Why did the human rights issue become strategic in the Cold War through the Helsinki Accords?

Correct answer: It created moral pressure on internal policies of the Eastern bloc

The direct answer is A: it created moral pressure on the internal policies of the Eastern bloc. The Helsinki Accords of 1975 were agreements involving European states, the United States and Canada. They addressed security, respect for borders, cooperation and human rights. The Soviet-led states accepted commitments concerning human rights and basic freedoms. Although the accords did not immediately end repression or the Cold War, dissidents in Eastern Europe could use those promises to criticize governments, creating political and moral pressure. Option A is correct for this reason. Option B is wrong because the accords did not abolish all borders; they recognized the importance of existing European borders while discussing peaceful change. Option C is wrong because NATO was not dissolved. Option D is wrong because the accords did not partition Africa. The connection with détente is accurate because they were reached during a period of reduced tension. Memory cue: Helsinki = security plus human rights, and human-rights promises gave critics a useful standard.