Helsinki International Federation for Human Rights

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The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (English International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights , IHF ) was an international non-governmental organization , which existed from 1982 by 2007. It had made it its task to protect respect for human rights in the states of the OSCE . It had 46 national organizations and its seat was in Vienna .

activity

The main objective was to monitor compliance with the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and its successor agreements in Europe , North America and Central Asia . The federation represented its members in international politics and maintained links with groups of human rights activists in countries that had not acceded to the Helsinki Final Act. The information collected was made available not only to the organizations involved, but also to governments, embassies and the press and public.

history

In 1982 national groups from Belgium , France , Canada , the Netherlands , Norway , Austria , Sweden and the USA founded the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights in Bellagio . The forerunner was the Helsinki Watch organization in the USA . The International Helsinki Association in Switzerland transferred its activities partially in 1983 and completely in 1986 to the new federation. The first president was Karel Schwarzenberg from 1984 to 1991.

In November 2007 the IHF had to file for bankruptcy because of embezzlement of the association's assets by the cashier Rainer Tannenberger . 1.2 million euros had been stolen. Tannenberger was sentenced to three years in prison. On November 27, 2007, the IHF had to announce its dissolution.

Some groups are now members of the Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'Homme (FIDH).

Members

(Selection)

Recognition award

The Helsinki International Federation for Human Rights awarded a Recognition Award to human rights activists and organizations from 2000 to 2006.

Prize winners:

Quote

  • Karel Schwarzenberg , first president since 1984, reported in a keynote speech in 2009 on the formation of the federation:

"Helsinki Federation for Human Rights come? In principle, it was founded in Moscow . A few very brave Russian citizens - one of them paid for it with his life in the camp afterwards - decided after the Helsinki Final Act to closely monitor compliance in the Soviet Union . And of course they were locked up very quickly, but the idea was born once and then groups emerged in Norway , in Holland , in various other countries and decided at a congress in Italy that it would be good if they were part of a federation worked together. That's why it was called the Helsinki Federation and they decided that, given the circumstances at the time, the best place to settle them would be Vienna . A because Austria was neutral and B because it was close to the main problem areas. You then went to Vienna and one of the people you consulted with was Bruno Kreisky . Would there be any objection from the Austrian side? He said there was nothing wrong with it, as long as it is about the fight for human rights and not a political one, that is absolutely fine with him. And then they said: 'We are scattered all over Europe and we need some kind of "figure head" to represent us here in Vienna.' Did he know anyone? He will have thought for a moment and then said: 'I have a suggestion for you, but that it comes from me of all people?' But I knew one - that's how I understood it - he indicated that he knew the difference between Bucharest and Budapest and suggested me at the time. That's how I got there. Of course I said that I would be happy to be available, but not only as a 'figure head', but if I can really do something within this framework.

That's how I got into all of the work. To admit the truth, none of this would have been possible without my Austrian background, because over the years, more through luck and circumstances than through my own merit, I had a certain position in Austria, I knew everyone in Vienna and that was Commendably known to the former Czechoslovak secret services and sister organization. "

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Breasts instead of human rights ( Memento from January 10, 2008 in the Internet Archive ), Kurier , January 9, 2008
  2. ^ Armenian Helsinki Association Civic Solidarity
  3. ↑ European Congress of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs: "1989 - 2009. Divided - United. Departure into a new Europe"  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. - Lecture by Karel Schwarzenberg on May 28, 2009. PDF, 14 pages@1@ 2Template: Toter Link / www.1989-2009.at