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Human Rights Day: ensuring democracy through fair elections and strong institutions
WARSAW 10 December 2004
WARSAW, 10 December 2004 - The Director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Christian Strohal, today stressed the essential importance of transparent, fair and democratic electoral processes within a culture of human rights.
He was speaking on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, celebrated 10 December.
"Elections are a celebration of fundamental human rights and freedoms," said Ambassador Strohal. "This is reflected clearly in the OSCE commitments. A number of key elections throughout the OSCE region over the past year have demonstrated the importance of the right to participate in the political life of one's country.
"Regrettably, this right has been curtailed in several cases, through flawed legislation, non-transparent election administration, and a lack of political will to respect the voter and the equality of every vote," he added.
"A democratic electoral process entails not only fair and transparent procedures for election day. It touches on all civil and political rights, especially freedom of opinion and of speech, freedom of association and of assembly. Only when these rights are guaranteed in practice will both the confidence of the voter and the voter's choice at the ballot be ensured," said the Director of ODIHR.
Ambassador Strohal emphasized that beyond electoral processes, democracy and effective human rights protection has to be supported by strong institutions: an independent judiciary, an accountable and transparent administration, a vibrant parliamentary and civic engagement, and free media.
Declining participation rates in several elections in countries in transition, as well as older democracies, did raise concerns as to the potential alienation of voters and ultimately the longer-term stability of democratic cultures.
"Beyond elections, maintaining the public space for continuous civic engagement is a prerequisite to sustainable democracies, for it is strong democracies that are the best framework for democratic governance ensuring the protection of human rights, as well as for security, stability, and prosperity."
The observation of more than 150 elections by OSCE/ODIHR over the last decade, together with the experience of a broad range of democracy and human rights assistance programmes, has enabled the 55 OSCE participating States to clearly identify remaining problems, as well as new challenges such as electronic voting.
These observations have so far involved more than 10,000 observers from over 40 participating States. The missions are based on the commitments undertaken by all governments, especially in the OSCE Copenhagen Document of 1990 and subsequent Summit and ministerial decisions, and are conducted in co-operation with other international organizations and parliamentarians.
He was speaking on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, celebrated 10 December.
"Elections are a celebration of fundamental human rights and freedoms," said Ambassador Strohal. "This is reflected clearly in the OSCE commitments. A number of key elections throughout the OSCE region over the past year have demonstrated the importance of the right to participate in the political life of one's country.
"Regrettably, this right has been curtailed in several cases, through flawed legislation, non-transparent election administration, and a lack of political will to respect the voter and the equality of every vote," he added.
"A democratic electoral process entails not only fair and transparent procedures for election day. It touches on all civil and political rights, especially freedom of opinion and of speech, freedom of association and of assembly. Only when these rights are guaranteed in practice will both the confidence of the voter and the voter's choice at the ballot be ensured," said the Director of ODIHR.
Ambassador Strohal emphasized that beyond electoral processes, democracy and effective human rights protection has to be supported by strong institutions: an independent judiciary, an accountable and transparent administration, a vibrant parliamentary and civic engagement, and free media.
Declining participation rates in several elections in countries in transition, as well as older democracies, did raise concerns as to the potential alienation of voters and ultimately the longer-term stability of democratic cultures.
"Beyond elections, maintaining the public space for continuous civic engagement is a prerequisite to sustainable democracies, for it is strong democracies that are the best framework for democratic governance ensuring the protection of human rights, as well as for security, stability, and prosperity."
The observation of more than 150 elections by OSCE/ODIHR over the last decade, together with the experience of a broad range of democracy and human rights assistance programmes, has enabled the 55 OSCE participating States to clearly identify remaining problems, as well as new challenges such as electronic voting.
These observations have so far involved more than 10,000 observers from over 40 participating States. The missions are based on the commitments undertaken by all governments, especially in the OSCE Copenhagen Document of 1990 and subsequent Summit and ministerial decisions, and are conducted in co-operation with other international organizations and parliamentarians.