A/HRC/RES/19/36 Recalling that each State has the responsibility for the promotion of all human rights, including the right to development, and the elimination of poverty and extreme poverty, all of which can contribute substantially to the promotion and consolidation of democracy and constitute a common and shared responsibility of States, and that good governance, including through transparency and accountability, is indispensable for building peaceful, prosperous and democratic societies, Noting the adoption by various regional, subregional and other organizations and initiatives of institutional rules and structures that recognize the interdependent relationship between democracy and the protection of human rights, and the adoption of mechanisms designed to promote it, to prevent situations which affect or threaten democratic institutions or to implement measures for the collective defence of democracy in the event of a serious disturbance or disruption of the democratic system, Recognizing that human rights, democracy and the rule of law are strengthened when States work to eliminate discrimination on account of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability or other status and when they strive to ensure equality between men and women in decisionmaking, Encouraged by the wish of an increasing number of countries all over the world to devote their energy, means and political will to the building of democratic societies where individuals have the opportunity to shape their own destiny, Welcoming the democratization processes taking place in various countries and regions of the world, which are motivated by the aspirations of peoples for dignity, peace, justice, democracy, respect for human rights and development, Recalling General Assembly resolution 65/32 of 6 December 2010, in which the Assembly decided to convene a high-level meeting on the rule of law at the national and international levels during the high-level segment of its sixty-seventh session, Reaffirming that, while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region, and reaffirming also the necessity of due respect for sovereignty and the right to selfdetermination, 1. Stresses that democracy includes respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, inter alia, freedom of association and of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, the right to be recognized everywhere as a person before the law and the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives, to vote in a pluralistic system of political parties and organizations and to be elected at genuine, periodic, free and fair elections by universal and equal suffrage and by secret ballot guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the people, as well as respect for the rule of law, the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, transparency and accountability in public administration and decision-making and free, independent and pluralistic media; 2. Reaffirms the right of every citizen to vote and be elected at genuine periodic elections without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, and stresses that persons entitled to vote must be free to vote for any candidate of party for election and free to support or to oppose government, without undue influence or coercion of any kind that may distort or inhibit the free expression of the elector’s will, and that the results of genuine, periodic, free and fair elections representing the choice of the people for their representatives should be respected by the international community, as well as by all parties and stakeholders; 2