S. CON. RES. 83 - SUPPORT FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMOCRACY CAUCUS AT THE UN

Introduced to the Senate by Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) on 18 November 2003. S.CON.RES.83.

Co-sponsors: Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT).

Citizens for Global Solutions is a member of a steering committee working for the establishment of a U.N. Democracy Group. The United States government approves of and even supports this effort of creating a democracy caucus: Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that, "We support the idea of a democracy group at the U.N., a group of like-minded countries that would work together in multilateral settings to advance common goals in all areas of policy." This caucus would serve as a force within the U.N. to promote the foundations of democracy when electing officials to any U.N. body and while making U.N. policy.

Main Provisions:

• The United States, using its voice and vote at the United Nations, shall promote the establishment of such a caucus.

• The purpose of this democracy caucus would be to advance the interests of democracy, democratic principles and practices within the United Nations.

• This caucus would support common objectives such as maintaining human rights and accordance to rule of law.

• This caucus would also provide a basis for forging common positions on matter of concern brought before the United Nations.

• The caucus would encourage democratic states to assume leadership roles in the United Nations and advocate that states in violation of the democratic common objectives are not elected to positions of leadership in any body of the U.N.

• The members of the democracy caucus should hold an annual ministerial meeting, to coordinate policies and positions of the caucus.

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