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Description
Latin America is the region in the developing world where democracy is now almost universal. (1) Its roots, however, are weak. Latin America has a population of approximately 550 million people, of which about 44 per cent live under the poverty line and 18 per cent are affected by extreme poverty. The socio-economic inequality is admittedly the greatest in the world. Both realities encapsulate the greatest challenges facing the region.
I have selected nine priority areas, which, if addressed, could make a difference in the lives of millions of peoples in the region; in each area the United Nations should play a role, either at the centre of the effort or as a facilitator.
A right to democracy. The relationship between human rights and democracy has been dealt at length in doctrine and practice. Democracy is founded on the primacy of the law and the exercise of human rights. In a democratic State, no one is above the law and all are equal before the law. (2) When the Organization of American States General Assembly met in 1991, it approved the "Santiago Commitment to Democracy" and Resolution 1080, both landmarks in the development of what I called the "emerging right to democracy" in the Americas--a growing acceptance that democracy can and should be defended through peaceful collective action; all participating countries had democratically elected governments. The continued existence of democracy cannot be taken for granted, even though there are legitimate collective... |
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