VZCZCXRO3112
RR RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHC #9370/01 3252233
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 212223Z NOV 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 6068
INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 159370 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OSCE PHUM
SUBJECT: OSCE: DRAFT STATEMENT ON EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION 
IN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES 
 
REF: USOSCE 440 
 
(U) USOSCE is authorized to join consensus on the following 
draft decision, MC.DD/10/07/Rev.3, (with proposed change as 
noted in paragraph 2) which is scheduled to be discussed at 
the Prep Com this week.  Post should seek the change outlined 
in paragraph 2, but should not break consensus should this 
change not be attainable. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Proposed changes: 
 
In operative paragraph 2, press for deletion of &all8 
before the phrase "Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms" 
 
¶3. (U) Begin Text 
 
The Ministerial Council, 
 
(1.) Recalling that in the Charter of Paris for a new Europe, 
adopted at the Second Meeting of Heads of State of Government 
of the CSCE in Paris (1990) the participating States 
undertook "to build, consolidate and strengthen democracy as 
the only system of government of our nations" and in this 
regard, reaffirming the commitments that participating States 
undertook in Copenhagen (1990), Bonn (1990), Moscow (1991), 
Helsinki (1992) and Istanbul 
(1999), 
 
(2.) Recognizing that providing conditions for the effective 
participation in public life of all individuals, within the 
framework provided by law, represents an indispensable 
component of every democratic society and contributes to the 
development of a sense of belonging and societal cohesion, 
 
(3.) Recognizing that the full enjoyment of the rights to 
freedom of association and expression and the right to 
peaceful assembly are indispensable foundations for effective 
public participation, 
 
(4.) Recognizing that public confidence in elections results 
from the transparency of the electoral process, including its 
unhindered election observation by international and domestic 
observers, including the ODIHR and the OSCE Parliamentary 
Assembly, and accountability of the election officials, 
 
(5.) Recognizing that a transparent, accountable and 
effectively monitored election process also, enhances the 
effective political participation of all segments of society, 
including women, persons belonging to national minorities, 
migrants eligible under domestic law and youth and voters 
with special needs, 
 
(6.) Recognizing that democracy is only sustainable when men 
and women are equally enfranchised in the decision-making 
process through their effective political and public 
participation, 
 
(7.) Acknowledging the political, economic and social 
benefits of pluralism and of respect for cultural and 
religious diversity in our societies, 
 
(8.) Reaffirming OSCE commitments concerning the rights of 
persons belonging to national minorities, Roma and Sinti as 
well as migrants legally residing in host countries, 
 
(9.) Convinced that the promotion of effective participation 
is a valuable tool in enabling participating States to 
strengthen democracy, to further develop inclusive societies, 
to combat social exclusion and to minimize risks of tensions 
which may arise from cultural and religious diversity, 
 
(10.) Noting the OSCE's 2007 Human Dimension Seminar on 
Effective Participation and Representation in Democratic 
Societies as well as the recommendations that emanated from 
it, 
 
 Calls on the participating States to: 
 
¶1. Provide, within the framework of the law, opportunity for 
the full and equal participation of all individuals within 
society in political, economic, social and cultural life 
including through democratic participation in decision-making 
without discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, sex, 
language, religion or belief, political or other opinion, 
national or social origin, property, disability, birth or 
other status; 
 
 
STATE 00159370  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶2. Provide for a framework, including a legal environment, 
conducive to the full enjoyment of all human rights and 
fundamental freedoms, in particular the rights to freedom of 
association and expression, and the right to peaceful 
assembly; 
 
¶3. Further promote democratic elections conducted in a 
transparent and accountable manner, including its unhindered 
observation by the ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and 
other independent international and national observers, to 
instill public confidence, competition, fair representation 
and effective participation; 
 
¶4. Facilitate the effective functioning of parliaments, 
independent of the executive, as key instruments of law 
making, democratic oversight and political dialogue in 
representative democracies; 
 
¶5. Facilitate that the law-making process is conducted in a 
transparent and participatory manner, and is open for input 
from civil society; 
 
 
¶6. Ensure that legal environments for the registration and 
functioning of political parties and non-governmental 
organizations do not impede effective participation; 
 
¶7. Ensure that media can operate freely in order to provide 
platforms for genuine debate on issues confronting societies; 
 
¶8. Promote, when appropriate, the components of civic 
education in the curricula of educational institutions in 
order to equip children and youth with the skills that they 
need to effectively participate in public life; 
 
¶9. Provide conditions that encourage persons belonging to 
under-represented and disadvantaged groups to exercise their 
political rights and effectively participate in electoral 
processes as voters and candidates; 
 
¶10. Enhance the implementation of the relevant provisions of 
the 2004 OSCE Action Plan on Gender Equality adopted by the 
Permanent Council in 2003 (PC.DEC/566), and UN Security 
Council resolution 1325 in order to ensure equal 
opportunities for the participation of women in all aspects 
of political and public life; 
 
¶11. Implement the relevant provisions of the 2003 Action Plan 
on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE 
Area by appropriate national instruments, at the national and 
local levels in order to enhance the participation of Roma 
and Sinti in public and political life; 
 
¶12. Take appropriate measures in order to encourage the 
participation of youth in political life, (including, when 
eligible, as voters and candidates in free and fair 
elections;) 
 
¶13. Seek to provide migrants legally residing in host 
countries, within the framework provided by law, with 
opportunities for effective participation in public life; 
 
¶14. Encourage civil society participation in and contribution 
to the  processes of governance by promoting consultation and 
co-operation between the authorities and non-governmental 
organizations; 
 
¶15. Encourage OSCE institutions, based on existing 
commitments, to continue sharing best practices in promoting 
effective participation in democratic societies amongst 
participating States. 
 
End text. 
RICE