International Democracy Day
This week was the International Day of Democracy. From Ideas for Democracy, as has been done by many international organisations, we want to point out the importance of maintaining democratic systems with even more guarantees in this situation of pandemic that we are experiencing. We believe that we must remain firm in our commitment not to go back on the achievement of rights and freedoms that have been so difficult to achieve in the world, even more so in a year such as 2020 that will be remembered as a period of exceptional political and social circumstances and international mobility that have forced a limitation on the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms.
As the Secretary General of the United Nations himself says "democracy is crucial to ensure the free flow of information, participation in decision-making and accountability for the response to the pandemic. However, since the crisis began we have seen that in several countries the emergency has been used to restrict democratic processes and civic space. This is especially dangerous in places where democratic rootedness is weak and systems of institutional checks and balances are weakening" (full article).
Since IDEA's founding, they have stressed that "the current pandemic is an unprecedented global challenge to democracy. Authoritarian regimes around the world see the COVID-19 crisis as a new political battleground, in their struggle to stigmatise democracy as weak and to reverse its progress in recent decades. Democracy is under threat and those who care about it must muster the will, discipline and solidarity to defend it. The freedom, health and dignity of the people are at stake" (full article).
In the face of these threats, the European Parliament held a virtual meeting to discuss how Parliament itself can contribute to a coherent reaction and responsible response to all these challenges. You can check the content on this link and in its YouTube video.
We encourage all our readers to reflect on democratic systems and the challenges they face today. Let us seize this moment to build a more egalitarian, inclusive and sustainable world with full respect for human rights.
Add comment