UN Expert Urges Respect for Sovereignty and North-South Dialogue to Strengthen Global Democracy

Katrougalos stressed the need to reinvigorate the North-South dialogue on democracy and human rights, prioritizing the involvement of citizens in shaping a democratic global society.

A UN expert has called for greater respect for the sovereignty and independence of States to ensure fair participation in global decision-making, emphasizing the challenges modern democracy faces due to globalization. George Katrougalos, the Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order, addressed the Human Rights Council, highlighting the urgent need to bridge the geopolitical divide between the Global North and South.

"The geopolitical divide, fueled by shifting power dynamics and disagreements over values, human rights, and interventionism, threatens the development of a democratic international order," Katrougalos said in his first report. He noted the intensifying tensions between the Global North and South as a key challenge, alongside the perceived ineffectiveness of global governance institutions, which is placing the UN system under strain.

Katrougalos stressed the need to reinvigorate the North-South dialogue on democracy and human rights, prioritizing the involvement of citizens in shaping a democratic global society. He also presented a report from his predecessor's visit to the Maldives in March 2024, underscoring the importance of addressing democracy and human rights issues in the region.

The expert urged the Human Rights Council and the global community to work collectively to overcome the evolving complexities of democracy in an interconnected world, advocating for a truly democratic and equitable international order.