The history of the Czech Republic's modern democracy is inseparable from the struggle for human rights, a struggle personified by Václav Havel (1936–2011). His legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the connection between the defense of universal rights and the transformation of a nation. Havel was not initially a politician, but a globally recognized dissident playwright who became the leading spokesperson for Charter 77—a courageous human rights manifesto established in 1977. The Charter openly challenged the communist regime to uphold its own constitutional and international commitments, particularly those enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki Accords. Havel's persistent intellectual and civic resistance, despite repeated imprisonments, made him a moral authority both at home and abroad.

Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel

His unwavering commitment to the principle of "living in truth" laid the moral foundation for the peaceful 1989 Velvet Revolution. When the regime finally collapsed, Havel was instrumental in leading the democratic movement. He was subsequently elected the last President of Czechoslovakia, symbolizing the nation's profound and non-violent return to freedom. Havel's philosophy emphasized individual responsibility and moral integrity over mere political strategy. As the first President of the Czech Republic, he continued to champion the cause of human rights on the world stage, becoming a global icon of post-totalitarian democratic change and a powerful advocate for oppressed people everywhere. 

Připravil: Ing. Roman Plevák, Ph.D., vedoucí sekce obchodu a ekonomické spolupráce na Velvyslanectví ČR v Addis Abebě