| Why
do we need a UN Democracy Caucus?
What does the UN Democracy
Caucus do?
Who is in the UN Democracy
Caucus?
What is the difference
between the UN Democracy Caucus and the CD?
How often does the UN Democracy
Caucus meet?
How can I be a part of
the NGO coalition?
How do I sign onto an appeal?
How does the NGO Coalition
work to promote its vision of a stronger
UN for democracy and Human Rights?
Why do we need a UN Democracy Caucus?
The purpose behind the UN Democracy Caucus is
to create a forum in which democratic countries can come together
to collaborate on UN resolutions and actions related to democracy
and human rights. Analysis
of voting patterns at both the General Assembly and the
Commission for Human Rights demonstrates that non-democratic
countries vote as a bloc to successfully defeat resolutions
that support human rights and democracy. Democratic countries
have an obligation to restore credibility to the UN human
rights system by working together to support strong UN action
to protect democracy and human rights.
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What does the UN Democracy Caucus do?
At the first meeting of the Community of Democracies,
over 100 governments agreed to form caucuses at international
and regional institutions to support resolutions and other
international activities aimed at the promotion of democratic
governance. Since then, Foreign Ministers and other senior
diplomats have met at the UN in New York and at the UN Human
Rights Commission in Geneva to exchange information and coordinate
common positions on democracy and human rights issues.
In the fall of 2004, the UN Democracy Caucus
held a series of meetings under the chairmanship of Chile,
host of the third Community of Democracies Meeting. Consensus
was found on four thematic resolutions related to democracy
and human rights put before the UN General Assembly. The NGO
coalition would like to see the UN Democracy Caucus:
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Coordinate actions
to strengthen international support for member states
in deepening democratic governance and reinforcing the
protection of human rights and democratic values through
the UN system and the UN’s related agencies. |
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Focus on building
international consensus on issues related to democracy
and human rights at the UN and to promote democratic
governance and human rights in states where the UN finds
egregious, systemic violations of human rights. |
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Promote increased
resources for human rights and democracy building initiatives
within the UN system. |
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Who is in the UN Democracy Caucus?
The UN Democracy Caucus is comprised of those
nations that have been invited as full participants to the
second Community of Democracies Ministerial meeting in Seoul.
The criteria
for membership in the Community of Democracies were determined
by the Community of Democracies Convening Group, comprised
of ten countries: Chile, Czech Republic, India, Mali, Mexico,
Poland, Portugal, South Korea, South Africa, and the United
States. The criteria require that countries adhere to such
standards as:
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Free, fair and
periodic elections, by universal and equal suffrage,
conducted by secret ballot |
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Multipartidarism,
the freedom to form democratic political parties that
can participate in elections |
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The rule of
law |
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Ensuring equality
before the law and equal protection under the law, including
equal access to the law |
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Separation of
powers, separation of the judiciary, legislative and
executive, independence of the judiciary from the political
or any other power. Ensuring that the military remains
accountable to democratically elected civilian government |
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The respect
of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the inherent
dignity of the human being. |
The full criteria for membership are outlined
in the CD
participation criteria document. Countries are invited
as observers when they fail to meet international standards
of democracy and human rights, but are in a transition process
and have given concrete steps along the lines of the criteria
above.
For a list of countries invited to attend the
second Community of Democracies meeting in Seoul, click
here.
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What is the difference between the UN Democracy
Caucus and the CD?
The Community of Democracies and the UN Democracy
Caucus are complementary associations of democratic states
working to promote the values of democracy and human rights
as defined by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the Warsaw
Declaration. The CD countries have committed to strengthen
democratic values and institutions at home and abroad, as
outlined by the Warsaw
Declaration. A Democracy Caucus at the UN was established
to promote these values at the UN and to coordinate UN member
states’ efforts to deepen democratic governance, reinforce
human rights and promote democratic practices. Membership
in the Democracy Caucus is defined by those states invited
to the biennial Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies.
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How often does the UN Democracy Caucus meet?
The UN Democracy Caucus has met periodically
during the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Commission.
The NGO coalition has called on the UN Democracy Caucus to
establish a permanent secretariat in order to formulate diplomatic
strategies on democracy and human rights. The Coalition also
encourages the Democracy Caucus to meet regularly at other
UN bodies such as ECOSOC, UNHCR, UNHCHR, UNDP, and UNESCO.
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How can I be a part of the NGO coalition?
Becoming a member of the NGO Coalition is simple.
You can participate in the NGO coalition by endorsing the
latest appeal
as either an individual or as an institution or by requesting
to be part of the NGO coalition as an institution or as an
individual. As a member of the NGO coalition you agree to
support the NGO Coalition’s vision
of the UNDC and you will receive regular updates and requests
to endorse new appeals the UN Democracy Caucus member states.
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How do I sign onto an appeal?
To sign an appeal, send an email to info@democracycaucus.net
requesting that your name be added to the latest appeal or
you can sign up by clicking here.
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How does the NGO Coalition work to promote
its vision of a stronger UN for democracy and Human Rights?
The NGO Coalition works on various activities
to promote and strengthen the UN Democracy Caucus. These activities
include events and briefings with members of the Caucus as
well as with organizations and individuals interested in the
UN Democracy Caucus and UN Reform in general. We issue appeals
to democratic countries on specific matters pending before
UN bodies, coordinate media outreach campaigns, monitor relevant
legislation, analyze voting patterns and follow the activities
of relevant UN bodies. As the Democracy Caucus establishes
itself as a relevant bloc within the UN system, the NGO Coalition
will play an ever increasing role in monitoring the process
and ensuring that democratic and human rights values are being
promoted effectively.
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