A/HRC/19/2 19/36 Human rights, democracy and the rule of law The Human Rights Council, Recalling General Assembly resolutions 55/96 of 4 December 2000 on promoting and consolidating democracy, 57/221 of 18 December 2002 on strengthening the rule of law, 59/201 of 20 December 2004 on enhancing the role of regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements in promoting and consolidating democracy and 66/102 of 9 December 2011 on the rule of law at the national and international levels, all relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights, in particular resolutions 1999/57 of 27 April 1999 on the promotion of the right to democracy, 2000/47 of 25 April 2000 on promoting and consolidating democracy, 2001/41 of 23 April 2001 on continuing dialogue on measures to promote and consolidate democracy, 2002/46 of 23 April 2002 on further measures to promote and consolidate democracy, 2003/36 of 23 April 2003 on interdependence between democracy and human rights, 2004/30 of 19 April 2004 on enhancing the role of regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements in promoting and consolidating democracy, 2005/32 of 19 April 2005 on democracy and rule of law, and Human Rights Council resolution 18/15 of 29 September 2011 on the incompatibility between democracy and racism, Reaffirming that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and that priority should be given to national and international action aimed at their promotion and strengthening, Reaffirming also that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, 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, 98 GE.13-14768