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