Democracy and Human Rights: A Symbiotic Relationship, Part 2

Democracy and Human Rights

Democracy and human rights are closely interconnected and mutually supportive. Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person – such as the right to life, liberty, equality, freedom of expression, and protection from abuse. In a true democracy, these rights are both protected by the government and form the foundation that allows the democracy to function.

Firstly, democratic participation itself is a human right. International law recognizes that every person has the right to take part in the government of their country. For example, Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states that “Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives” and that “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections.”

This means that under human rights principles, people must be free to vote and run for office, and elections should be real and fair. Thus, a democratic system is one way to fulfill this fundamental right of political participation.

Moreover, democracy requires certain rights and freedoms to work effectively. For citizens to govern themselves or choose their leaders, they must be able to speak, publish, assemble, and protest without fear.

Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are crucial so that people can discuss ideas and criticize the government openly. Freedom of assembly and association (the right to gather and form groups, such as political parties or civic organizations) is also essential so that citizens can organize for political action or community interests. If a government stifles these freedoms, elections and participation become meaningless.

Therefore, democratic societies put strong emphasis on protecting civil liberties. For instance, a democracy will have laws or a constitution that guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly, as well as due process of law. These protections ensure that the majority cannot simply silence the minority, and that debate and information can flow freely. In a democratic society, majority rule must be coupled with guarantees of individual human rights that protect minorities from being overridden or mistreated by the majority.

No one would call a system truly democratic if 51% of the people could vote to oppress the remaining 49% and strip away their rights. Thus, in a healthy democracy, the rights of minorities and dissenters are secured by law and not subject to elimination by a majority vote. This balance prevents the “tyranny of the majority” and ensures fairness for everyone.

On the other hand, protecting human rights contributes to the strength of democracy. When people’s rights to speak and participate are respected, they are more likely to engage in the democratic process, leading to a more vibrant and responsive government. Respect for rights builds public trust in the government. It also provides avenues for people to advocate for change peacefully, through courts or free media, rather than resorting to violence.

Empirical evidence shows that democracies tend to have better human rights records than non-democracies. In authoritarian regimes (like dictatorships or absolute monarchies), power is concentrated in one person or a small group, and there are often few limits on what those rulers can do. Such regimes are far more likely to violate citizens’ fundamental rights – jailing opponents, censoring critics, and even harming or discriminating against segments of the population.

By contrast, democratic governments, with their accountability to voters and institutional checks, are much less likely to commit systematic human rights abuses. As one educational source notes, countries where power is concentrated in one leader or a small elite often suffer many violations of civil liberties and rights, whereas democratic ideals promote basic human rights and justice for all citizens.

For example, freedom of speech and fair trials are generally well-respected in democracies, but in dictatorships these rights can be arbitrarily denied. Democracies also establish independent courts and watchdog organizations that can challenge the government if it violates someone’s rights.

Finally, democracy and human rights reinforce each other on the international stage. Democracies often champion human rights in foreign policy and international forums. They are more likely to sign and uphold international human rights agreements. When people in a country demand democracy, it is often because they seek to enjoy their basic rights which have been denied under an authoritarian rule – things like being able to vote, to speak freely, or not to live in fear of the state.

Thus, the global movement for democracy is closely tied to the movement for human rights. In summary, democracy is both a means of protecting human rights (by creating a government accountable to the people and limited by law) and an outcome of people exercising their human rights to shape their government. Without human rights, a genuine democracy cannot survive; and without democracy, those rights often lack solid protection. The two concepts go hand-in-hand in building free, safe, and equitable societies.

Democracy and Human Rights

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