The Helsinki Citizens' Assembly is an organization of citizens dedicated to peace, democracy and human rights in Europe. Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly [hCa] 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 19th to 22nd 1990, peace activists from all parts of Europe (chaired by Vaclav 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. “Ordinary” citizens (and not politicians!), who share a commitment to peace, democracy and human rights, are taking steps to promote the integration of Europe from below and to strengthen European civil society. However, the first priority of the HCA is not to answer the question of how to solve this or that particular problem. If that were all, we could easily feel quite powerless. Either because we can not find the answer, or because there is no one who is willing to implement our answer. No, the first priority of the HCA is civil society itself, in other words, our own participation in citizens’ initiatives all over Europe. (Taken directly from www.hcav.am)
