United Nations Democracy Caucus

In June of 2000, the Community of Democracies (CD) was established with the adoption of the Warsaw Declaration.  In the declaration, CD member countries proposed working within existing institutions and organizations, with civil society and governments, in order to “coordinate support for new and emerging democratic societies.”  In September 2000, the CD, then under the direction of Poland, announced the intention to form a “democracy caucus” at the United Nations.  The Warsaw Declaration’s pledge came to fruition in September 2004 when CD member countries officially convened for the first time as a democracy caucus during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. 

Henceforth known as the UN Democracy Caucus (UNDC), CD member countries now gather each year at the UN General Assembly to promote a democratic agenda in the UN.    Since the UNDC’s inception, the group has worked to strengthen the UN by creating a forum in which democracies can steer the UN in a direction that will enhance its role in democratic development and other human rights issues.  The UNDC functions under the direction of the chair country of the CD with collaboration from representatives of CD member countries.