the Charter 77

Charter 77 was a key document and human rights movement in Czechoslovakia, initiated in 1977. It called for the Czechoslovak government to adhere to international human rights agreements it had signed. The movement emerged in response to the oppressive Communist regime that restricted freedoms and silenced dissent. Prominent figures, including Václav Havel, were involved, advocating for political reform and personal liberties. Charter 77 grew into a symbol of resistance and helped mobilize public opinion against the regime, ultimately contributing to the broader struggle for democracy in the country, which gained momentum during the Velvet Revolution in 1989.