A/HRC/24/54 I. Introduction 1. Pursuant to resolution 19/36, the Human Rights Council held a panel discussion, on 11 June 2013, at its twenty-third session, on common challenges facing States in their efforts to secure democracy and the rule of law from a human rights perspective, as well as on lessons learned and best practices in the engagement of the State with the international community to support such processes. 2. The debate focused on two main themes, namely (a) the common, salient challenges to democracy and the rule of law in both settled democracies and States transitioning towards democracy, and (b) best practices and strategies to address these challenges at the national, regional and global levels. The discussion was based on a study on common challenges facing States in their efforts to secure democracy and the rule of law from a human rights perspective (A/HRC/22/29) and was submitted to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-second session. The study was prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at the request of the Council pursuant to resolution 19/35, in consultation with States, national human rights institutions, civil society, relevant intergovernmental bodies and international organizations. 3. The panel discussion was co-moderated by the President of the Human Rights Council, Remigiusz Achilles Henczel, and the BBC correspondent to Geneva, Imogen Folkes, and opened by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay. The panellists were the Romanian State Secretary for Political Affairs and Liaison with Parliament, Radu Podgorean; the Permanent Delegate of Peru to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, Manuel Rodríguez Cuadros; the Secretary-General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, Vidar Helgesen; the President of the Moroccan National Human Rights Council, Driss el-Yazami; the Vice-President of the Arab Parliament of the League of Arab States, Aisha al-Mannai; and a member of the Executive Board of Femmes Africa Soldarité, Brigitte Balipou. 4. In an effort to render the Human Rights Council more accessible to persons with disabilities and to allow them to participate in the work of the Council on an equal basis with others, sign language interpretation and captioning were provided and webcasted. Physical accessibility was promoted by making room facilities wheelchair friendly. 5. The present summary was prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 19/36. II. Statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and contributions of panellists 6. In her opening statement, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, recalled that democracy, the rule of law and human rights are fully interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that the weakening of one immediately endangers the existence of the others. She stated that beyond elections, which occur once every four or five years, democracy involves continuous participation of the people in political processes. It also implies a free press and other media able to comment on public issues and to inform public opinion without censorship or restraint. She also stressed that effectively functioning oversight processes and mechanisms, which can provide accountability and safeguard against abuse of power, are equally indispensable, and that democracy also entails the existence of transparent and accountable governing institutions. The legitimacy of these institutions depends upon compliance with the fundamental principles of the rule of law and 3