Helsinki Citizens Assembly
Encyclopedia
The Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly (hCa) is an organization of citizens dedicated to peace
, democracy
and human rights
in Europe
. It is a non-governmental organization, working on the notions of fundamental rights and freedoms, peace, democracy and pluralism.
hCa works independently from political parties, government and states, aims to:
Why “Helsinki”?
The Helsinki Final Act (1975) provided a basis for creating conditions favorable to peace in Europe and made human rights a common value to be respected by all nations in a world which was divided into East and West camps in that period. The word "Helsinki" refers to the historic significance of this agreement.
(Taken directly from www.hyd.org.tr)
The collapse of the Berlin Wall and the new global political context this created gave rise to a new peace movement called the “Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly”. From October 19 to 22 1990, peace activists from all parts of Europe (chaired by Václav Havel, then president of Czechoslovakia) held a meeting. They agreed on the “Prague Appeal” and founded the HCA as a permanent forum, within which peace and civic groups, as well as individuals and institutions representing a broad spectrum of views, could exchange experiences, discuss common concerns and formulate joint campaigns and strategies.
As stated in the Founding document (Prague, 1990):
The idea was to set up different national hCa chapters, some of which still exist today (e.g. www.hyd.org.tr). In its first news bulletin, an impressive list of projects and activities was published. These included editorials by Mary Kaldor
and Mient Jan Faber, reports from national committees, various conferences, a directory of 42 national contact persons for HCA, etc.
In the early nighties the hCa initiative very much resembled other large international networks, like the END
-Convention and IPCC
(International Peace Communication and Coordination Center) and many of the activists and organizations of END and IPCC joined the hCa. The main differences between hCa and the two other networks was that hCa had a great potential of being much more than just a network of peace organizations, including also activists and groups working around other issues, like North-South relations.
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It is a non-governmental organization, working on the notions of fundamental rights and freedoms, peace, democracy and pluralism.
hCa works independently from political parties, government and states, aims to:
- introduce the basic rights and freedoms accepted in international agreements and outlined by universal standards into daily life
- to promote peaceful processes for the resolution of problems through mutual understanding dialogue and peace
- to improve pluralist democratic bodies and civil society initiatives
- to ensure the supremacy of law and to defend an economic system that promotes the well-being of human life and the environment.
Why “Helsinki”?
The Helsinki Final Act (1975) provided a basis for creating conditions favorable to peace in Europe and made human rights a common value to be respected by all nations in a world which was divided into East and West camps in that period. The word "Helsinki" refers to the historic significance of this agreement.
(Taken directly from www.hyd.org.tr)
The collapse of the Berlin Wall and the new global political context this created gave rise to a new peace movement called the “Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly”. From October 19 to 22 1990, peace activists from all parts of Europe (chaired by Václav Havel, then president of Czechoslovakia) held a meeting. They agreed on the “Prague Appeal” and founded the HCA as a permanent forum, within which peace and civic groups, as well as individuals and institutions representing a broad spectrum of views, could exchange experiences, discuss common concerns and formulate joint campaigns and strategies.
As stated in the Founding document (Prague, 1990):
Overcoming the division of Europe is the job, especially, of civil society, of citizens acting together in self-organized associations, movements, institutions, initiatives and clubs across national boundaries. It means the creation of new social relationships, new forms of dialogue, through which citizens can negotiate with governments and each other, put pressure on political institutions, and, indeed, resolve many issues without the direct involvement of governments. It means the expansion of public -that is, non-State, non-private- spheres of activity and the creation of a European public opinion. The commitment of politicians to open diplomacy must go beyond the ante-chamber of high politics. It is not just a matter of informing journalists or even non-governmental organizations. The Helsinki process from above has to be complemented by an equally significant Helsinki process from below.
Let us therefore found a Helsinki Citizens Assembly!
The idea was to set up different national hCa chapters, some of which still exist today (e.g. www.hyd.org.tr). In its first news bulletin, an impressive list of projects and activities was published. These included editorials by Mary Kaldor
Mary Kaldor
Mary Kaldor is a British academic, currently Professor of Global Governance at the London School of Economics, where she is also the Director of its Centre for the Study of Global Governance. She has been a key figure in the development of cosmopolitan democracy...
and Mient Jan Faber, reports from national committees, various conferences, a directory of 42 national contact persons for HCA, etc.
In the early nighties the hCa initiative very much resembled other large international networks, like the END
End
End or Ending may refer to:*End *In mathematics:**End **End *End *End, a division of play in the sports of curling and target archery*End key on a modern computer keyboard...
-Convention and IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body which provides comprehensive assessments of current scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and...
(International Peace Communication and Coordination Center) and many of the activists and organizations of END and IPCC joined the hCa. The main differences between hCa and the two other networks was that hCa had a great potential of being much more than just a network of peace organizations, including also activists and groups working around other issues, like North-South relations.