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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
April 27, 1999

Affirmation of the Right to Democracy

Following the overwhelming passage by the UN Commission on Human Rights on a resolution on the Right to Democracy, Nancy Rubin, U.S. Ambassador to the UNCHR, issued the following statement from Geneva:

"Today, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights adopted--for the first time--by a vote of 51-0 with two abstentions (China and Cuba), a resolution acknowledging the fundamental link between democracy and human rights. In doing so, the Commission boldly confirmed that democracy is a universal and fundamental human right.

As primary sponsor of the resolution, the United States would like to thank its numerous co-sponsors - Commission members Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, India, Italy, Latvia, Nepal, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Venezuela, and twenty-four non-members--as well as those countries that voted in favor. We are pleased to note that our co-sponsors include a number of states who only recently joined the community of democratic nations.

The right to democratic governance is both a means and an end in the struggle for human rights. Freedom of conscience, expression, religion, and association are all bolstered where democratic rights are guaranteed. Rights to a fair trial and to personal security are enhanced in genuine democracies. Elected leaders gain legitimacy through the democratic process, allowing them to build popular support, even for economic and political reforms that may entail temporary hardships for their people.

To be sure, democratization is a long and complex struggle, which does not come easily. Government "of the people" cannot be imposed from the outside. Rather, countries must come to democracy by their own path. As Secretary Albright has noted, "Democracy must emerge from the desire of individuals to participate in the decisions that shape their lives.... Unlike dictatorship, democracy is never an imposition; it is always a choice."

Democracies hold their leaders accountable to the people. They provide breathing room for civil society. They open channels for the free flow of information and ideas and for the development of diverse and vibrant economic activity. When democracy is absent, human rights suffer. It is no coincidence that the horrible violence and atrocities we have seen recently in Sierra Leone and Kosovo have taken place where the rights to a free exchange of ideas and democratic governance have been denied. Where democracy flourishes, so too do peace, prosperity, and the rule of law."

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