The IPU has launched a social media campaign for the International Day of Democracy 2011. Please join us in celebrating the forthcoming International Day. You can engage in the social media discussion by accessing the relevant Facebook and Twitter pages:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/internationaldayofdemocracy

Parliaments around the world will be organizing International Day of Democracy events such as public debates, open days, television and radio programmes. The International Day will provide citizens with an opportunity to meet parliamentarians and discuss the state of democracy in their country.

Since 2008, more than 150 activities have been organized by parliaments to mark the International Day of Democracy. Based on this wealth of experience, the IPU has produced a series of concept notes that draw on good practices in parliament. The notes are intended to further assist parliaments in organizing activities, and contain ideas that can be adapted to different contexts and political systems. The main idea behind these proposals is that the International Day of Democracy offers an opportunity to foster dialogue with citizens on what democracy means and how it works, in particular its core institution, parliament.

Possible forms of parliamentary events on 15 September:

• Day of "open doors" in Parliament, when students and interested citizens could observe the parliamentary proceedings of the day;
• Special debate in parliament focusing on ways of making parliament and the political process more representative, transparent, accessible, accountable and effective, i.e. more democratic;
• National review of progress made in meeting international commitments in the area of democracy and human rights, with a focus on areas for future efforts;
• Reading of the Universal Declaration on Democracy and/or adoption of a parliamentary resolution or declaration marking the International Day of Democracy;
• Joint session / video-conference among two or more parliaments, addressing a democracy-related issue of common interest.

As in past years, the IPU will be posting information on activities organized by parliaments on 15 September. Please contact us to share your experience.

The IPU is also encouraging parliamentarians to participate in the International Day of Democracy as a means of reaching out to citizens inter alia by:

• Organizing a media opportunity with local or national newspapers, radio and/or television news outlets;
• Launching an International Day of Democracy youth advisory committee to advise on young peoples' expectations of their parliaments;
• Hosting an International Day of Democracy forum in local constituencies, to discuss the theme of the International Day with citizens; and
• Organizing a visit to a local school to discuss the importance of democracy and understand what it means to students.