International Day of Democracy - 2021

             Last Wednesday, 15th September, all over the world was celebrated the democracy. Democracy and human rights are closed related. This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at https://nationaltoday.com/international-day-of-democracy/. The second was published at https://www.un.org/en/observances/democracy-day. The third was published at https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/international-day-of-democracy-2021-why-is-it-observed-2540655

                    International Day of Democracy allows the opportunity to celebrate and appreciate our democratic society. It is very easy for people who live in a free society to take their freedom for granted. Yet, when freedom is absent, life includes unimaginable challenges that are often incomprehensible. Today, let's reflect on the history of democracy around the world, thank those who influenced the development, and look for opportunities to promote and protect our own nation's democracy. From democracy's birth in ancient Greece to today, the foundation of a democratic society is the ability of its people to participate in the decision-making process of their nation. Democratic activities include: 1) Get involved in politics.  2) Learn about political candidates.  3) Exercise your rights, thanks to digital advancements, it's now easier than ever to advocate for causes and make a difference. Why we love democracy: 1) It gives power to the people, leading to a world of innovation and improvement.  2) It's based on change. A cornerstone of democratic societies is that they have the power to make change when necessary.  3) It's based on equality, equal rights under the law are central to democratic governments.                                                                                                                                                                                    The theme this year, "Strengthening Democratic resilience in the Face of Future Crises." The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has resulted in major social, political and legal challenges globally. As states around the world adopt emergency measures to address the crisis, it is critical that they continue to uphold the rule of law, protect and respect international standands and basic principles of legality, and the right to access justice, remedies and due process. The crisis raises the question how best to counter harmful speech while protecting freedom of expression. Sweeping efforts to el iminate misinformation or disinformation can result in purposeful or unintentional censorship, which undermines trust. The most effective response is accurate, clear and evidence-based information from sources people trust. Around the world civil society organizations have answered the U.N.'s call to action to address and counteract the wide range of ways the COVID-19 crisis may impair democracy and increase authoritarianism, by: 1) developing media literacy and digital safety, more critical than ever as activism is forced online, so as to address the risk of suppression, interference and closing of civic space.  2) fighting misinformation and hate speech, which have mushroomed in the crisis.  3) training journalists remotely to report on the impact of the pandemic with in-depth, fact-checked coverage.  4) empowering women against gender-based violence, which has surged amid lockdowns, quarantines, and economic pressures.  5) helping to highlight the challenges of inequality and weak service delivery made worse by the crisis, with specific focus on the needs and rights of the population, so as to help hold governments to account.  The values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding period and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides the natural environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights. These values are embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which enshrines a host of political rights and civil liberties underpinning meaningful democracies.                                                        The U.N. General Assembly celebrates the Day of Democracy on September 15 to encourage governments around the world to strengthen and consolidate democracy. This day marks an opportunity to review the state of democracy around the world. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness and educate the public about their democratic rights, to highlight the important role of parliaments, their capacity and mandate to deliver justice, peace, development, and human rights. Many organisations hold debates and conferences and launch public campaigns to mobilise political will and public support for reinforcing democratic values. The Inter-Parliamentary Union ((IPU), the global organisation of national parliaments, says its support for this day stems from the core belief that democracy requires the participation of all citizens.