UN welcomes Qatar's offer to host international democracy forum in 2006

The United Nations General Assembly has welcomed Qatar's offer to host the sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies in November 2006.

In a resolution adopted without a vote yesterday, the Assembly said it recognized the important role played by the UN in supporting nations' attempts to democratize as they develop.

Qatar said it would host the forum in its capital, Doha, from 13-15 November 2006.

The Fifth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, which was held in Ulaanbaatar last September, outlined benchmarks for democratic government and committed participating Member States to implement comprehensive plans to achieve them.

In a separate action yesterday, the Assembly decided to convene a special plenary meeting in 2007 to measure the world's progress on children's rights since the 1990 World Summit for Children.