hese persons for their valuable help towards the successful outcome of the project and to

UNESCO and its Director-General for their support to the undertaking. These thanks are also
addressed to all those who, in various capacities, contributed to the exercise. Dr. Sorour
deserves special mention for having had the merit of launching and closely following up this
project which represents a fine achievement for the Inter-Parliamentary Union. The Union's
commitment to democracy will, however, be pursued far beyond the approval and publication
of a text whose substantive implementation it is now striving to promote assiduously.
Already, as these lines are written, the United Nations has taken note of this Declaration in a
resolution adopted by the General Assembly. It may therefore be hoped that other stones will
be added to the foundations which the Inter-Parliamentary Union has laid down with this
political proclamation and will complement its scope, perhaps even leading to the adoption of
an international juridical instrument. Pierre Cornillon Secretary General Inter-Parliamentary
Union II Universal declaration on democracy Adopted* by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at
its 161st session (Cairo, 16 September 1997) The Inter-Parliamentary Council, Reaffirming
the Inter-Parliamentary Union's commitment to peace and development and convinced that
the strengthening of the democratisation process and representative institutions will greatly
contribute to attaining this goal, Reaffirming also the calling and commitment of the
InterParliamentary Union to promoting democracy and the establishment of pluralistic
systems of representative government in the world, and wishing to strengthen its sustained
and multiform action in this field, Recalling that each State has the sovereign right freely to
choose and develop, in accordance with the will of its people, its own political, social,
economic and cultural systems without interference by other States in strict conformity with
the United Nations Charter, Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
adopted on 10 December 1948, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted on
16 December 1966, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination adopted on 21 December 1965 and the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women adopted on 18 December 1979, Recalling further
the Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections which it adopted in March 1994 and in
which it confirmed that in any State the authority of the government can derive only from the
will of the people as expressed in genuine, free and fair elections, Referring to the Agenda for
Democratisation presented on 20 December 1996 by the UN Secretary-General to the 51st
session of the United Nations General Assembly, III Adopts the following Universal
Declaration on Democracy and urges Governments and Parliaments throughout the world to
be guided by its content: The principles of democracy 1. Democracy is a universally
recognised ideal as well as a goal, which is based on common values shared by peoples
throughout the world community irrespective of cultural, political, social and economic
differences. It is thus a basic right of citizenship to be exercised under conditions of freedom,
equality, transparency and responsibility, with due respect for the plurality of views, and in
the interest of the polity. 2. Democracy is both an ideal to be pursued and a mode of
government to be applied according to modalities which reflect the diversity of experiences
and cultural particularities without derogating from internationally recognised principles,
norms and standards. It is thus a constantly perfected and always perfectible state or
condition whose progress will depend upon a variety of political, social, economic and
cultural factors. 3. As an ideal, democracy aims essentially to preserve and promote the
dignity and fundamental rights of the individual, to achieve social justice, foster the economic
and social development of the community, strengthen the cohesion of society and enhance
national tranquillity, as well as to create a climate that is favourable for international peace.
As a form of government, democracy is the best way of achieving these objectives; it is also
the only political system that has the capacity for self-correction. 4. The achievement of
democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the
affairs of society in which they work in equality and complementarity, drawing mutual
enrichment from their differences. 5. A state of democracy ensures that the processes by
which power is acceded to, wielded and alternates allow for free political competition and are
the product of open, free and nondiscriminatory participation by the people, exercised in
accordance with the rule of law, in both letter and spirit. 6. Democracy is inseparable from
the rights set forth in the international instruments recalled in the preamble. These rights IV
must therefore be applied effectively and their proper exercise must be matched with
individual and collective responsibilities. 7. Democracy is founded on the primacy of the law
and the exercise of human rights. In a democratic State, no one is above the law and all are
equal before the law. 8. Peace and economic, social and cultural development are both
conditions for and fruits of democracy. There is thus interdependence between peace,
development, respect for and observance of the rule of law and human rights. The elements
and exercise of democratic government 9. Democracy is based on the existence of well-
structured and well-functioning institutions, as well as on a body of standards and rules and
on the will of society as a whole, fully conversant with its rights and responsibilities. 10. It is
for democratic institutions to mediate tensions and maintain equilibrium between the
competing claims of diversity and uniformity, individuality and collectivity, in order to
enhance social cohesion and solidarity. 11. Democracy is founded on the right of everyone to
take part in the management of public affairs; it therefore requires the existence of
representative institutions at all levels and, in particular, a Parliament in which all
components of society are represented and which has the requisite powers and means to
express the will of the people by legislating and overseeing government action. 12. The key
element in the exercise of democracy is the holding of free and fair elections at regular
intervals enabling the people's will to be expressed. These elections must be held on the basis
of universal, equal and secret suffrage so that all voters can choose their representatives in
conditions of equality, openness and transparency that stimulate political competition. To that
end, civil and political rights are essential, and more particularly among them, the rights to
vote and to be elected, the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, access to
information and the right to organise political parties and carry out political activities. Party
organisation, activities, finances, funding and ethics must be properly regulated in an
impartial manner in order to ensure the integrity of the democratic processes. V 13. It is an
essential function of the State to ensure the enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political
and social rights to its citizens. Democracy thus goes hand in hand with an effective, honest
and transparent government, freely chosen and accountable for its management of public
affairs. 14. Public accountability, which is essential to democracy, applies to all those who
hold public authority, whether elected or non-elected, and to all bodies of public authority
without exception. Accountability entails a public right of access to information about the
activities of government, the right to petition government and to seek redress through
impartial administrative and judicial mechanisms. 15. Public life as a whole must be stamped
by a sense of ethics and by transparency, and appropriate norms and procedures must be
established to uphold them. 16. Individual participation in democratic processes and public
life at all levels must be regulated fairly and impartially and must avoid any discrimination,
as well as the risk of intimidation by State and non-State actors. 17. Judicial institutions and
independent, impartial and effective oversight mechanisms are the guarantors for the rule of
law on which democracy is founded. In order for these institutions and mechanisms fully to
ensure respect for the rules, improve the fairness of the processes and redress injustices, there
must be access by all to administrative and judicial remedies on the basis of equality as well
as respect for administrative and judicial decisions both by the organs of the State and
representatives of public authority and by each member of society. 18. While the existence of
an active civil society is an essential element of democracy, the capacity and willingness of
individuals to participate in democratic processes and make governance choices cannot be
taken for granted. It is therefore necessary to develop conditions conducive to the genuine
exercise of participatory rights, while also eliminating obstacles that prevent, hinder or inhibit
this exercise. It is therefore indispensable to ensure the permanent enhancement of, inter alia,
equality, transparency and education and to remove obstacles such as ignorance, intolerance,
apathy, the lack of genuine choices and alternatives and the absence of measures designed to
redress imbalances or discrimination of a social, cultural, religious and racial nature, or for
reasons of gender. VI 19. A sustained state of democracy thus requires a democratic climate
and culture constantly nurtured and reinforced by education and other vehicles of culture and
information. Hence, a democratic society must be committed to education in the broadest
sense of the term, and more particularly civic education and the shaping of a responsible
citizenry. 20. Democratic processes are fostered by a favourable economic environment;
therefore, in its overall effort for development, society must be committed to satisfying the
basic economic needs of the most disadvantaged, thus ensuring their full integration in the
democratic process. 21. The state of democracy presupposes freedom of opinion and
expression; this right implies freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. 22.
The institutions and processes of democracy must accommodate the participation of all
people in homogeneous as well as heterogeneous societies in order to safeguard diversity,
pluralism and the right to be different in a climate of tolerance. 23. Democratic institutions
and processes must also foster decentralised local and regional government and
administration, which is a right and a necessity, and which makes it possible to broaden the
base of public participation. The international dimension of democracy 24. Democracy must
also be recognised as an international principle, applicable to international organisations and
to States in their international relations. The principle of international democracy does not
only mean equal or fair representation of States; it also extends to the economic rights and
duties of States. 25. The principles of democracy must be applied to the international
management of issues of global interest and the common heritage of humankind, in particular
the human environment. 26. To preserve international democracy, States must ensure that
their conduct conforms to international law, refrain from the use or threat of force and from
any conduct that endangers or violates the sovereignty and political or territorial integrity of
other VII States, and take steps to resolve their differences by peaceful means. 27. A
democracy should support democratic principles in international relations. In that respect,
democracies must refrain from undemocratic conduct, express solidarity with democratic
governments and non-State actors like non-governmental organisations which work for
democracy and human rights, and extend solidarity to those who are victims of human rights
violations at the hands of undemocratic regimes. In order to strengthen international criminal
justice, democracies must reject impunity for international crimes and serious violations of
fundamental human rights and support the establishment of a permanent international
criminal court. * After the Declaration was adopted, the delegation of China expressed
reservations to the text. On 16 September 1097, 137 national parliaments were members of
the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Representatives from the parliaments of the following 128
countries look part in the work of the Cairo Conference: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh. Belarus, Belgium, Benin,
Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia. Cameroon, Canada, Cape
Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba. Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,
Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Guatemala, Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait. Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya, Lidiuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia. Mali, Malta, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New
Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of
Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia,
Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian
Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo,
Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay,
Uzbekistan, Venezuela. Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe VIII Toward a
Universal Declaration on the Basic Principles of Democracy: From Principles to Realisation
PROFESSOR CHERIF BASSIOUNI * General Rapporteur "In democracy, liberty is to be
supposed; for it is commonly held that no man is free in any government" Aristotle, Politics
(Lib. VI, Cap. ii. 350 BC) "...And matters are by consultation between them." Qu 'rein (Surat
al-Shum, 42:38, (622) "A commonwealth is said to be instituted, when a multitude of men do
agree and covenant, everyone with everyone, that to whatsoever man, or asse