The Charter 77 (Czech dissident manifesto)

Charter 77 was a significant human rights initiative in Czechoslovakia, formed in 1977 by Czech and Slovak dissidents. It criticized government violations of human rights and upheld principles of democracy, freedom of speech, and the rule of law. The manifesto urged the government to respect international agreements it had signed but often ignored, such as the Helsinki Accords. Despite government opposition and repression, Charter 77 inspired ongoing resistance and drew international attention to Czechoslovakia’s lack of political freedoms, playing a key role in the country's eventual transition away from communist rule.