Speaker. Friday marked the 11 th anniversary of the signing of an important human rights document. the Helsinki Final Act. The 35 signatoriesthe United States and the Soviet Union includedagreed to respect fundamental human rights and to allow emigration for family reunification. The Soviet Union has consistently exhibited a disregard for and denial of human rights and ignored their commitment to humanity as a signatory to these accords. Since 1979. Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union has dropped dramatically. from 51.000 in 1979. to 1.140 in 1985. This is by no means due to a decrease in emigration applications which number in the tens of thousands. The Soviet Union has stepped up its actions in its quest to eradicate the Jewish religion and heritage. Soviet Jews wanting to emigrate are harassed. intimidated and subjected to continuing abuse. Soviet violations of the Helsinki Final Act do not stop at the persecution of Soviet Jews. There is no freedom of religion. press. information. or movement in Soviet society.
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family reunification emigrate emigration