This paper presents the conclusions and recommendations from an international round table on ‘Democracy and Human Rights’ held at the United Nations in New York on 11–12 July 2011 and co-organized by International IDEA, the UN Department of Political Affairs and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The round table, which brought together over 50 policymakers, practitioners and academics, aimed to provide an opportunity to analyse the linkages between democracy and human rights and their relevance to current UN actions. It was part of a series of policy-oriented events organized by the UN and International IDEA on the relationship between democracy building and the pillars of UN work.