genuine security; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords express the commitment of the 
participating States to "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 cooperation 
among themselves as among all States"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also 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 Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "promote and encourage the effective exer-
cise 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"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "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"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States on whose territory national minorities exist 
to "respect the right of persons belonging to such minorities to 
equality before the law" and that such States "will afford them 
the full opportunity for the actual enjoyment of human rights and 
Aug. 1, 1988 
[S.J. Res. 338] 
102 STAT. 884 
PUBLIC LAW 100-377—AUG. 1, 1988 
fundamental freedoms and will in this manner, protect their 
legitimate interests in this sphere"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "constantly respect these rights and free-
doms in their mutual relations 
and that such States "will 
endeavor jointly and separately, including in cooperation with the 
United Nations, to promote universal and effective respect for 
them"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "conform the right of the individual to 
know and act upon his rights and duties in this field"; 
Wheresis the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States in the field of human rights and fundamental 
freedoms to "act in conformity with the purposes and principles of 
the Charter of the United Nations and with the Universal Dec-
laration of Human Rights" and to "fulfill their obligations as set 
forth in the international declarations and agreements in this 
field, including inter alia the International Covenants on Human 
Rights, by which they may be bound"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords by incorporation also express the 
commitment of the participating States to guarantee the right of 
the individual to leave his own country and return to such 
country; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "facilitate freer movement and contacts, 
individually and collectively, whether privately or officially, 
among persons, institutions and organizations of the participating 
States, and to contribute to the solution of the humanitarian 
problems that arise in that connection"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "favorably consider applications for travel 
with the purpose of allowing persons to enter or leave their 
territory temporarily, and on a regular basis if desired, in order to 
visit members of their families"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "deal in a positive and humanitarian spirit 
with the applications of persons who wish to be reunited with 
members of their family" and "to deal with applications in this 
field as expeditiously as possible"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitments of the 
participating States to "examine favorably and on the basis of 
humanitarian considerations requests for exit or entry permits 
from persons who have decided to marry a citizen from another 
participating State"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "facilitate wider travel by their citizens for 
personal or professional reasons"; 
Whereas the Helsinki accords also express the commitment of the 
participating States to "facilitate the freer and wider dissemina-
tion of information of all kinds, to encourage cooperation in the 
field of information and the exchange of information with other 
countries"; 
Whereas the Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub-
lics, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, 
Hungary, Poland, and Romania, in agreeing to the Helsinki ac-
cords, have made a commitment to adhere to the principles of 
•f-- 4' -'"^f 
PUBLIC LAW 100-377—AUG. 1, 1988 
102 STAT. 885 
human rights and fundamental freedoms as embodied in the 
Helsinki accords; 
Whereas, despite some limited improvements, the aforementioned 
Governments have failed to implement their obligations under 
Principle VII of the Helsinki accords to respect human rights and 
fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, con-
science, religion or belief; 
Whereas, despite some limited improvements, the aforementioned 
Governments have failed to implement their obligations under 
Basket III of the Helsinki accords to promote free movement of 
people, ideas and information; 
Whereas representatives from the signatory States are convened in 
Vienna to review implementation and address issues of compli-
ance with the human rights and humanitarian provisions of the 
Helsinki 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, 1988, the thirteenth anniversary of the signing 
of 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 nations 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 the 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, with the 
Governments of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the 
German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, 
the issue of their noncompliance at every available opportunity; 
(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; 
(5) the President is authorized to convey to allies and friends 
of the United States that unity on the question of respect for 
human rights and fundamental freedoms is an essential means 
of promoting the full implementation of the human rights and 
humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki accords; 
(6) the President is requested to continue his efforts to achieve 
before the end of the Vienna meeting the release of all political 
prisoners of the Soviet Union, including Helsinki monitors, a 
significant increase in Soviet emigration, the resolution of all 
family reunification cases, the cessation of all radio trans-
mission jamming, and the repeal of laws, procedures, and prac-
tices which undermine human rights; 
(7) the President is further requested to seek the inclusion, in 
any concluding document agreed to in Vienna, of a mechanism 
to assure that human rights progress is sustained following the 
conclusion of the Vienna meeting; and 
(8) the President is further requested to convey to signatory 
States the insistence of the United States for a balanced result 
102 STAT. 886 
PUBLIC LAW 100-377—AUG. 1, 1988 
at the Vienna meeting that will not favor military security at 
the expense of human rights. 
SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Senate is directed to transmit copies 
of this joint resolution to the President, the Secretary of State, and 
the Ambassadors of the thirty-four Helsinki signatory nations. 
Approved August 1, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 338: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 134 (1988): 
July 8, considered and passed Senate. 
July 14, considered and passed House.