On 15 September 2009, the IPU and parliaments around the world will be celebrating the second International Day of Democracy, declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007.
In its resolution A/RES/62/7 establishing the International Day of Democracy, the United Nations noted that "while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy" and that "democracy does not belong to any country or region". The International Day of Democracy is meant both to celebrate democracy and to serve as a reminder that the need to promote and protect democracy is as urgent now as ever.
The choice of 15 September for the International Day of Democracy corresponds to the adoption in September 1997 by the IPU of a Universal Declaration on Democracy. That Declaration affirms the principles of democracy, the elements and exercise of democratic government, and the global scope of democracy.
| United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/62/7 |  [English] [French] [Spanish] |
| Universal Declaration on Democracy |  [English] [French] |
| Poster: International Day of Democracy 2009 | [English, 575 Kb] [French, 606 Kb] [Spanish, 593 Kb] |
| Leaflet: Democracy and political tolerance | [English, 1341 Kb] [French, 1304 Kb] [Spanish, 1283 Kb] |
Report "World public opinion on political tolerance" | [English, 260 Kb] [French, 285 Kb] |
| Press release issued by the WorldPublicOpinion.org | [English, 36 Kb] [French, 36 Kb] |
| Statement by Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union | [English, 52 Kb] [French, 55 Kb] |
The theme of the 2009 International Day of Democracy is Democracy and political tolerance. Political tolerance is a central tenet of democracy and is essential to the functioning of parliaments.
The IPU has commissioned a worldwide public opinion survey with questions formulated around the overall theme for 2009. The findings of the survey are available in the form of a report entitled "World public opinion on political tolerance" and accompanied by a press release. The IPU President, Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, issued a special statement on the occasion of the public release of the Report.
The IPU is organizing a series of activities around this theme and has encouraged parliaments to mark the 2009 International Day of Democracy through activities devoted to the promotion of political tolerance. A separate page on this website will help you learn more about the events organized by the IPU and parliaments around the world in connection with the International Day of Democracy.
The 2009 International Day of Democracy will be an opportunity for parliaments to:
- Emphasize the importance of democracy, what it involves, the challenges it faces as well as the opportunities it offers, and the central responsibility that all parliaments have as the key institution of democracy;
- Examine and discuss how well parliament performs its democratic functions, possibly on the basis of a self-assessment, and identify what steps it may take to strengthen its effectiveness.
- Promote awareness and practice of political tolerance within parliament and the greater society
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On the first International Day of Democracy, celebrated on 15 September 2008, around 50 parliaments organized special events, reaffirming parliament as the central institution of democracy. IPU organized a panel discussion on challenges to democracy, as well as an exhibition of political caricatures.
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