A/HRC/RES/58/8 Recalling also all previous resolutions on democracy and the rule of law adopted by the General Assembly, the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, in particular Council resolutions 19/36 of 23 March 2012, 28/14 of 26 March 2015, 34/41 of 24 March 2017, 40/9 of 21 March 2019, 46/4 of 23 March 2021 and 52/22 of 3 April 2023, in which the Council, inter alia, established the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law and decided on the themes of its first five sessions, Recalling further the Human Rights Council resolutions on the World Programme for Human Rights Education, and stressing the complementarity and mutual reinforcement of human rights education, training and learning, and education for democracy, Taking note of the report entitled “Education for democracy”, submitted by the Secretary-General in cooperation with the Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,2 Acknowledging that human rights, democracy and the rule of law create an environment in which countries can promote sustainable development, protect individuals from discrimination and ensure equal access to justice for all by involving Governments, parliaments, the United Nations system and other international organizations, local authorities, national human rights institutions, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, human rights defenders, civil society, women’s and girls’ rights organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, the business and private sectors, the scientific and academic communities and all other interested stakeholders, Stressing that human rights, democracy and the rule of law are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and in this regard recalling the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening and coordinating United Nations rule of law activities, 3 in which the SecretaryGeneral addressed the ways and means of developing further the linkages between the rule of law and the three main pillars of the United Nations, namely, peace and security, human rights, and development, Recognizing the link between human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance at all levels, and recalling the Human Rights Council resolutions and all other resolutions relevant to the role of good governance in the promotion of human rights, Convinced that the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, the integrity of the judicial system and an independent legal profession are essential prerequisites for the respect and protection of human rights, the rule of law, good governance and democracy and for ensuring that there is no discrimination in the administration of justice, and should therefore be respected in all circumstances, Recalling the right of every citizen to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot or by equivalent free-voting procedures, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors, Reaffirming that democracy is based on the freely expressed will of people, including through free and fair elections that are transparent and inclusive, to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives, Reaffirming also that, while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region, and reaffirming further the necessity of due respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right to self-determination, Bearing in mind that challenges to democracy arise in all democratic societies and that determined and coordinated actions and engagement are required to prevent and combat the 2 3 2 A/79/344. A/72/268.