International Day of Democracy 2021: Know About its History, Themes, and Significance

The International Day of Democracy is celebrated every year on 15^th September all across the world since 2007. This day has been set aside by the United Nations to uphold and honor democratic values. The term democracy means "rule of the people," while democracy is a system in which citizens can peacefully change their leaders or rulers, and the government grants the right to rule because the people say so. Democracy, however, explains and helps in the upkeep of law and order. It assists citizens in electing their government's leaders. It also guarantees residents equal rights based on caste, religion, and gender. Democracy raises the quality of decision-making while also elevating citizens' dignity. The goal of this day is to turn the democratic ideal into a reality that may be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. The beauty of democracy is that it is not limited to a single matrix. It is a universal value derived from people’s freely stated will. The essential elements of democracy have evolved since its inception, and different countries have accepted them in different ways. 

History of The Day

According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), an international organization of parliaments, the International Day of Democracy was recognized by a resolution voted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. On the other hand, 46 national parliaments observed and celebrated the first International Day of Democracy on September 15, 2008. However, it was in the year 1988 when the idea of celebrating the International Day of Democracy was born. In that year, Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino launched the International Conferences on New and Restored Democracies (ICNRD).

Later that year, in Qatar, the ICNRD-6 met to discuss and deliberate on the re-establishment of fundamental democratic ideas. Following that, Qatar took the lead in promoting a UN General Assembly resolution commemorating the International Day of Democracy. The UN General Assembly voted in 2007 to commemorate the International Day of Democracy every year on September 15 as a result of the resolution. In November of that year, the United Nations passed a resolution supporting new and restored democracies all over the world. 

Themes of Celebration

The first celebration of the International Day of Democracy took place in 2008. Every year, the event is celebrated with a different theme. COVID-19: A Spotlight on Democracy was the theme in 2020, whereas Participation was the theme for 2019. From 2013 to 2016, the event was themed "Strengthening Voices for Democracy," "Engaging Youth on Democracy," "Space for Civil Society," and "Democracy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,", whereas the theme for 2018 was "Democracy Under Stress: Solutions for a Changing World," 

Significance of The Day

The International Day of Democracy, according to the United Nations, is an occasion to assess the state of democracy around the globe. This is a day to recognize the value of a functioning democracy. It is essentially a government that allows its citizens to make national-interest decisions. For India, the world's largest democracy, the International Day of Democracy serves as a timely reminder to defend the governing model's essential values. The International Day of Democracy is celebrated to encourage governments to improve and solidify their democratic systems, in addition to emphasizing the importance of involvement in the democratic process. Because democracy is necessary for the preservation of human rights, the day also recognizes the importance of parliaments in holding meetings and delivering on human rights, peace, and development.

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