When the Helsinki Final Act (HFA) was signed in Helsinki,
Finland in 1975, it enshrined among its ten Principles Guiding
Relations between participating States (the decalogue), a
commitment to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms,
including the freedom of thought, conscience religion or belief,
for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or
religion" (Principle VII). In addition, the HFA included a
section on cooperation regarding humanitarian concerns,
including transnational human contacts, information, culture and
education. The HFA and subsequently adopted OSCE agreements are
not treaties and are therefore viewed as political commitments,
not legal obligations. The Role of the Helsinki Commission: The
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki
Commission) is a U.S. Government agency, established in 1976
pursuant to Public Law 94-304. It is mandated to "monitor the
acts of the signatories which reflect compliance with or
violation of the articles of the Final Act of