A/HRC/21/45 of human rights may also open other perspectives and assist in the process of education, stocktaking and reflection. One task is to identify trends and desires for reform of the international order and to energize public opinion to demand and carry out such reforms at the local and regional levels, ultimately affecting the international order from the grass roots up. The Independent Expert will be guided by relevant General Assembly resolutions, including 61/160, 63/189 and65/223. B. Activities of the mandate holder 4. On 7 and 8 June 2012 the mandate holder participated in the workshop organized by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in support of the mandate of the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 18/5. From 11 to 15 June the mandate holder participated in the nineteenth annual meeting of special procedures of the Human Rights Council. Both the workshop and the annual meeting were enriched by the opinions of experts, State representatives, intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Their fruitful debates provided useful insights. During the twentieth session of the Human Rights Council, the Independent Expert participated in numerous side events, including the expert meeting organized by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in coordination with the Spanish Society for International Human Rights Law and the Women‘s UN Report Network on fighting violence against women through promoting the right to peace. His statement focused on the contribution of women in the promotion of the right to peace, democracy and an equitable order. On 2 July he lectured on the scope and potential of the mandate at the University of Geneva and on 10 July held a consultation with civil society at OHCHR headquarters in Geneva. From 1 to 3 October the mandate holder will participate in the 2012 Social Forum, which will focus on people-centred development and globalization. 5. The Independent Expert has sent questionnaires to States, intergovernmental organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society seeking their views and requesting assistance in identifying obstacles and good practices. He has received requests from stakeholders concerning areas that require in-depth study. He welcomes information at ie-internationalorder@ohchr.org. C. The concepts of democracy and equity 6. A preliminary task of the mandate is a review of the various definitions of the notion of ―democracy‖, which States use with varying content. The bottom line is that the people (demos) should meaningfully influence the policies and practices of government. Democracy is not merely a formal State structure or a pro forma holding of elections, but the correlation between the will of the people and the actions of its elected representatives. The will of the people must also be genuine and not the result of populism, demagoguery, manipulation by national or international lobbies, distortion through consumerism, intimidation or fear. It should also be kept in mind that although ―democracy‖ is a better form of government than others, it is not a panacea for all the ills of mankind; thus it is necessary to come to grips with the paradoxes of democracy, freedom, the rule of law, and ethical values. Majority rule must not negate minority rights, the right to be different, the right to practice one‘s own culture, or the right to one‘s individuality and identity. Democracy without equity and without caritas can engender inhuman and degrading consequences, including extreme poverty and food insecurity. Democracy must always be tempered by a constant awareness of the inherent dignity of the human being, by the overarching principle of social justice, bearing in mind that while competition is necessary and 5