Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus

DCP calls on UN Secretary-General to select top officials according to the very highest procedural standard

In a joint letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, DCP and seven other nongovernmental organizations called for the adoption of more professional and transparent procedures to fill vacancies required by the imminent departure of three of the Under-Secretaries-General, High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel, and Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guehenno. The NGOs called for the following recommended practices when filling the vacancies at the UN:

Forty-six NGOs from around the world call on UN member states to defeat Belarus in Human Rights Council elections

Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus, the Democracy Coalition Project, Freedom House, and the Transnational Radical Party have joined civil society organizations from every region of the world to urge UN member states to defeat Belarus in the upcoming UN Human Rights Council elections on May 17. The groups argue that Belarus fails to meet the standards of membership set by Resolution 60/251 establishing the Council, including the requirements to 1) "fully cooperate with the Council," and 2) "uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights." The groups remind states that according to the resolution, "member States shall take into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto" when electing new members. They further write "election of Belarus to the Council would render these standards meaningless, and severely damage the Council's credibility." No country can be elected to the Human Rights Council unless an absolute majority of the UN General Assembly--97 members--affirmatively writes in the name of the that candidate on the ballot.

On the eve of the meeting of Community of Democracies Foreign Ministers in New York on September 20, and the second regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, a coalition of over 40 human rights and democracy leaders from around the world called on the United Nations Democracy Caucus to take urgent action this fall to strengthen the world body's record on democracy and human rights. NGO groups issued a statement on September 11 calling on Democracy Caucus members to ensure the UN Human Rights Council addresses the most serious human rights crises and establishes a credible universal periodic review mechanism to scrutinize government's adherence to basic international human rights standards. The statement also urged the UN Democracy Caucus to speak out against the alarming trend of assaults against democracy and human rights defenders, and encouraged members to replenish the new UN Democracy Fund.

To view the Press Release issued by Freedom House, Democracy Coalition Project and Transnational Radical Party, click here

Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus calls on democratic states to seize the initiative as new Human Rights Council begins sessions

On 25th May, coordinators of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus (Freedom House, Democracy Coalition Project and Transnational Radical Party) issued a statement calling on democratic states to fulfill their promise to actively work to make the new UN Human Rights Council a credible body. The statement reminds democratic states that the new Human Rights Council has the potential to strengthening the international human rights regime only if democratic governments seize the initiative in this inaugural year.

Community of Democracies Convening Group urged to take action on restrictive NGO laws

On 7th June, the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy (WMD) issued a statement urging members of the UN Democracy Caucus meeting in New York on September 2006 to adopt a resolution condemning legislation restricting the activity of NGOs in a growing number of countries. The statement also calls all participants in the Community of Democracies to provide material and technical assistance to support NGO efforts to promote and consolidate democracy throughout the world. WMD's statement builds on a request for urgent action on this issue the Nongovernmental International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies elevated to the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies.

Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus urges Community of Democracies to support democracies in next elections to the new Human Rights Council

On 11th April, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sent a letter Community of Democracies countries urging them to support only countries that respect and promote human rights in the elections to the new UN Human Rights Council to be held on May 9th. The letter, endorsed by more than fifty organizations from around the world, called upon democratic governments to cooperate within their regional groupings and within the UN Democracy Caucus at the UN General Assembly to oppose candidacies of countries with a poor human rights record.

Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus urges Convening Group of the Community of Democracies to lead final stage of negotitations on new Human Rights Council

On 14th February, coordinators of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus (Freedom House, Democracy Coalition Project and Transnational Radical Party) sent a joint letter to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and UN Permanent Representatives of members of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies urging them to play a more active role in the final stage of the negotiations to establish the new Human Rights Council. The letter emphasized that the final resolution establishing the new Council should include the following essential elements: improved membership mechanism, including election by two-thirds of the General Assembly and preventing human rights violator from becoming members of the Council; procedures to suspend the privileges of countries that are found to be involved in human rights violations; and annual sessions of no fewer than six meetings per year for a total duration of no less than twelve weeks.

To view the Press Release issued by Freedom House, Democracy Coalition Project and Transnational Radical Party, click here

Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sign a letter urging the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies to lead the Democracy Caucus to work actively in the negotiations for a strong and effective Human Rights Council

On 24th January, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sent a joint letter to the UN Permanent Representatives of members of the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies. As negotiations on the new Human Rights Council entered into a final phase, the letter urged members of the Convening Group to fulfill the pledge made at the Santiago Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies to strengthening the UN's capacity to implement the principles and practices of democracy. The letter encouraged Convening Group members to create a strong and effective Human Rights Council by promoting the objectives set in a previous letter sent to all UN permanent Representatives in early January.

Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sign a letter to UN member states underscoring essential elements to create a new Human Rights Council

On 6th January, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sent a joint letter to Foreign Ministers and Permanent Representatives of UN member states. As negotiations on the new Human Rights Council resume between 11-16 January, the letter welcomes some of the provisions reflected in the draft resolution dated 19 December 2005, but also outlines certain elements still missing from the text that NGOs believe are absolutely essential to create a new credible Council.

Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sign a letter to the Permanent Representatives of UN Member States expressing the urgency of completing negotiations for a new Human Rights Council before the end of the year

On 6th December, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sent a new letter to the Permament Representatives of UN member states urging them to complete before the end of 2005 negotiations on a resolution creating a new Human Rights Council. The letter asks UN Representatives to increase their efforts within the next two weeks of final negotiations, in order to create an effective, credible body consistent with the principles outlined in the November 1st letter sent to the President of the UN General Assembly.

Members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus sign a letter to the President of the UN General Assembly urging the establishment of an effective, credible and authoritative Human Rights Council

On 1st November, members of the Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus signed a letter addressed to the President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Jan Eliasson, encouraging him to suport the establishment of a strong Human Rights Council. The letter, endorsed by leaders of NGOs and civic groups, detailed a series of recommendations regarding the status, mandate, composition, voting, working methods, special procedures and NGO participation that could help make the Human Rights Council an effective and credible body, fulfilling the reform promises made at the UN World Summit.

Democracy Coalition Project joined with a coalition of forty NGOs to urge President Bush’s support for a stronger and more effective United Nations

On September 9th a coalition of over 40 NGOs, including the Democracy Coalition Project, sent a letter to President Bush urging him to actively work in the advancement of the critical reforms to be considered at the UN World Summit. The letter asked the Administration to take a productive role in helping to adopt a comprehensive agenda on development, security, democracy and human rights, and reform of the United Nations, emphasizing the importance of achievening the Millenium Development Goals.

On August 10th members of the NGO Coalition sent a letter to the Community of Democracies Convening Group members requesting an opportunity for NGO Coalition representatives to address the UN Democracy Caucus meeting that will be held in New York following the UN General Assembly Summit meeting from Sept 14-16. The NGO Coalition representtaives would like to speak about the experience of the UN Democracy Caucus to date, and to discuss the important role it will have in shaping key UN reforms, such as the proposed UN Human Rights Council.

| |

On July 27th the NGO Coalition sent an open letter to members of Community of Democracies urging them to support and contribute to the UN Democracy Fund, whose creation was announced by Kofi Annan in June 2005. The creation of a UN Democracy Fund represents an important opportunity to strengthen the role of the United Nations in democracy promotion and generous financial contributions from the Community of Democracies governments would help ensure that the Fund would be able to sustain, support and defend democracy when it is necessary.

NGO Coalition Calls Issues Open Letter to Community of Democracies Countries in Support of UN Human Rights Council

On June 28th the NGO Coalition sent an open letter and scorecard to the UN Secretary General and High Commissioner for Human Rights, and to the Permanent Representatives to the UN of Community of Democracies countries which outlines recommendations for several aspects of the UN reforms. Among the proposals, it urged the governments of the UN Democracy Caucus to support a transparent electoral process for a new, smaller Human Rights Council that would be elected by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly. It encouraged states to support a Council composed of only states who in the words of the Secretary General, “abide by the highest human rights standards.” The letter references the weak language related to the consolidation and promotion of democracy and urges States to support stronger language that reflects a true commitment to the principles of democracy.

On March 31st, 2005 the NGO Coalition sent an open letter to Foreign Ministers of the Community of Democracies Convening Group, Convening Group Ambassadors in Washington, D.C., and Community of Democracies Permanent Representatives in New York and Geneva calling on them to endorse the Secretary-General’s proposal to replace the Commission on Human Rights with a smaller Human Rights Council composed of states which undertake to uphold the highest standards of human rights and suggests guidelines for creation of the new body.

The Open Letter was also be distributed at the March 31st, 2005 panel discussion on “The UN Democracy Caucus: Its Role in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights” held at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, as well to the heads of the major UN programmes and agencies and the media.

The Center for American Progress has also released a statement signed by members of an alliance of progressive international leaders encouraging heads of state to endorse Secretary General Annan's proposal.

The International Service for Human Rights on behalf of 14 NGOs has issued a statement in support of the Secretary General's reform.

Freedom House Executive Director Jennifer Windsor Testifies in Front of US Congress

Freedom House Executive Director Jennifer Windsor on April 19, 2005 testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations. She urged Congress to support UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's proposals to reform the UN Commission on Human Rights and to seek ways to minimize the influence of repressive governments at the international body. Please click here to read the testimony.

On February 24, 2005 the NGO coalition issued call for action to the leaders of the UN Democracy Caucus calling on them to urge the UN Democracy Caucus to take a leading role at the 61st Session of the UN Human Rights Commission. The NGO coalition calls on the UN Democracy Caucus to ensure that some of the of the world's worst rights violations are fully aired, examined, and forthrightly censured, including the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan, Burma, Saudi Arabia, North Korea and Cuba.

On December 16, 2004 the NGO coalition issued an appeal to members of the UN Democracy Caucus (UNDC). The appeal calls on the UNDC to support the country resolutions on Burma (Myanmar), Turkmenistan and Iran. The appeal also calls on the Democracy Caucus to work towards limiting membership on the UNCHR to those states which demonstrate a commitment to strengthening the UN human rights system by, for example, cooperating with the Commission’s investigators and rapporteurs.

On September 13, 2004 a coalition of civil society organizations issued a letter to Convening Group Foreign Ministers calling for permanent establishment of a UN Democracy Caucus. The appeal calls on the Caucus to meet regularly at relevant UN bodies; coordinate common positions on human rights resolutions; and endorse criteria for membership on the UN Human Rights Commission.

NGO Coalition Presses Democratic Governments To Protect Italian NGO’s Consultative Status Within The UN

A group of democracy and human rights organizations appealed to the democratic government members of the UN Economic and Social Council to vote against a motion by Viet Nam to suspend the consultative status of Transnational Radical Party (TRP). A special letter was sent to the Korean Government asking them to join other democratic nations in this effort. Human Rights Watch also sent a letter to the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) members urging them to vote in support of TRP.

To read the letter and press release, click here.
To read the full text of the letter to the Korean Foreign Minister, click here.
To read the HRW letter, click here.

NGO Coalition Urges US Senate To Pass Legislation Supporting A UN Democracy Caucus

On April 6, 2004, the Democracy Coalition Project, Citizens for Global Solutions, and other members of the NGO coalition sent a letter to US Senators asking for their support for the creation of a United Nations Democracy Caucus.

UN Democracy Caucus Appeal Delivered To CD Members In Advance Of The 2004 UN Human Rights Commission

A written appeal, signed by over 60 leading figures in democracy promotion from around the world, was delivered to the 29 members of the Human Rights Commission who also participated in the Community of Democracies Seoul Ministerial meeting. The appeal calls for permanent establishment of a democracy caucus at the UN composed of governments participating in the Community of Democracies process.

On July 31, 2003 a coalition of NGOs sent an appeal to the Foreign Ministers of the Community of Democracies Convening Group countries urging them to take the lead in establishing a UN Democracy Group (UNDG). On September 23, 2003 a follow up letter was sent outlining more specific steps how the CD can work with the relevant United Nations bodies and agencies to ensure the United Nations becomes the global forum for making respect for democratic principles the international norm.

To read the September, 2003 Freedom House press release, click here.
To read the text of the September, 2003 letter, click here.
To read the July, 2003 press release and letter, click here.