3. Commitments Relating to Human Rights that are Applicable to All 3.1 Civil and Political Rights 3.1.1 General Provisions Helsinki 1975 (Questions Relating to Security in Europe: 1.(a) Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States – Principle VII) [The participating States] will promote and encourage the effective exercise of civil, political (…) and other rights and freedoms all of which derive from the inherent dignity of the human person and are essential for his free and full development. Madrid 1983 (Questions Relating to Security in Europe: Principles) [The participating States] similarly stress their determination to develop their laws and regulations in the field of civil, political (…) and other human rights and fundamental freedoms; they also emphasize their determination to ensure the effective exercise of these rights and freedoms. Vienna 1989 (Questions Relating to Security in Europe: Principles) (12) (…) [The participating States] recognize that civil, political (…) and other rights and freedoms are all of paramount importance and must be fully realized by all appropriate means. (13) In this context they will (…) (13.2) - consider acceding to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (…), the Optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other relevant international instruments, if they have not yet done so; (…) 3.1.2 Right to Life/Abolition of the Death Penalty Vienna 1989 (Questions Relating to Security in Europe: Principles) (24) With regard to the question of capital punishment, the participating States note that capital punishment has been abolished in a number of them. In participating States where capital punishment has not been abolished, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most 107