Resources



	Convening Group Representatives at The Closing Press Conference at the First Ministerial Conference in Warsaw Photo by Andrezej Rybczynski

Human Rights at the UN Reports Democracy at the UN Readings
Democracy Readings
Community of Democracies
Democracy & Human Rights Topics

For the most recent Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights compilation of documents or texts adopted and used by various intergovernmental, international, regional and subregional organizations aimed at promoting and consolidating democracy and human rights, click here

If you have a suggestion for a democracy resource, please email us at info@demcoalition.org

Reports on Human Rights at the UN

Since 2004, the Democracy Coalition Project has worked to enhance the accountability of governments on international human rights issues through the publication of in-depth reports on debates and resolutions in UN bodies. Beginning with the Commission on Human Rights and continuing with the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly, DCP has published annual reports on government performance at the United Nations, including vote tracking and analysis of key human rights issues.

DCP's reports on the UN Human Rights Council/Commission on Human Rights can be viewed here.

Reports on human rights resolutions at the UN General Assembly can be viewed here.

"Human Rights Monitor - General Assembly"
by International Service for Human Rights, 2000-2011

Since 2000, the International Service for Human Rights has provided annual analytical overviews of the General Assembly's annual session, particularly themes that UN Members States debated within its Third Committee, which deals with human rights.

65th session, 2010
64th session, 2009
63rd session, 2008
62nd session, 2007
61st session, 2006
60th session, 2005
59th session, 2004
58th session, 2003
57th session, 2002
56th session, 2001
55th session, 2000

"Catalysts for Rights: The Unique Contribution of the UN's Independent Experts on Human Rights"
by Ted Piccone, Deputy Director of Foreign Policy for the Brookings Institution and board member of DCP, October 2010

Ted Piccone released a report on UN Special Procedures that analyzes the on-the-ground impact of this system and how these mechanisms promote international human rights norms at the national level.

The report finds that UN independent experts (IE) play an important role influencing government behavior and shedding light on compliance with international human rights norms. However, Piccone notes that IEs face several challenges including a frequent lack of state cooperation, inadequate resources and training, and the absence of a systematic process to implement their recommendations.

To view the full report, click here.

"Curing the Selectivity Syndrome"
by Human Rights Watch, 24 June 2010

Curing the Selectivity Syndrome examines the successes and failures of the Human Rights Council, and finds significant gaps in the performance of its mandate. The 2011 review of the Council is an opportunity to develop an array of approaches tailored to address human rights violations effectively wherever they occur. At the same time, the Council is urged to "improve by doing" by taking immediate steps to ratchet up the HRC's response to human rights violations, rather than waiting for the 2011 review to address the Council's shortcomings.

To view the full report, click here.

"Down to Business: The Human Rights Council's Backlog of Work"
by Human Rights Watch, 10 September 2007

As it enters its second year, the Council must take hold of the many situations that “require the HRC’s attention,” and take action of some sort to address them. The HRC’s efforts to address these situations will provide an important indication of its ability to fulfil the purpose for which it was created. The Council must seize this opportunity to demonstrate its relevance and responsiveness to human rights victims in these countries and beyond.

To view the full report, click here.

"Human Rights Council Membership Requires Steps to Address Violations"
by Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights and Human Rights Watch, 25 May 2007

In this 13-page briefing paper, Human Rights Watch and the EIPR said that Egypt’s terrible human rights record made that country a poor choice for membership. They nevertheless welcomed the Egyptian government’s public pledges to improve its practices domestically and to strengthen the capacity of the council.

To view the full report, click here.

"More Business than Usual: The Work Which Awaits the Human Rights Council"
by Human Rights Watch, 12 March 2007

In this first year of its existence, the Council is understandably preoccupied with institution building. But human rights violations haven’t been suspended while the Council focused on these tasks; in fact they have worsened in many locations. The Council’s attention to institution building has created a growing backlog of work that deserves the HRC’s attention.

To view the full report, click here.

"Key Points for Special Procedures Review"
by Human Rights Watch, 13 November 2006

The task of the intergovernmental working group on review of mandates is wide-ranging and important. In this paper, Human Rights Watch identifies the six key points that should help guide the working group's review.

To view the full report, click here.

"Human Rights Council: New Approaches to Addressing Human Rights Situations"
by Human Rights Watch, 15 September 2006

The new Human Rights Council was created in order to strengthen protection for the victims of human rights violations worldwide. The Council’s ability to succeed in that mission will depend on the development of a more effective approach to consideration of human rights situations in particular countries. This paper proposes a mechanism for the Human Rights Council to consider such situations with three key elements: (1) a multi-level system which allows for a graduated response to human rights situations; (2) a flexible approach with many entry points for discussion of such situations; and (3) a full range of options to respond to human rights violations.

To view the full report, click here.

"Universal Periodic Review"
by Human Rights Watch, 18 August 2006

In May 2006, Human Rights Watch released its initial paper on the functions of the new Human Rights Council (HRC), focusing on universal periodic review (UPR), country situations, and the review of special procedures. In the ensuing months, numerous member states, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and leading scholars have offered proposals for how the UPR should be conducted. This discussion paper revisits the Human Rights Watch paper, taking account of the many proposals that have been made, in an attempt to identify the key points necessary to creating an effective system for UPR.

To view the full report, click here.

"Human Rights Council: No More Business As Usual: "
by Human Rights Watch, 19 May 2006

In this brief initial paper, Human Rights Watch seeks to contribute to the ongoing discussions about how the Human Rights Council should function and develop its work. The first year of the Council will be one of transition, but also a unique occasion to build a principal human rights organ that delivers results in the short, medium, and long term. This paper primarily focuses on the universal periodic review, country situations, and the review of special procedures.

To view the full report, click here.

Readings on Democracy at the UN

For the July 2004 Issue of the American Prospect, Laura Rozen examines the need for UN reform and highlights the efforts underway in support of a UN Democracy Caucus and speaks to the advantages of having such a voting bloc at the UN.

To access the article from the American Prospect website, click here.

"Changing the UN"
a Washington Post Editorial, 3 May 2003

In its May 3, 2003 editorial the Washington Post encourages the UN to "to create...a democracy caucus that could help fight the battle for human rights and unite countries that otherwise seldom work together." This effort would help to change of some of the more "moribund, corrupt, or...ludicrous" elements of the UN.

To view the full article, click here.

"Take Back the U.N.: Democratic Nations must form an independent caucus"
by Nancy E. Soderberg, Washington Times, 29 January 2003

"Just as the United Nations is preparing to face two important tests of its relevance - how it will deal with crises in Iraq and North Korea - one of its key bodies just voted itself into irrelevancy. On Jan. 20, the 53-nation Human Rights Commission elected Libya its 2003 chairman. Libya is a country still under UN sanction for terrorism, with a human- rights record that Human Rights Watch calls "appalling," and which will use its new position to block the committee from taking any meaningful action. What's wrong with the United Nations?"

To view the full article, click here.

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Readings on Democracy

Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi and Amir Attaran, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, wrote an op-ed in the June 16, 2004 edition of the New York Times urging the World Bank to withhold aid from anti-democratic governments and to give to poverty-striken democracies.

To read the op-ed on the New York Times website (registration required),
click here.

In the Summer 2003 issue of The Washington Quarterly Jennifer Windosr, Executive Director of Freedom House, discusses the interdependence between democracy and development
Democracy and Development: The Evolution of U.S. Foreign Assistance Policy by Jennifer Windsor

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Documents Related to the Community of Democracies

Community of Democracies Participation Criteria - At their meeting of September 12, 2000, the Foreign Ministers of the Community of Democracies Convening Group agreed to direct senior officials to prepare proposals that would allow for the establishment of basic criteria for participation in the Community and establish procedures to govern its activities as well as those of the Convening Group.