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Would You Believe. . . When the Helsinki Accords were signed on August 1, 1975, the likelihood they would have a profound and lasting impact on the world were very small. Which is why a book about them after a half century is both surprisingly topical and well worth reading for anyone with an interest in modern history.
The thirty-five signatories were the nations of Europe, the United States and Canada at was formally known as the Conference of Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Final Act of CSCE contained detailed provisions on respect for human rights and set country borders that essentially held until Russia invaded Ukraine in February,2022.
Only 15 years after the summit signing, the Soviet Union imploded and its Eastern European satellites broke with Communism and the broad range of human rights issues –civil, social, economic, and political – were a major factor in this historic turning point.
Peter L.W. Osnos’ expertise on the history of the accords is vast, as a journalist and publisher. His narrative writing skill is widely recognized. Holly Cartner provides a vivid account of how a small organization called Helsinki Watch became Human Rights Watch, the most important global NGO in its field.
“It is now almost fifty years since major states and nonprofit groups put human rights on the priority list for international debate and action. Governments agreed to new norms and regulations including rigorous requirements of accountability. Over the years, both public and private efforts based on the Helsinki Accords and led by Human Rights Watch have given power and force to those goals. This compelling and highly readable book tells the remarkable story of that transformation.” —James F. Hoge, Jr., former editor of Foreign Affairs and former chairman of Human Rights Watch
Prologue
Chapter One: Origins
Chapter Two: Dissidents Take the Helsinki Accords at Their Word
Chapter Three: Belgrade
Chapter Four: Helsinki Watch and the Origins of Human Rights Watch
Chapter Five: Investigations and Advocacy
Chapter Six: In the Field; Learning, Doing, Acting.
Chapter Seven: Human Rights Watch: What It Has Become
Chapter Eight: The Heirs of Helsinki: in Washington and Vienna.
Coda
Appendices: Texts From the Accords
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Index