Abstract
World War II had a strong effect on human rights understanding all over the world, but in the European continent the consequences were even stronger. This was one of the main reasons why the leaders throughout the region founded the following three organizations: the Council of Europe, the European Union (formerly the European Coal and Steel Community), and later, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (formerly the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe).
These organizations have survived the Cold War and the fall of Communism, and continue to this day to serve as forums for dialogue and exchange within the European continent.