77.5 Respect for Humanitarian Provisions of Helsinki’s “Final Act” Agreement
On August 1, 1975, in Helsinki, Finland, 35 nations concluded the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe which concerned:
- Ratification of Europe’s post-war boundaries;
- Guarantees of non-interference in the internal affairs of the Soviet bloc; and,
- Freer trade between the Soviet bloc and the European Common Market;
Whereas, In exchange for the above, the NATO countries, including Canada, negotiated for the acceptance of a proposal known subsequently as the Helsinki “Final Act” Agreement which:
- Recognized rights of minorities;
- Promised freer cultural exchanges;
- Promised a humanitarian way to reunify separated families;
- Respected human rights and fundamental freedoms including freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief; and,
- Equal rights and self-determination of peoples; and,
Whereas, The Helsinki “Final Act” Agreement concurs with the human rights provisions in such documents as the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the 1936 Constitution of the USSR; therefore,
RESOLVED, That the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to continue to call on all nations signatory to the Helsinki “Final Act” Agreement to carry out humanitarian provisions contained therein.