International Day of Democracy

In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe September 15^th as the International Day of Democracy and invited all member states and organizations to commemorate the day in an appropriate manner that contributes to raising public awareness.UN document |docid=A-RES-62-7 |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=62 |resolution_number=7 |highlight=rect_190,214_834,598 |page=3 |accessdate=2008-08-23|title=Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies|date=8 November 2007]

The preamble of the resolution affirmed that:

cquote|while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region...

democracy is a universal value based on the freely-expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of life.

Background

In September 1997 the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) adopted a Universal Declaration on Democracy [ [http://www.ipu.org/cnl-e/161-dem.htm Universal Declaration on Democracy] ] . That Declaration affirms the principles of democracy, the elements and exercise of democratic government, and the international scope of democracy.

The international conferences on new and restored democracies [ [http://www.icnrd.org/ International conference of new or restored democracies] ] (ICNRD process) began in 1988. Initially an inter-governmental forum, the ICNRD process developed into a tripartite structure with participation of governments, parliaments and civil society. The sixth conference (ICNRD-6) that took place in Doha, Qatar in 2006 reinforced the tri-partite nature of the process and concluded with a Declaration and Plan of Action which reaffirmed the fundamental principles and values of democracy.

Following up on the outcome of ICNRD-6, an Advisory Board set up by the chair of the process - Qatar - decided to promote an International Day of Democracy. Qatar took the lead in drafting the text of a United Nations General Assembly resolution and convened consultations with UN member states. At the suggestion of the IPU, 15 September (date of the Universal Declaration on Democracy) was chosen as the day when the international community would celebrate each year the International Day of Democracy. The resolution entitled Support by the United Nations system of efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies [ [http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/464/19/pdf/N0746419.pdf United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/62/7 "Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies"] (PDF)] , was adopted by consensus on 8 November 2007.

Celebrations in 2008

The IPU has urged parliaments to celebrate the International Day of Democracy through some form of special activity, to be held on or as close to 15 September as possible depending on circumstances. The day will be an opportunity for parliaments to:

Emphasize the importance of democracy, what it involves, the challenges it faces as well as the opportunities it offers, and the central responsibility that all parliaments have as the key institution of democracy;

Examine and discuss how well parliament performs its democratic functions, possibly on the basis of a self-assessment, and identify what steps it may take to strengthen its effectiveness.

To mark the first International Day of Democracy on 15 September 2008, the IPU will hold a special event at the House of Parliaments in Geneva. National parliaments are invited to organize their own democracy-related activities on that day to highlight the role of parliament as the cornerstone of democracy.

References

External links

* [http://www.ipu.org/dem-e/idd/overview.htm International Day of Democracy, 15 September 2008]