Poland in the OECD

Romania, which currently holds the presidency of Community of Democracies, organised the videoconference to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Warsaw Declaration.

The speakers often noted that the democratic values listed in the Warsaw Declaration are even more important in the time of pandemic than ever before. Democratic countries can more effectively fight the threat to public health, that is COVID-19, thanks to such democratic values as the freedom of speech and government efficiency control mechanisms, as well as sharing good practices and providing mutual help.

In his speech, Minister Jacek Czaputowicz highlighted the importance of human rights and democratic principles when fighting COVID-19 and underscored the need for international cooperation aimed at mitigating the effects of the pandemic. “The Community of Democracy is a great platform to enhance multilateral cooperation based on democratic values and I hope that all members of the Governing Council will join their efforts to learn their lesson from this year’s tragic events,” said the minister.

The chief of Polish diplomacy also noted the influence that new technologies, heavily used during the pandemic, may have over human life style and the respect for human rights. “Digitalisation of human life may deepen disrespect for other faith, cultural and linguistic plurality, ideological differences and political dissent unless we concentrate our efforts on building a universe of tolerance and respect for diversity,” he said.

The participants voiced their support for the joint declaration which stated that fighting the virus cannot be used as excuse to limit democracy and civic liberties, and any preventive measures shall be implemented with respect to the values and principles listed in the Warsaw Declaration.

***

The Warsaw Declaration is the closing document of an international Ministerial Conference “Toward a Community of Democracies” which gathered foreign ministers of 106 countries in Warsaw on 25-27 June 2000. The conference was held at the initiative of Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs and the US Secretary of State.

The document outlines core development principles for democratic states, acknowledges the universality of democratic values and underscores the importance of respecting and upholding these principles. It also points to the necessary practices and norms of effective establishment of democracy and emphasizes the interdependence between peace, development, human rights and democracy. As the attendees of the original Ministerial Conference agreed, no single state has yet achieved perfection, so all shall cooperate and support one another while respecting each state’s sovereignty. The Warsaw Declaration is also the founding document of the Community of Democracies, an international alliance of states, the main purpose of which is the promotion of democratic principles and norms across the world.

MFA Press Office

Photo: Tymon Markowski / MFA

Materials