Democracy and human rights, which comes first?

American foreign policy seems to be very much geared towards promoting democracies through elections. But experience shows that this can backfire, ie Gaza Strip, where Hamas rightfully can claim to have been elected by democratic election. Hitler also has risen to power through democratic election. Isn't it more important to focus first on human rights and institutions that promote and guarantees those rights before calling for democratic elections? For me democracy is a formal process to decide who will get the power. It doesn't say anything about the way in which this power will be used.