DEMOCRACY vs DEMOCRACY

According to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

The International Day for Democracy is celebrated globally on the 15th of September every year. First established through a UN General Assembly Resolution in 2007 that encouraged states and governments across the globe to work towards strengthening democracy.

This day is celebrated in order to learn, understand and disseminate what the idea of Democracy really is. Democracy is an aspect that can be fully realized only when one is aware of their rights as a citizen subscribing to the idea of freedom, rights and participation in a cosmopolitan community. 

The ideal of democracy can be discussed particularly in conjunction with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, where the Right to Freedom is a fundamental right. Any hindrance to the basic Human Rights also acts as a hindrance to the idea of Democracy. Today we see a great many factors, state or non-state, that shake the foundation of Democracy, with Human Rights violations increasing at an alarming rate. 

International Day of Democracy therefore is celebrated to understand how we, even through the most mundane acts, may disrupt the spirit of democracy in our respective states. This day can be considered as an extended, hands-on understanding of Democracy, Human Rights and Global Unity. 

A brief history:

International Day of Democracy was first established in the year 2007 when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed an Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to observe this day as such. Since then, close to more than 40 national parliaments recognize this day with the first International Day of Democracy celebrated  on September 15th 2008.

The significance of this day is essentially to celebrate the basic ideals and values of democracy as a celebration of the same will also help citizens realize the rights they are entitled to, thus spreading awareness and disseminating knowledge on the same.

Democracy as we see it? Or do we?

Democracy can be understood synonymously with freedom. A nation is free when the citizens are able to exercise the Fundamental Rights they are entitled to. A democratic nation is when the citizens of the nation have realized this freedom. A democratic is also one where there is a balance in the roles of government, authority and the rights, and when the three do not overlap with one another. 

Suppressing the voices of those that make up a “democratic” nation in any form possible amounts of undemocratic behaviour. Democracy is a form of power that every citizen possesses which can and must be utilized and realized in order to be truly free. 

Citizens also have the right to oppose injustice meted out to them in the name of democracy as if they are judged to be going against the idea of basic human rights, they are deemed undemocratic.

Several debates have been held over the issue of what is democratic and what isn’t. However, so far there have been no fruitful conclusions as democracy freedom, rights fall into a grey area where if something appears to be violating the idea of democracy may not be judged so unless the law determines it. 

India is the largest democracy in the world The United States is the oldest democracy in the world; however, both states are classic examples of democracy and rights as understood to be in a grey area. With Human Rights violations increasing alarmingly in both nations, one can wonder what the furniture of democracy would look like. Visionaries fought for democracy, defended it in wars, treaties, conflicts only to have the actions they re[resent commit massive violations of democracy. 

There are several factors that come into the picture when looking at undemocratic acts and how they are carried out effortlessly, such as inequalities, systemic Racism, poverty, caste-based inequalities in states such as India. These appear to be the evils of society and what lead to divides in a democratic nation.

Efforts must be taken to eradicate these evils, with strategies to be formed and implemented by the governments. Discourses on such topics would also help citizens understand and realize their rights, their nation and what they must do to protect democracy. Therefore, celebrations such as International Day of Democracy will help people come to that realization. Such events are encouraged by several think tanks across the world with debates, parliamentary discussions, research and media freedom that also come into the picture.

Change starts from us.

-An article by Shreya Raolji