Democracy Coalition Project

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.

On June 19, the Human Rights Council began its third annual cycle by electing a new President and officers. Ambassador Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi of Nigeria was elected by acclamation as the new President of the Council. The election of the Nigerian Ambassador to head the 2008-2009 Council - a position which rotates by region - followed intensive lobbying efforts by African human rights and civil society organizations. In February, fourty-four African NGOs wrote in a letter to African heads of states urging them "to promote the selection of an African state which could serve as a human rights leader...and to oppose the selection of any state which does not uphold the highest standards of human rights." The letter further called on African states to to reject any possible candidates for the Presidency who have failed to cooperate with the Council or prevented the passing of positive, pro-human rights measures within the Council.

In addition to the election of the Presidency, four Vice Presidents were also elected: Elchin Amirbayov of Azerbaijan, Erlinda F. Basilio of the Philippines, Alberto J. Dumont of Argentina and Marius Grinius of Canada.

Sri Lanka’s Defeat a Victory for Human Rights Council: UN Vote Upholds Council Membership Standards on Rights

The Democracy Coalition Project welcomed the defeat of Sri Lanka in today’s UN General Assembly election of 15 members of the UN Human Rights Council as an important precedent for upholding basic standards for human rights. In opposing re-election, a coalition of Sri Lankan nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) said that their government has “presided over a grave deterioration of human rights protection” since winning membership, and “has used its membership in the Human Rights Council to protect itself from scrutiny.” DCP joined a coalition of NGOs from all regions of the world charging Sri Lanka with widespread disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and a failure to cooperate with UN human rights experts. Three Nobel Peace Prize winners – Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel of Argentina, and former President Jimmy Carter of the United States – also called on UN Members to oppose Sri Lanka’s re-election bid.

“We applaud UN members for rejecting an abusive state which has used its position on the Human Rights Council not to promote human rights, but to protect itself and other violator states from scrutiny,” said Steve Crawshaw, UN Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch and spokesman for the NGO Coalition for an Effective Human Rights Council. “The defeat of Sri Lanka this year, and of Belarus last year, will help discourage other human rights violators from seeking or winning election to the council.”

DCP Joins NGO Coalition Calling on Pakistan to Make Human Rights Commitments Prior to Human Rights Council Elections

In a letter dated May 14, 2008, DCP joined 20 other international NGOs in urging UN member states to raise important Human Rights commitments with their Pakistani counterparts as they seek re-election to the Human Rights Council. The letter specifically urges that Pakistan commit to:

Supporting broad and equal attention by the Council to all serious human rights situations around the world, including through existing permanent agenda items, special sessions, new mandates, and other Council mechanisms;
Playing a constructive role in the UPR process, by conducting an equal and objective assessment of the human rights records of all states, regardless of regional, cultural, or geo-political ties;
Supporting the further strengthening of and cooperation with the special procedures, both country-specific and thematic;
Supporting the independence of the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights;
Addressing the issue of discrimination and incitement to hatred in the appropriate human rights context, and ensuring that treatment of these issues does not restrict freedom of expression or infringe on the mandate on Freedom of Opinion and Expression that monitors violations of this right.

On May 21, 2008, the UN General Assembly will elect fifteen new members to the UN Human Rights Council. DCP, along with NGOs from around the world, is engaged in the electoral process to ensure that members of the Council meet the standards stipulated in resolution 60/251 creating the Council: namely that they have demonstrated a commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights.

In this light, DCP believes the candidacy of Sri Lanka in this election is highly problematic, given the country’s failure to protect human rights both at the domestic and international levels. In a letter dated May 6, 2008, DCP and a coalition of 26 other international NGOs urged U.N. member states to oppose the candidacy of Sri Lanka. The letter concluded that “to re-elect Sri Lanka based on its record of the last two years would weaken the Human Rights Council and indicate the international community is unconcerned with the grave human rights situation in Sri Lanka.” This appeal echoes an earlier April 28, 2008 letter sent by Sri Lankan NGOs to U.N. member states.

For more information on the NGOs for an Effective Human Rights Council and their opposition to the re-election of Sri Lanka to the Human Rights Council, click here.

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 Open Society Institute has launched Eyes on Zimbabwe, a new campaign designed to raise awareness of the humanitarian, democratic, and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. As the human-rights situation deteriorates and election season draws near, this project combining video, blog, and social networking features is intended to inform and to encourage the international community to turn its attention to the crisis in Zimbabwe—and act.

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.

The Democracy Coalition Project welcomed the defeat of Belarus in today’s UN General Assembly election of 14 members of the UN Human Rights Council as an important precedent for upholding basic standards for human rights. Belarus, a highly controversial candidate opposed by Belarusian human rights defenders as well as the Democracy Coalition Project (DCP) and an international coalition of over 40 groups for its appalling human rights record, was defeated by Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in a hotly contested race for the two seats from Eastern Europe.

"Today’s result sends a clear message to Belarus that it must substantially improve its human rights record if it is to be considered a worthy candidate for Council membership in the future. It also is a testament to our collective work over the past two years to hold governments accountable to basic international human rights standards they themselves have adopted. We hope all governments, including the government in Minsk, will view this process as a force for change and progress on human rights both globally and nationally,” said Ted Piccone, Executive Director of the Democracy Coalition Project.

DCP joins six major human rights organizations in an appeal to UN member states on the UN Human Rights Council elections

On May 3, 2007 the Democracy Coalition Project and six other human rights organizations sent a joint letter to all UN member states calling on them to ensure a competitive election process for the UN Human Rights Council. The appeal stated that "we are extremely concerned to note that, with one exception, members of the General Assembly will not be able to choose amongst competing declared candidates on a comparative basis, since four out of five electoral regions had only the number of candidates declared as seats available for those regions." The NGOs called on states to reject selection on the basis of rotation or reciprocal vote trading agreements and to be guided by a comparative assessment of human rights records and pledges intended by resolution 60/251. It further called on states to honor membership standards of the Council by withholding votes from an unqualified candidate, even by casting a blank ballot, if necessary. Other signatories of the letter were Amensty International, Human Rights Watch, the Carter Center, Institute for Global Policy, the International Service for Human Rights, the Open Society Institute, and the World Federation of United Nations Association.

Democracy Coalition Project co-sponsors global petition to demand the independence of the "Special Procedures"

The Democracy Coalition Project has joined 16 other international and regional human rights organizations from around the world to sponsor a Global Petition calling on the United Nations to maintain the independence of the Special Procedures. On May 9, 2007, the petition, signed by over 12,000 citizens from 147 countries, was handed over to President Luis Alfonso de Alba of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by the Secretary General of Amnesty International’s Canadian Section, Alex Neve. The petition was delivered while negotiations are still underway in the Human Rights Council to review – and potentially reduce the effectiveness of - the system of “Special Procedures”, the term used to refer to the UN’s independent human rights experts that monitor human rights situations around the world. Among the supporters of the initiative are Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi; Senator Dick Marty (member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe); Thomas Hammarberg (Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe), Anders Johnsson (Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union); Sonia Picado (President, Inter-American Institute of Human Rights) and several former Special Procedure mandate-holders, including Diego Garcia Sayan, Sir Nigel Rodley, Peter Leuprecht and Theo van Boven. The review is due to be completed by 18 June 2007.

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

The Democracy Coalition Project has 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.

Read joint letter sent to UN member states.

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.

Democracy Coalition Project helps organize an intervention at the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in Darfur

On March 22, 2007, The Democracy Coalition Project, the Open Society Institute, and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies organized an intervention at the UN Human Rights Council signed by 26 human rights organizations representing every region of the world calling on the Council to take strong action on the human rights situation in Darfur. The intervention was delivered in Geneva during the Fourth Session of the Council held from March 12-March 30, 2007. At the session, the Council heard from the High-level Mission mandated by a Special Session of the Council in December to go to Darfur and investigate the human rights situation there. The mission, led by U.S. Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, was prohibited from visiting Darfur, and conducted the investigation from neighboring Chad. A resolution introduced by the EU and the African Group was adopted by the Council that takes note of the High-level mission report and forms a group headed by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Darfur to continue monitoring the situation and working to implement UN recommendations.

Read intervention on Darfur signed by 26 human rights organizations.

Democracy Coalition Project joins Amnesty International to sponsor a Global Petition in support of an independent and expert system of Special Procedures at the Human Rights Council

In March 2007 Democracy Coalition Project joined a petition to reiterate the need to keep the system of expert Special Procedures at the Human Rights Council independent and strong. Over the forty years of their existence, the Special Procedures have made urgent interventions and are crucial for an effective human rights system. The current review of the Special Procedures undertaken by the new Human Rights Council is being used by some states to weaken the Special Procedures by curtailing their independence. Support this valuable petition by clicking here.

Former US Ambassadors to the UN Commission of Human Rights urge Secretary Rice to appoint a US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council

On January 26th 2007, three former US Ambassadors to the UN Commission on Human Rights sent a letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging her to appoint a US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In the letter, Ambassadors Geraldine A. Ferraro, Nancy Rubin and Richard S. Williamson express their belief that appointing an ambassador would be crucial to ensure the necessary level of US engagement in the newly established UN body, as the Human Rights Council works to strengthen international human rights standards.

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.

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.

DCP endorses statement by Global Rights calling for NGOs to become full partners in the new Human Rights Council

DCP has joined other 31 organizations and individuals from more than 20 different countries in signing a statement issued by Global Rights calling for non-governmental organizations to be granted full participation in the new Human Rights Council. The statement highlights the unique position enjoyed by NGOs to provide the council information on country situations, urgent issues, and violations of human rights. According to the signatory organizations, the Council should view the arrangements for NGO participation in the UN Economic and Social Council and in the previous Human Rights Commission as the minimum standard form which to further develop NGO participation in the new Council.

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.

Human Rights organizations urge Secretary Rice to support latest proposal for new UN Human Rights Council

A group of prominent U.S. human rights and democracy organizations, including the Democracy Coalition Project, urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to support a new proposal to establish an effective and credible UN Human Rights Council in a joint letter issued on February 23. The letter points out that the new proposal released by the President of the UN General Assembly, Jan Eliasson, includes criteria that would potentially improve the body's membership and effectiveness, representing a concrete step in the right direction to creative an effective Council."

To view the complete Press Release, click here
To view the Letter to Secretary Rice, click here
To view an Associated Press Article, click here
To view a Boston Globe Article, click here

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 Burma (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.

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.

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.