Slovakia · 50th anniversary of Charta 77

Charta 77 emerged in the communist-ruled state of Czechoslovakia. Its immediate background was the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe of 1975. Czechoslovakia had signed this document and thereby committed itself, among other things, to respecting fundamental human rights and civil liberties. The authors of the Charta pointed out that these commitments were not being upheld in their own country.

The declaration was not a political party, nor did it claim to form an alternative government. It saw itself as an independent citizens’ initiative. Its signatories demanded that the state observe its own laws as well as the international obligations it had entered into. Among the first spokespeople were the writer Václav Havel, the philosopher Jan Patočka and the former foreign minister Jiří Hájek. The Charta was supported by people with different political and ideological backgrounds, including Christians and former members of the communist party.

The publication led to state repression. Signatories were interrogated, placed under surveillance, forced out of their jobs or subjected to pressure in other ways. Jan Patočka died after several interrogations by State Security. At the same time, the authorities attempted to publicly discredit the signatories and intimidate further supporters. Nevertheless, the Charta remained a point of reference for opposition groups and for the demand for independent social organization for many years.

Its impact was also evident in later initiatives of the Czechoslovak civil rights movement. During the political upheavals in autumn 1989, former spokespeople and supporters of the Charta were among those who helped shape the dialogue with the state authorities and the transition to a democratic political system. The Slovak commemorative coin thus commemorates not only the publication of a historical document, but also the long-term commitment of individuals to the rule of law, freedom of expression and the exercise of internationally guaranteed rights.