The United Nations (UN’s) International Day of Democracy (IDD) is annually observed across the globe on 15 September to promote and uphold the principles of democracy worldwide and raise awareness among the people about democratic values and rights.
Theme:
i.The 2024 theme of IDD is “Ensuring Effective Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at all Levels”
ii.The 2024 theme focused on the importance of AI as a tool for good governance.
Significance:
i.IDD aims to review the state of democracy around the world and encourage governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy.
ii.IDD serves as a reminder of the importance of democracy as a universal value and the role of inclusive participation in governance.
iii.It also highlights ongoing challenges to democracy globally, such as threats to the free press, human rights violations, and authoritarian tendencies.
Background:
i.On 8 November 2007, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/62/7, proclaiming the 15 September of each year as the International Day of Democracy.
ii.The 1st International Day of Democracy was observed on 15 September 2008.
- IDD was established at the request of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of national parliaments.
Why 15 September?
It was on 15 September, that the IPU Member Parliaments adopted the Universal Declaration on Democracy at its 161st session in 1997 in Cairo, Egypt.
- The Universal Declaration on Democracy was designed to be an international standard to guide governments, parliaments, and people through the many challenges to democracy around the world.
What is Democracy?
i.Democracy is a universally recognized ideal and is one of the fundamental values and principles upheld by the UN.
- According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right.
ii.The UN activities in support of democracy are carried out through the:
- UN Development Programme (UNDP);
- UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF);
- Department of Peace Operations (DPO);
- Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA);
- Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR),
- UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), etc.
iii.UNDEF funds projects that empower civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes.
Impact of AI on Democracies:
i.The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO)Recommendation on the Ethics of AI adopted in 2021, is the 1st global policy framework for AI.
- It outlines different aspects of this technology that directly impact political life.
ii.UNESCO’s Artificial Intelligence and Democracy report emphasises AI’s impact on democracy and explores how digitalisation can enhance collective decision-making.
- It offers recommendations for the democratic governance of AI, aiming to mitigate negative impacts and promote a more democratic approach to AI governance.
iii.Key topics of the report include:
- The democratic expectations and digitization disappointments
- The new digital public space: democratic conversation
- The democracy of data: the politics of Big Data
- Democracy as a form of political decision-making: algorithmic governance
2024 Event:
On 10 September 2024, the UNDEF organised a Special Event, “Navigating AI for Governance and Citizen Engagement,” ahead of the IDD.
- The event was a part of the UN Office for Partnerships in collaboration with UNESCO, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and UNDP in New York, the United States of America (USA).
About the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU):
President and Head of Executive Committee– Dr. Tulia Ackson
Secretary General (SG)– Martin Chungong
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Founded– 1889
Slogan– For democracy. For everyone.
