A joint resolution to designate May 7, 1985, as "Helsinki Human Rights Day".
PL 99-29 (S.J.Res.15), enacted 04/25/1985

99 STAT. 56 
PUBLIC LAW 99-29—APR. 25, 1985 
Public Law 99-29 
99th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
——'- 
To designate May 7, 1985, as "Helsinki Human Rights Day". 
[S.J. Res. 15] 
Whereas this year will be the tenth 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 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 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 in whose territory national minorities exist to 
"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"; 
Whereas the Helsinki Accords also 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 co-operation 
among themselves as among all States"; 
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 will endeavour jointly and 
PUBLIC LAW 99-29—APR. 25, 1985 
99 STAT. 57 
separately, including in co-operation 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 "confirm the right of the individual to 
know and act upon his rights and duties in this field"; 
Whereas 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- 
59 Stat. I03i. 
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 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 acknowledged an adherence to the principles of 
human rights and fundamental freedoms as embodied in the 
Helsinki Accords; 
Whereas the aforementioned Governments have not fulfilled their 
commitments to the Helsinki Accords by denying individuals 
their inherent rights to freedom of religion, thought, conscience, 
and belief; 
Whereas on May 7, 1985, a meeting of experts on human rights and 
fundamental freedoms will be convened in Ottawa, Canada, to 
discuss questions concerning respect for human rights and fun-
damental freedoms as embodied in the Helsinki Accords; 
Whereas this meeting is called for in the concluding document of the 
Madrid Review Conference of September 9,1983; and 
Whereas this meeting will be attended by representatives of all 
Helsinki signatory nations: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That— 
(1) May 7, 1985, the opening date of the Ottawa meeting of 
experts on human rights and fundamental freedoms, is des-
ignated 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 "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 provisions 
of the Helsinki Accords by raising the issue of noncompliance 
with the Governments of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Czecho-
slovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Poland, 
and Romania 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; and 
(5) the President is authorized to convey to allies and friends 
of the United States that unity on the question of respect for 
99 STAT. 58 
PUBLIC LAW 99-29—APR. 25, 1985 
human rights and fundamental freedoms is the most effective 
means to promote the full implementation of the human rights 
and humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki Accords. 
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 April 25, 1985. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 15: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): 
Mar. 28, considered and passed Senate. 
Apr. 16, considered and passed House.