World Democracy Day
The International Day of Democracy also known as World Democracy Day is observed every year on 15 September. It is a day that highlights the importance of the participation of all members for the proper functioning of democracy in the state.
According to the United Nations (UN), International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems and to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity.
“Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society, and individuals can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere,” reads the official website.
A brief history
The UN recognized democracy as one of the major global issues prevailing in autocratic authorities. “Democracy provides an environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights”, reads the official website of the UN.
According to Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the International Day of Democracy was established through a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 2007. It further states that the first International Day of Democracy was observed by 46 national parliaments on 15 September 2008.
Significance of this Day
One of the main aims of the International Day of Democracy is to encourage governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy. Democracy is essential for the protection and effective realization of human rights. This day plays an important role in highlighting the important role of parliaments, and to celebrate their capacity and mandate to deliver on justice, peace, development, and human rights.
Democracy in an era of geopolitics
European Committee of the Region highlights the importance of democracy and its challenging in an era of geopolitics.
Seventy percent of the world’s population now live in either outright non-democratic regimes or democratically backsliding countries, compared to forty-six percent ten years ago.
In December 2021, one hundred countries joined President Biden’s Summit for Democracy to affirm global commitments to democracy, with the White House announcing 2022 as a ‘year of action’ to support and promote democracy worldwide. As part of the preparation for this conference, fourteen leading pro-democracy organizations and think tanks came together and identified Five Messages for the summit that are crucial to advancing democracy worldwide. In the European Union, a Team Europe Democracy Initiative was also launched to inspire coordination with EU member states on external democracy action.
Russia’s attack against Ukraine has escalated this shift in the geopolitical landscape. A watershed moment for the future of democracy, this war further advances anti-democratic trends worldwide. Yet at this same time, the last few months have seen the international community, including EU member states, come together in an unprecedented show of solidarity to protect and support democracy.
