oleglantukh,
 
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Untitled</title>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <script>
document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {
var a =document.querySelectorAll('[data-id]');
[].forEach.call(a, function(link) {
   var id = link.dataset.id,
   el = document.getElementById(id);
   link.addEventListener("click", function(event) {
      event.preventDefault();
      el.checked = !el.checked
})
});
});
  </script>
</head>
<body>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" data-id="continent-1">Африка</a>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" data-id="continent-2">Азия</a>
<a href="javascript:void(0);" data-id="continent-3">Европа</a>
...
<input type="checkbox" id="continent-1">
<input type="checkbox" id="continent-2">
<input type="checkbox" id="continent-3">
</body>
</html>