In our sessions at the Ministerial Conference, which began this morning, we are examining how we can better support democracy through our participation in regional and global organizations. These bodies are already contributing much by providing incentives to comply with democratic norms, assessing whether democratic standards have been met, assisting democratic institutions, and calling attention to abuses of civil liberties and human rights. Just within the past few months, the OAU invoked democratic criteria to deny a seat at its summit to a government imposed by coup in Cote d'Ivoire. The ILO voted to impose sanctions against Burma unless it ends its forced labor practices. And the OAS dispatched a mission to Peru with a mandate to help strengthen democracy.
International institutions are among our best instruments for supporting democratic growth.
So the Community of Democracies should do all it can to mobilize its influence within these organizations for that high purpose. Second, the Ministerial Conference is discussing how nations can better share best practices in building democratic institutions and responding to threats. Virtually every problem democracies now face has been confronted earlier in some form by others. Every situation is unique, but we can all learn by example. Among emerging democracies, there are clear leaders in spurring economic opportunity, managing civil-military relations, protecting minority rights, and establishing the rule of law.