119 SCON 20 IS: Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and reaffirming the United States’ commitment to its principles and values.
U.S. Senate
2025-08-01
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EN
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Whereas August 1, 2025, is the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe Final Act (referred to in this resolution as the Helsinki Final Act
);Whereas, on August 1, 1975, 35 nations, including the United States, Canada, and the nations of Europe, signed the Helsinki Final Act, marking a historic milestone in international diplomacy during the Cold War;Whereas the Helsinki Final Act established a comprehensive concept of security that encompasses political-military, environmental and economic, and human rights and humanitarian dimensions;Whereas the Helsinki Final Act codified 10 principles in the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations Between Participating States (commonly known as The Decalogue
), which—(1)all participating states committed to respect and put into practice in their relations with each other; and (2)have formed a basis for the international order in the region encompassing the participating states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) since its inception in 1975;Whereas these principles, adopted on the basis of consensus by all participating states and repeatedly reaffirmed, enshrine—(1)the sovereign equality of all participating states and respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty;(2)refraining from the threat or use of force among participating states;(3)the inviolability of frontiers of the 57 participating states;(4)the territorial integrity of participating states;(5)the peaceful settlement of disputes among participating states;(6)nonintervention in internal affairs;(7)respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief;(8)equal rights and self-determination of peoples;(9)cooperation among participating states; and(10)fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law;Whereas the Helsinki Final Act, for the first time in the history of international agreements, recognized that respect for, and implementation of, commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms are integral to stability and security within and among nations;Whereas the principles of the Helsinki Final Act have been threatened in recent years by irresponsible acts of certain states, including the actions of the Russian Federation in its occupation of the territories of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia and which constitute a threat to the stability and security of Europe and the world;Whereas the Russian Federation is responsible for the clear, gross, and uncorrected violation of all 10 principles of the Helsinki Final Act;Whereas the scourge of anti-Semitism persists throughout the OSCE region and should continue to be called out, condemned, and opposed by all participating states;Whereas Congress contributed to advancing the aims of the Helsinki Final Act by creating the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (commonly known as the Helsinki Commission
) to monitor and encourage compliance with provisions of the Helsinki Final Act;Whereas the Helsinki Commission consists of 9 United States senators, 9 members of the United States House of Representatives, and 3 representatives from the Executive Branch of the United States Government;Whereas the Helsinki Final Act ultimately led to the creation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which was designed to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict within and among the participating states;Whereas the legacy of the Helsinki Final Act continues to serve as a guiding framework for—(1)addressing security challenges;(2)defending the rule of law; and (3)supporting the rights of individuals against authoritarian oppression and aggression;Whereas successive United States administrations since the Helsinki Final Act was signed in 1975 have made the Helsinki Final Act’s Principles Guiding Relations Between Participating States a basis for United States policy toward Europe and the entire OSCE region;Whereas Congress has strongly supported and encouraged the United States to promote improved compliance with these guiding principles, including by raising its concerns about noncompliance in a direct and frank manner, and continues to provide such support and encouragement; andWhereas, in the face of renewed threats to sovereignty, democracy, and human rights, particularly in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, the principles of the Helsinki Final Act remain significant and foundational to a comprehensive concept of security: Now, therefore, be itThat Congress—(1)commemorates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and recognizes the importance of the Helsinki Principles and the OSCE;(2)reasserts the commitment of the United States to the full implementation of the Helsinki Final Act and to continued participation in the OSCE;(3)urges all participating states to abide by their respective obligations under the Helsinki Final Act, including respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, which are vital to the functioning of democracy;(4)calls on public officials, educators, librarians, and the people of the United States to join Congress in observance of this anniversary with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; and(5)conveys to all signatory states of the Helsinki Final Act that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, economic liberty, peaceful resolution of conflicts among participating states, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of participating states, and the implementation of related commitments continue to be vital elements in promoting security, prosperity, and peace throughout the region covered by the OSCE.