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Community of Democracies Convening Group
calls on the UN General Assembly to favor states with better
human rights records in Council elections
On May 15, 2007, the Convening Group of the
Community of Democracies released a statement
regarding the UN Human Rights Council elections which called
on the membership of the United Nations to "favor those
States which have demonstrated a genuine commitment to human
rights, both in practice and in their pledges." The statement
reiterates the commitment made by Community of Democracy governments
at the III Ministerial Meeting in Santiago to consider the
candidacy of countries contributing effectively to the promotion
and protection of human rights. Further, the 16-member Convening
Group also recognizes that the resolution establishing the
Council "intended for UN member states to have a real
choice in selecting its members."
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Community of Democracies issues statement
on elections to the UN Human Rights Council
On 5th May 2006, the Community of Democracies
issued a statement
encouraging members of the United Nations to vote for states
that have demonstrated a genuine commitment to human rights
in the forthcoming elections to the new Human Rights Council.
The statement reiterated the Community of Democracies' 2005
Santiago Ministerial Commitment to support "the candidancy
of countries contributing effectively to the promotion and
protection of democracy and human rights worldwide in bodies
which focus on elements of democratic governance."
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Community of Democracies issues statement
on Human Rights Council
On 15th November 2005, the Community of Democracies
issued a statement
encouraging the General Assembly of the United Nations to
complete negotiations to determine the mandate, functions,
size, composition, membership, working methods, and procedures
of the new Human Rights Council. The statement, drafted by
Mali as the current chair of the Convening Group of the Community
of Democracies, welcomed the outcome of the September 2005
World Summit and reaffirmed the commitment by the Community
of Democracies to make the Human Rights Council a strong and
credible body.
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UN Democracy Caucus Recommends Positive Consideration
to Four UNGA Resolutions
At the November 1, 2004 meeting of the UN
Democracy Caucus, participating governments agreed to recommend
that all members of the Community of Democracies give four
resolutions a positive consideration when they are voted on
at the UN General Assembly. Read press
communiqué issued by Chile, Chair of the UN Democracy
Caucus.
These four draft resolutions are: “Torture
and other inhuman or other degrading treatment or punishment”
submitted by Denmark; “Promotion and cooperation among
religions,” submitted by the Philippines;
“Enhancing the role of regional and subregional and
other organizations and arrangements in promoting and consolidating
democracy,” submitted by Romania, United States, Peru
and Timor-Leste; and “Improvement of the status of women
in the UN system,” submitted by Australia.
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Chile Issues Community of Democracies Progress
Report
at UN Ministerial Meeting
On September 22, 2004 Chile's Foreign Minister
Soledad Alvear chaired
a meeting for foreign ministers of the Community of Democracies
at the United Nations. FM Alvear released a progress
report which included a summary of actions taken toward
the creation of a UN Democracy Caucus. The final
press communique reaffirms commitments made by CD governments
to continue promoting the work of the Democracy Caucus in
the United Nations and other multilateral forums.
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Foreign Ministers Encourage Creation of UN Democracy Group
On September 26, 2003 the Foreign Ministers
of the Community of Democracies Convening Group (Chile, Czech
Republic, India, Mali, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Africa,
South Korea, and the United States) issued a statement encouraging
the formation of coalitions and caucuses within the UN and
other multilateral fora to support democracy. The members
of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies have
decided to strengthen a process of consultation and coordination
at the UN in order to encourage and facilitate the Community
of Democracies' interested participants’ actions dedicated
to promote and defend democracy, and the human rights and
fundamental freedoms protected under democracy.
To read the Joint Communiqé in English,
click
here.
Para leer el comunicado conjunto en español, seleciona
aqui.
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Foreign Ministers Announce Intention to Organize
Democracy Caucus at The UN
In September, 2000 the Foreign Ministers of
the Community of Democracies Convening Group issued a statement
announcing their intention to convene a Democracy Caucus at
the UN With this statement
the campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus was born. |
