United Nations General Assembly A/RES/60/162 Distr.: General 28 February 2006 Sixtieth session Agenda item 71 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 16 December 2005 [on the report of the Third Committee (A/60/509/Add.2 (Part II))] 60/162. Strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization The General Assembly, Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, in particular resolution 58/180 of 22 December 2003, Reaffirming that United Nations electoral assistance and support for the promotion of democratization are provided only at the specific request of the Member State concerned, Noting with satisfaction that increasing numbers of Member States are using elections as a peaceful means of discerning the will of the people, which builds confidence in representational governance and contributes to greater national peace and stability, Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10 December 1948, 1 in particular the principle that the will of the people, as expressed through periodic and genuine elections, shall be the basis of government authority, as well as the right freely to choose representatives through periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures, Taking note with interest of Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/30 of 19 April 2004 on enhancing the role of regional, subregional and other organizations and arrangements in promoting and consolidating democracy 2 and Commission resolution 2005/32 of 19 April 2005 on democracy and the rule of law; 3 Recognizing the need for strengthening democratic processes, electoral institutions and national capacity-building, including the capacity to administer fair elections, increase citizen participation and provide civic education, in requesting _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 3 (E/2004/23), chap. II, sect. A. 3 Ibid., 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2005/23 and Corr.1), chap. II, sect. A. 2 05-49732