Appeals

UN Democracy Caucus

The Campaign for a UN Democracy Caucus has effectively used appeals to members of the Community of Democracies to promote the creation of a UN Democracy Caucus as well as to urge members of the UN Democracy Caucus to vote in support of democracy and human rights norms throughout the UN system.

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UN Democracy Caucus Releases Statement on the HRC Elections

Members of the Community of Democracies, a community of more than 100 participating governments formed in 2000 to advance democratic governance, have gathered as the UN Democracy Caucus to release a statement on the Human Rights Council elections. The statement urges member states to support the candidacy of countries who have demonstrated a “genuine commitment to human rights, both in practice and in their pledges” worldwide in the up coming May 12th elections.

This coming July, members of the Community of Democracies will meet for their Fifth Ministerial Meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.

To read the UN Democracy Caucus Statement, click here.

UN Vote on Defamation of Religion Threatens Freedom of Expression

The Coalition to Defend Free Speech, which the Democracy Coalition Project is a member of, released a statement concerning the recent vote at the UN General Assembly to approve a resolution threatening freedom of expression.

DCP Calls on UN Secretary-General to Adopt a More Transparent and Inclusive Process for High-Level Appointments at the UN

Following the appointment of the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay, DCP joined five other human rights organizations in sending a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon commending him on several aspects of the high-level appointment selection process, but also stressing the need for a more transparent and inclusive process, with significant participation from NGOs in the future. This letter followed up on a previous letter sent in March by DCP and other organizations to the Secretary General stating their recommendations for making high-level appointments.

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:

• The vacant position is announced publicly, along with the qualifications sought, as well as the timeline and decision-making procedures to be used in filling the vacancy;

• Once candidatures have been gathered, a short-list should be made and circulated;

• Governments and other appropriate stakeholders should have adequate time to consider and comment on the short-listed candidates prior to the final decision

Global Coalition Urges International Bar Association to Address Human Rights Problems in Singapore

The Democracy Coalition Project joins international organisations across the world in endorsing a resolution urging the International Bar Association (IBA) to speak up on human rights abuses in Singapore during its annual conference scheduled to begin Sunday 14 October 2007 and last through till 19 October. Organisations such as the World Movement for Democracy, the Council for the Community of Democracies, Liberal International and the Club of Madrid as well prominent lawmakers and democracy advocates are signatories to the resolution, putting Singapore firmly on the radar of the global democracy movement. The resolution calls for the IBA to "express its concern at the lack of respect for the rule of law in Singapore" and to "urge the Singapore government to practice the rule of law and not the rule by law by signing and ratifying the ICCPR (international Covenant of Civil and Political Rights)." The IBA will organise a one-day Rule of Law Symposium on 19 October. Singaporeans are encouraged to attend the Symposium to see how Singapore can better adhere to the rule of law.

DCP Joins Other Human Rights Organizations in Identifying 20 Critical Issues For a Successful Outcome of the Human Rights Council's Institution Building Process

On June 4, 2007 the President of the UN Human Rights Council presented his final text on the institution-building process. The text is the outcome of the work done by all stakeholders in the Council's first year of operation and will serve as the basis for the final negotiations to be concluded on June 18, 2007. In a document entitled 20 Critical Issues for a Successful Outcome of the Human Rights Council's Institution Building Process, the Democracy Coalition Project and thirteen other human rights organizations from around the world have identified 20 key points with which to assess the President's text.

DCP joins major human rights organizations from around the world calling on the Democracy Caucus to support strong reforms at the UN Human Rights Council in June

On May 1, 2007, the Democracy Coalition Project, in a joint statement with other human rights organizations around the world, called on the members of the UN Democracy Caucus to support strong reforms at the UN Human Rights Council in its Fifth and final session of its inaugural year from June 11-18. The statement urges democratic countries to work together in the next two months to ensure the UN Human Rights Council adopts mechanisms that will strengthen its ability to address human rights violations around the world. The groups write "Specifically, the Council must preserve the independence and flexibility of the system of 'special procedures' that monitor human rights worldwide" and "establish a universal periodic review that involves independent experts and non-governmental stakeholders at all stages." Finally, the groups urge the Council to "demonstrate an increased willingness to act on urgent human rights situations in a balanced and proactive way." The statement was joined by the Open Society Institute, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, Conectas Direitos Humanos, and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.

Read joint statement on reforms at the UN Human Rights Council.

International Steering Committee of the CD NGO process addresses meeting of CD Ministers of Foreign Affairs in New York

On September 20th 2006, Executive Director of the South African NGO IDASA and member of the International Steering Committee (ISC) of the NGO Process of the Community of Democracies, Mr. Paul Graham, read a statement on behalf of the ISC at the meeting of CD Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Graham informed CD countries gathered in New York of the progress achieved at setting up an Executive Secretariat of the CD NGO process in Bamako. He also described ISC efforts to facilitate NGO participation at the next CD Ministerial, to be held in the Malian capital in the Fall of 2007. In his statement, Mr. Graham also urged CD members to replenish the United Nations Democracy Fund and lead the functioning of the newly established United Nations Human Rights Council, making sure that the Council develops the right mechanisms and tools to defend human rights, address specific human rights violations, facilitate NGO participation, and condemn recent assaults on democracy assistance.

Democracy Caucus urged to lead UN actions on Human Rights and Democracy

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, the Democracy Coalition Project and other 40 human rights and democracy organizations 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.

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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 support the establishment of a strong Human Rights Council. The letter, endorsed by more than forty 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.

DCP Executive Director urges Community of Democracies to make the new UN Human Rights Council a credible body

On 19th September, the Executive Director of the Democracy Coalition Project, Ted Piccone, addressed the Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies in New York. Representing the Campagin for a UN Democracy Caucus, Mr. Piccone's statement urged CD members to play a central role at creating the new UN Human Rights Council and making it a more credible body than its predecessor, the Human Rights Committee.

NGO Leaders Applaud the Creation of a UN Democracy Fund

On July 27th the members of 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 and 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. The letter outlines recommendations for several aspects of the UN reforms, including urging 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. The scorecard, prepared by the Democracy Coalition Project, was with the appeal to further illustrate the need for CD government support of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's proposal to reform the UN Human Rights System.

For more information, please visit the UN Democracy Caucus website.

DCP and NGO Coalition Members Urge Foreign Ministers Assembled for the Third Community of Democracies to Strengthen Democracy

In advance of the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies, Democracy Coalition Project and NGO Coalition members Transnational Radical Party and Freedom House issued a press release to the all the Foreign Ministers assembled in Santiago for the meeting. The three organizations uged the members of the Community of Democracies to support UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's reform package, in particular the idea of a Human Rights Council. The group also urges the Community of Democracies to uphold its own standards of membership as outlined in the Warsaw Declaration, the Seoul Plan of Action and Convening Group's own participation criteria.

NGO Coalition Calls on the UNDC to Support Annan's Human Rights Reforms

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 Annan's proposal.

NGO Coalition Issues Statement on UNGA Resolutions and UN Reform

On December 16, 2004 the NGO coalition issued an appeal to members of the UN Democracy Caucus. The appeal calls on the UN Democracy Caucus to support the country resolutions on Myanmar, Turkmenistan and Iran. The appeal also calls on the Democracy Caucus to work towards limiting membership on the UN Commission on Human Rights 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.

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NGO Coalition Urges Action on Democracy Caucus At This Fall’s UNGA

On September 13th the Democracy Coalition Project and its partners issued a letter to the Community of Democracies Convening Group Foreign Ministers calling for the establishment of a permanent UN Democracy Caucus. The signers urged that the Caucus meet regularly at relevant UN bodies; coordinate common positions on human rights resolutions; and endorse criteria for membership on the UN Human Rights Commission.

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DCP and NGO Coalition Press Korean Government To Stop The Suspension of The Transnational Radical Party’s Consultative Status Within The UN

Democracy Coalition Project, along with other members of the NGO Coalition, sent a letter to the Korean Government requesting they join other democratic nations and vote against a motion by Vietnam to suspend the Transnational Radical Party NGO consultative status within UN. 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 full text of the DCP letter, click here.

A full archive of appeals can be accessed here.

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