My name is Bette Bao Lord and I am chairman emeritus of Freedom House—an American organization that monitors political freedom and works to strengthen democracy at home and abroad.

Two years ago, Freedom House and the Stefan Batory Foundation had the honor of organizing the first World Forum on Democracy in Warsaw. Over 300 leaders and experts from 85 countries gathered to discuss key issues of democracy and submit recommendations to the first ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies.

The spirit of Warsaw was a model for civic-governmental dialogue. The fact that this parallel forum of NGOs is convening for the second time acknowledges the critical role civil society plays in charting and clearing paths to openness, political freedom and civil liberties around the world.

We cheer the first steps taken at and since Warsaw. We applaud the serious progress made to setting rigorous standards for membership in the Community of Democracies – rigorous standards of free and fair elections, freedom of expression and association.

Nowadays all too often, all too many regimes usurp the lexicon of democracy.

First steps, however indispensable, are only a beginning.

Words, however eloquent, cannot be an end in itself.

Thus we exhort the Community of Democracies to take greater strides toward realizing another recommendation our forum made in Warsaw – that of strengthening efforts to promote democracy and freedom within international and regional organizations. Specifically, to establishing a vibrant caucus of democracies at the United Nations.

Only last month, Freedom House and the Council of Foreign Relations in New York released a joint task force report outlining ways that democracies can deepen their impact at the UN on issues pertinent to democracy and human rights. Among them, the creation of just such a caucus.

We exhort the Community of Democracies to take greater strides toward more coordinated and congruent responses to threats to democracy, including how best to avert coup d’etats.

We exhort the Community of Democracies to take greater strides toward the consideration of a “democracy premium” that would award enhanced aid to developing states that abide by democratic principles.

The path to openness, political freedom and civil liberties is long and hard, winding and perhaps never ending. But all of us and most especially those who sport the same black hair and skin cast like me take strength and pride from this venerable venue, from our good host, South Korea.

How many times have we heard those terrible lies masquerading as truths? Asians are a race apart. Asians are content to hug a bowl of rice. Asians do not want, need or deserve freedom, human dignity or a voice in their government.

Our host country, South Korea, other democracies in this and every continent, and the diversity of races and creeds assembled here are living proof of the universality of democracy’s merits and appeal.

May the spirit of Warsaw spur substantive actions in Seoul.

May the substance of Seoul speed the world along democracy’s path.

May this forum and the Community of Democracies boast of bigger strides, concrete milestones and major progress in Santiago.