Item 6: Specific Human Rights Issues
Dear Chairman,
Promotion and consolidation of democracy and self-determination:
Pax Romana welcomes the expanded working paper by Mr. Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros on promotion and consolidation of democracy (E/CN.4/Sub.2/2002/36). We would like to bring to the attention of the sub-Commission, the importance of the principle and right of self-determination, in the context of promotion and consolidation of democracy. The international instruments referred to the right of self-determination as a right, which belong to all peoples. Self-determination is a process rather than an outcome. Therefore there can never be an effective promotion and consolidation of democracy, without effective participation of the all the peoples in the democratic process. That means the right of the people, the whole population, to decide on their form of government, and to participate effectively in the decision making at all levels in the state, and to exercise cultural, economic, social and political autonomy within the state. Therefore as the paper stated The concept underlying democracy is the principle of self-determination of peoples as an expression of the people's sovereignty.
Mr. Chairman self-determination, at its core means simply that, human beings, individually and as a group should be in control of their own destinies and that institutions of government should be devised accordingly. It is this ideal that promotes democratic reform, in today world. In our societies today we talk of good governance which is measured in most of the cases by the number of international instruments ratified by the concerned state, or elections carried out, without taking into consideration the participation of all peoples in the process of democratization. Knowing that not all peoples participate in election and ratification process.
Moreover we will find that voters registered are less than 30% of the whole population, even in a pluralism state, the ruling party who dominates the power, and all the state institutions suppresses the opposition, and the press. Women are marginalized and cannot participate equally in public matters. This is the case today in most of the developing countries, Kenya, Zimbabwe, to mention few. Therefore since self-determination has its roots in and continues to be inseparably linked to the core concept of democracy, which should be understood to mean the right to choose one's government and to participate in decision-making, the phenomena of good governance ought to be review. In this context the concept of self-determination, should be understood much broader and more flexible and complex, rather than a definition which limits self-determination to separation.
Finally Mr. Chairman, we call upon the Sub-Commission with due respect to its mandate, to give special attention to the principle and right of self-determination, by raising the question of self-determination in its next session. We also request the Sub-Commission to take the issue in its mainstream agenda, and to carry out study on the issue, to promote a batter understanding and broader application of the principle and right of self-determination, in an effort to promote and consolidate democracy, peace and justice.
