A/RES/56/159 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 20 February 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 119 (b) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/583/Add.2)] 56/159. 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 54/173 of 17 December 1999, 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 peaceful means of discerning the will of the people and of confidencebuilding, thereby contributing 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 shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures, Taking note with interest of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 2001/41 of 23 April 2001 and 2001/72 of 25 April 2001, 2 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 countries in order to consolidate and regularize the achievements of previous elections and support subsequent elections, Welcoming the support provided by States to the electoral assistance activities of the United Nations, inter alia, through the provision of electoral experts, _______________ 1 Resolution 217 A (III). See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2001, Supplement No. 3 (E/2001/23), chap. II, sect. A. 2 01 48736