MOSCOW, September 15 (RIA Novosti) – The International Day of Democracy, established by the United Nations, is celebrated on Monday, September 15, with this year's theme – Engaging Young People on Democracy – highlighting the challenges and opportunities young people face when getting involved in democratic processes.
The International Day of Democracy was established by resolution A/62/7 of the UN General Assembly on November 8, 2007 and is observed annually on September 15.
Democracy is a universal value and a founding principle of the United Nations. It is based on the free expression of the people's will and is closely linked with upholding the rule of law and the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The ideals of freedom, respect for human rights, and regular free and fair elections based on universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides the best protection of human rights.
Democratic values are reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), which enshrines the political rights and civil liberties that form the backbone of truly democratic states.
The link between democracy and human rights is expressed in Article 21 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that "The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government."
UN activities in support of democracy and democratic governance are carried out within the framework of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other agencies.
Their work is part of the United Nations" broader efforts in the sphere of human rights, development, and peace and security.
It includes helping parliaments improve government oversight and separation of powers, which consolidates democracy; strengthening the impartiality and effectiveness of national human rights and judicial mechanisms; promoting the development of legislation and media resources to ensure freedom of expression and access to information; providing assistance in the holding of elections and long-term support to election commissions; and increasing the participation of women in political and public life.
Approximately $1.5 billion each year is provided through UNDP to support democratic processes around the world.
The United Nations does not advocate for a specific model of government, but promotes democratic governance as a set of values and principles that should be followed for greater participation, equality, security and human development.
Since the 1990s, all aspects of democracy have been addressed in the final documents of major UN conferences and summits, as well as in documents reflecting internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals.
In the Millennium Declaration, world leaders pledged to spare no effort to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law and to guarantee respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The theme of the International Day of Democracy for 2014 is Engaging Young People on Democracy.
Year after year, studies show that young people's faith in politics is declining and that they participate less in elections, political parties and traditional social organizations across the world. This applies to both established and emerging democracies.
At the same time, informal, youth-led movements for democratic change are on the rise in a number of countries, including in fragile states. Using new communication channels in social networks, young people are making their mark on democracy-building in untraditional ways.
The 2014 theme for the International Day of Democracy highlights the challenges and opportunities of young people who are engaging in democratic processes.
