The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.
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Key Documents
To aid the democracy dialogue, the Institute presents this easily accessible library of basic documents upon which democracy programs are based.
International Human Rights Instruments
Regional Instruments
Useful Websites with Key Human Rights Instrument Documents
International Human Rights Instruments
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html -
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_ccpr.htm -
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/d_icerd.htm -
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/text/econvention.htm -
Convention on the Political Rights of Women
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/22.htm -
UN Convention Against Corruption
http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/convention_corruption/signing/Convention-e.pdf -
International Treaty for Children’s Rights
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm -
Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct for International Election Observers
http://www.ndi.org/files/1923_declaration_102705_0.pdf -
Anti-Corruption Plain Language Guide
http://www.transparency.org/content/download/45306/725785/file/TI_Plain_Language_Guide_280709.pdf
Regional Instruments
African Union
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African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
http://www.hrcr.org/docs/Banjul/afrhr.html -
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa
http://www.achpr.org/english/_info/women_en.html -
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance
http://www.africa-union.org/root/AU/Documents/Treaties/text/Charter%20on%20Democracy.pdf -
Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 32nd Session
http://www.achpr.org/english/declarations/declaration_freedom_exp_en.html -
African Charter for Popular Participation in Development and Transformation (ARUSHA 1990)
http://www.iss.co.za/dynamic/administration/file_manager/file_links/POPULARPPARTCHARTER.PDF?link_id=4057&slink_id=5559&link_type=12&slink_type=13&tmpl_id=3
Council of Europe
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European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=005&CL=ENG -
Protocol (No. 1) to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
http://www.hri.org/docs/ECHR50.html#Protocols -
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities
http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=157&CL=ENG -
European Charter of Local Self-Government
http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/Commun/QueVoulezVous.asp?NT=122&CL=ENG -
Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters (Venice Commission)
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/topics/election-integrity/CDL-AD%282002%29023-e.pdf/at_download/file -
Recommendation Rec (2004)11 of the Committee of Ministers to Member States on Legal, Operational and Technical Standards for E-voting
https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=778189
European Union
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Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf=
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Commitments
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Document of the 1990 Copenhagen Meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension (Copenhagen Document of the OSCE)
http://www.osce.org/documents/odihr/1990/06/13992_en.pdf
Organization of American States
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American Convention on Human Rights
http://www.hrcr.org/docs/American_Convention/oashr.html -
American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man
http://www.hrcr.org/docs/OAS_Declaration/oasrights.html -
Inter-American Democratic Charter
http://www.oas.org/charter/docs/resolution1_en_p4.htm -
Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights to Women
http://www.oas.org/CIM/english/Conventions%20Polit.%20Rights.htm -
Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression
http://www.iachr.org/declaration.htm
Useful Websites with Key Human Rights Instrument Documents
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University of Minnesota Human Rights Library
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/ -
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/library/resources.htm
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In This Section
- A Bipartisan Vision of Latin America, Remarks by Kenneth Wollack, President, NDI at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
- A Commentary on Selected Aspects of Indonesia’s Draft Electoral Legislation, Andrew Ellis on behalf of NDI, December 7, 1998
- A Cry for Zimbabwe, A Moment to End the Repression--Unless the World Retreats Into Silence
- Achieving Sustainable Political Change in Emerging Democracies: The Political Party Challenge
- Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA) Public Meeting, February 16, 2005, Anti-Corruption Strategy Policy: Comments
- Assisting Democracy Abroad - American Values, American Interests
- Belarus: Statement of NDI Eurasia Director Laura Jewett on the Upcoming 2008 Parliamentary Elections
- Challenges to Democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean, Statement by Kenneth Wollack, President, National Democratic Instit
- Civic Education Strategies for Political Parties and Civic Groups, Presentation by Matt Dippell. Organization of American State
- Congressional Testimony: "Promoting Religious Freedom During the Campaign Against Terrorism"
- Democracy Out of Balance, Civil Society Can't Replace Political Parties
- Democratization in Fits and Starts
- Election Law Reform as Disappointing as Last Fall’s Elections
- Elections, Human Rights and Conflict Mitigation in the OSCE Arena
- Emerging Democracies Forum: Managing the Twin Transitions
- Government and Opposition Workshop - Roles, Rights and Responsibilities
- Inter-American Political Parties Forum: Recommendations for Follow-on Activities, Presentation by Matt Dippell to the OAS Speci
- International Principles for Democratic Elections - Chapter 2
- Introductory Remarks at the Supplemental Human Dimension Meeting of the 55 OSCE Participating States
- Ken Wollack Remarks at NDI’s Madeleine K. Albright Grant Luncheon
- Key Documents
- Keynote Address by NDI Delegation Co-Leader and Former Canadian Prime-Minister Honorable Joe Clark at the "All Nigeria Civil Soc
- Keynote Address Given by NDI Delegation Co-Leader Joe Clark at the Woodrow Wilson Center
- Letter Seeking Support for Peaceful Democratic Activists in Cuba
- Letter to Peter Abnori, Chairman of The People's Assembly, December 13, 1995
- Liberal International 50th Anniversary: Oxford, United Kingdom
- London DFID Presentation
- Making Democracy Work for the Poor: Remarks by Kenneth Wollack at the Inaugural UNDP Washington Roundtable
- National Democratic Institute: SMS as a Tool in Election Observation
- NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright Address to Kosovo Central Assembly
- NDI Expert Explores “Semi-Presidentialism” in Central and Eastern Europe
- NDI Experts Interviewed on Sub-Saharan Africa, Regional Challenges Facing Obama
- NDI Press Conference Remarks on Azerbaijan's November 2005 Parliamentary Elections
- New Directions for Democracy Promotion
- New Technologies for Democracy
- News and Views
- Open Letter Concerning the Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Cuba by Madeleine K. Albright
- Opening Remarks by Kenneth Wollack: Global Forum - Win With Women, National Democratic Institute
- OSCE Human Dimension Seminar On Election Processes
- OSCE Human Dimension Seminar: Democratic Institutions and Democratic Governance, Working Group II: Strengthening Legislative Cap
- Our Perspectives
- Party-building in the Middle East
- Political Parties in Developing and Developed Countries, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace & China Reform Forum
- Promoting Democracy in Difficult Settings
- Promoting Effective Democratic Reform in Semi-Authoritarian States and Pseudo-Democracies
- Prospects for Democracy in Zimbabwe after the March 2005 Elections, Statement by Shari K. Bryan, Regional Director for Southern
- Recent Developments in Liberia”
- Remarks by Ken Wollack at the 2005 Win With Woman Luncheon
- Remarks by Kenneth Wollack at the African Statesmen Initiative Symposium Opening Ceremony
- Remarks by Kenneth Wollack to NCOP Conference
- Remarks by Kenneth Wollack: Journal of Democracy Symposium on "Democracy Promotion: The End of the Transition Paradigm?" by Thom
- Remarks by NDI President Kenneth Wollack at a Panel on "Empowering People: Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Civil Socie
- Remarks by NDI President Kenneth Wollack at the Washington D.C. Presentation of the UNDP Human Development Report 2002
- Remarks In the Assembly of Kosovo on the Occasion of International Democracy Day
- Remarks of Ken Wollack at the 2007 NDI Democracy Luncheon
- Remarks of Kenneth Wollack at National Democratic Institute 14th Annual Averell Harriman Award
- Remarks of Kenneth Wollack. President Mikheil Saakashvili. Georgia After the Rose Revolution: Rebuilding Democracy and Stability
- Remarks of Madeleine Albright at the 2007 NDI Democracy Luncheon
- Remarks of Madeleine K. Albright at the High Level Democracy Meeting of the Community of Democracies
- Remarks on 2005 Parliamentary Elections in Albania, United States Helsinki Commission, Delivered by Jennifer Butz, Resident Dire
- Roma Still Face Challenges Across Europe
- Statement before House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Operations
- Statement before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus on Recent Developments in Nepal
- Statement Before the Subcommittee on European Affairs of U.S. Senate, Hearing on Belarus
- Statement before the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Hearing on “Advancing the Human Dimension:
- Statement by Kenneth Wollack Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, US House of Repr
- Statement by Kenneth Wollack, NDI President On the Deteriorating Political Situation in Cambodia
- Statement by Kenneth Wollack, President, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Before the Committee on Intern
- Statement by Kenneth Wollack, President, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Before the Committee on Intern
- Statement by Kenneth Wollack, President, National Democratic Institute, Before the Committee on International Relations Subcommi
- Statement by Leslie Campbell Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs Hearing on “Yemen on the Brink: Implications for U.S. Polic
- Statement by Leslie Campbell before the Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonprolife
- Statement by Leslie L. Campbell Before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations of th
- Statement by Leslie L. Campbell, Senior Associate and Director of Middle East Programs, National Democratic Institute, Before th
- Statement by Madeleine K. Albright, former United States Secretary of State and Chairman of the National Democratic Institute
- Statement by NDI President Kenneth Wollack on Suspension of Program Activities in Zambia, June 17, 1996
- Statement by Nelson C. Ledsky, Regional Director for Eurasia, National Democratic Institute, Before the Committee on Foreign Rel
- Statement by Peter Manikas Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia
- Statement of J. Brian Atwood before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Operations
- Statement of J. Brian Atwood before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- Statement of Patrick Merloe, Senior Associate and Director of Programs on Election and Political Processes before the United Sta
- Statement of Patrick Merloe/NDI before the United States House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, Subcommi
- Supporting the Democratic Transition Process in Indonesia: Statement of Eric Bjornlund, NDI Senior Associate and Regional Direct
- Testimony before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus By Owen Lippert, Resident Director, Bangladesh National Democratic Instit
- Testimony before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus By Peter M. Manikas, Director of Asia Programs National Democratic Insti
- Testimony of Former Senator Tom Daschle Before the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affa
- The Indonesian Constitutional Transition: Conservatism or Fundamental Change?
- The Need for Reconciliation is Immediate
- The Role of Electoral Management Bodies in Supporting Voter Education: Lessons Learned and Challenges: "Education For Participat
- The Youth Bulge in Africa - Opportunities for Constructive Engagement in the Political Process
- U.S. Policy Toward South Korea
- United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Forum on International Religious Freedom
- Women as Agents of Change: Advancing the Role of Women in Politics and Civil Society
- Written Testimony of NDI Submitted to the Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations
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