The Helsinki Final Act

Helsinki, Finland - 1 August 1975

The Helsinki Final Act, signed on August 1, 1975, is the concluding document of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). It was signed by 35 nations, including the United States, Canada, and almost all European countries. While not legally binding, it played a significant role in the context of the Cold War and the period of détente.

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The Act is commonly divided into four “baskets” covering different sets of issues:

• Basket One: Addresses political and security issues, outlining 10 principles such as sovereign equality, refraining from the threat or use of force, inviolability of frontiers, territorial integrity of States, and peaceful settlement of disputes.
• Basket Two: Focuses on economic, scientific, and environmental cooperation.
• Basket Three: Deals with human rights protection, including issues related to human contacts, information, culture, and education.
• Basket Four: Concerns the implementation process and follow-up to the Conference.

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Key Principles and Provisions

Basket I: Questions Relating to Security in Europe

Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States (The “Decalogue”):

1. Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty.
2. Refraining from the threat or use of force.
3. Inviolability of frontiers.
4. Territorial integrity of States.
5. Peaceful settlement of disputes.
6. Non-intervention 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. Co-operation among States.
10. Fulfilment in good faith of obligations under international law.

• Document on Confidence-building Measures and Certain Aspects of Security and Disarmament.

Basket II: Co-operation in the Fields of Economics, Science and Technology, and the Environment.

Basket III: Co-operation in Humanitarian and Other Fields.

Basket IV: Follow-up to the Conference.

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The document emphasizes respect for each other’s sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and the right of every state to choose and develop its political, social, economic, and cultural systems. It also stresses the importance of acting in conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.