Last Thursday, 15th of September all over the world was celebrated the importance of democracy to the people. Democracy isn't only the right to vote, it is the right to be a candidate in a fair (without fraud) election. It is the right to freedom of expression, it is the right to justice, it is the right to live without persecution. Since the start of my online activism in 2006 I have been writing about the importance of democracy for the people. Including there is now a world movement for human rights, justice and democracy happening. A movement so intense and strong that nobody can ignore, nobody can stay indifferent to this movement. This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published https://www.un.org/en/observances/democracyday#:~:text=2022%20Event&text=The%20conversation%20will%20showcase%20why,component%20of%20a%20healthy%20democracy.. The second was published at https://cor.europa.eu/lv/events/Pages/International-Democracy-Day.aspx. The third was published at https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/international-day-of-democracy-2022-observed-on-15-september/. The fourth was published at https://www.thequint.com/news/world/international-day-of-democracy-2022-on-15-september-history-significance-interesting-facts
While the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in major challenges globally, a new upheaval in Europe is reminding the world that our democratic principles are constantly under threat. In fact, now more than ever democracy is backsliding, civic space is shrinking, distrust and misinformation are growing while threats to the freedom of journalists and media workers are expanding by the day. This year, Democracy Day will focus on the importance of media freedom to democracy, peace, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. Free, independent and pluralistic media, able to keep the public informed on matters of public interest, is a key ingredient to democracy. It enables the public to make informed decisions and hold governments to account. When media freedoms are under threat, the flow of information can be stifled, skewed or cut off entirely. Increasingly, journalists around the world face limits to their ability to operate freely, with a grave impact on human rights, democracy and development. Media globally are increasingly facing attacks, online and offline, the use of defamation laws or hate speech laws to curb online expression and surveillance technologies; to target them and hamper their work. Civil society is essential in ensuring a free, independent and pluralistic media. Civil society organizations have been drafting legal frameworks for access to information; combating hate speech, supporting local citizen journalism fighting misinformation and supporting media rights. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged governments, media organizations and tech companies everywhere to support the work of the media in speaking truth to power, exposing lies, and building strong, resilient institutions and societies. 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. 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 E.U. member states, come together in an unprecedented show of solidarity to protectr and support democracy. During this year's Democracy Day discussions, a wide range of high-level speakers, international democracy advocates and activists from both sides of the Atlantic and the global south will address the challenges of this new world order for democracy. They will discuss the mechanisms to protect and support democracy, such as Team Europe, and greater North-South collaboration. The International Day of Democracy is celebrated annually around the world to strengthen democracies and highlight its values and principles. This year, the day will focus on the importance of media freedom to democracy, peace, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. The day serves as an opportunity to assess the state of democracies in the world. It also gives a chance to highlight the crucial role of parliaments and their capability to deliver justice, development, human rights and peace. The day is observed globally to mark the importance of democracy and create awareness among people about democratic rights. The ideal of democracy can only be realised as a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere with full participation, cooperation, and support of the international community, civil society, national governing bodies, and individuals. The right to freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. However, there are governments and highly influential people all around the world who are always on the lookout for ways to hinder it. The Day of Democracy has been established to create awareness among people so that they understand the importance of protection and effective realization of human rights.
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