COLLABORATING TO DEMOCRATIZE THE WORLD
By Anselm Odo

 

Today is the International Day of Democracy; a day set aside annually by the United Nations General Assembly to encourage governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy.

Events such as special television and radio programmes, seminars, exhibitions, special parliamentary sessions and public debates are among the common forms of activities with which nations mark the day.

This year's observance of the day is coming at a time when seventeen African countries are marking their golden jubilee since the attainment of independence from colonial rule thus marking the beginning of democratic rule in these countries.

The International Day of Democracy is a reaffirmation by the international community of its commitment to build participatory and inclusive societies, based on the rule of law and fundamental human rights .

The observance of the day which is in its fourth could be said to be in its infancy considering the number of years member-nations of the UN began the practice of democracy.

In spite of this, in Africa , there are so many countries that claim to be under democracy while in the real sense of it they are not practicing it.

Democracy has as its essential elements, freedom in all its ramification, respect for human rights, and principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage , transparency and accountability.  These values are in tandem with Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights .

The claim by some countries to have what is now known as home-grown democracy which has become platforms for some leaders to perpetuate themselves in power is not acceptable under the principles of democracy and should not be encouraged anywhere. African leaders who are the greatest culprit of the abuse of democratic principles should borrow a leaf from advanced democracies by allowing the rule of law and tenets of democracy to take roots in their countries.

As the World marks Democracy day today, the Secretary-General of the United Nations , Mr. Ban Ki-Moon , in his message, urges the world to recognize that democratic governance is a yearning shared and voiced by people around the globe.

He requests nations to collaborate to democratize the world. For democracy to thrive, Mr. Ki-moon believes that there must be strong supporting institutions, robust oversight, a vibrant civil society , the free exchange of information and ideas, popular participation and capacity building.

Democracy, he argues is a goal in its own right and an indispensable means for achieving development for all humankind. The UN Chief Scribe is right because democracy has universal essence. Therefore people savouring its appeal at one corner of the world should not forget the plight of another set of people elsewhere yearning for it in anguish.

As the world observes this year's democracy day, peoples of the world should speak with one voice in condemning any subversion of constitutional order anytime it occurs anywhere in the world.

Let the world also mainstream into the democratic process of nations, the rights of such people as indigenous peoples , minorities, women, people with disabilities and displaced persons in conflict areas of the world. 

 

Broadcast On 15 th September 2010