Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
62/7. Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 49/30 of 7 December 1994, 50/133 of 20 December 1995, 51/31 of 6 December 1996, 52/18 of 21 November 1997, 53/31 of 23 November 1998, 54/36 of 29 November 1999, 55/43 of 27 November 2000, 56/96 of 14 December 2001, 56/269 of 27 March 2002, 58/13 of 17 November 2003, 58/281 of 9 February 2004, 60/253 of 2 May 2006 and 61/226 of 22 December 2006,
Recalling also the United Nations Millennium Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government on 8 September 2000, 1 in particular paragraphs 6 and 24 thereof, and the 2005 World Summit Outcome,
Recalling further the declarations and plans of action of the six international conferences of new or restored democracies adopted in Manila in 1988, Managua in 1994, Bucharest in 1997, Cotonou in 2000, Ulaanbaatar in 2003 and Doha in 2006,
Reaffirming the Charter of the United Nations, including the principles and purposes contained therein, and recognizing that human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and that they belong to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations,
Stressing that democracy, development and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, Reaffirming that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives,
Reaffirming also that, while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region, and reaffirming further the necessity of due respect for sovereignty, the right to self-determination and territorial integrity,
Bearing in mind that the activities of the United Nations carried out in support of efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate democracy are undertaken in accordance with the Charter and only at the specific request of the Member States concerned,
Mindful of the central role of parliaments and the active involvement of civil society organizations and media and their interaction with Governments at all levels in promoting democracy, freedom, equality, participation, development, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and welcoming in this regard the expanded tripartite participation in the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, hosted by the Government of Qatar in Doha from 29 October to 1 November 2006, which focused on capacity-building, democracy and social progress, Noting the role of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in support of the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies movement,
Recognizing the work carried out by the Chair and the Advisory Board of the Sixth International Conference, particularly the efforts of the Chair to achieve systematic implementation of Conference recommendations in accordance with the Doha Declaration adopted at the Sixth International Conference,
Noting that 2008 marks the twentieth anniversary of the First International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, held in Manila from 3 to 6 June 1988,
Convinced of the need to continue to encourage and promote democratization, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the importance of action-oriented follow-up to the Sixth International Conference,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General4 and the suggestions contained therein;
2. Also takes note of the outcomes of the first and second meetings of the Advisory Board of the Sixth International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, particularly the formulation of a Conference programme of work for 2007–2009, and welcomes the proposal to designate an international day of democracy;
3. Encourages Governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy, including through increased bilateral, regional and international cooperation, taking into account innovative approaches and best practices;
4. Encourages regional and other intergovernmental organizations to share their experiences in the field of democracy promotion with each other and with the United Nations system where appropriate, and to actively participate in future meetings and activities of the International Conference of New or Restored Democracies;
5. Recognizes that the commemoration in 2008 of the twentieth anniversary of the First International Conference of New or Restored Democracies offers a special opportunity to focus attention on the promotion and consolidation of democracy at all levels and reinforce international cooperation in this regard;
6. Decides, with effect from its sixty-second session, to observe on 15 September of each year the International Day of Democracy, which should be brought to the attention of all people for its celebration and observance;
7. Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the International Day of Democracy in an appropriate manner that contributes to raising public awareness;
8. Invites Member States to continue to ensure that parliamentarians and civil society organizations are given appropriate opportunity to be involved in, and to contribute to, the celebration of the International Day of Democracy;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to recommend ways and means by which the United Nations system and the United Nations Secretariat could, within existing resources, assist Member States, upon request, in organizing activities to commemorate the International Day of Democracy;
10. Also requests the Secretary-General to take necessary measures, within existing resources, for the observance by the United Nations of the International Day of Democracy;
11. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to improve the capacity of the Organization to respond effectively to the requests of Member States by providing adequate support for their efforts to achieve the goals of good governance and democratization, including through the activities of the Democracy Fund at the United Nations;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of the present resolution;
13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-fourth session the item entitled “Support by the United Nations system of the efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies”.
46th plenary meeting
8 November 2007
The Second International Day of Democracy 15 September 2009
"Democracy is not only an end in itself; it contributes powerfully to economic and social progress, international peace and security and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms."
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message on the International Day of Democracy, 15 September 2009
On 8 November 2007, the General Assembly proclaimed 15 September as the International Day of Democracy, inviting Member States, the United Nations system and other regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to commemorate the Day.
This year's commemoration is the second International Day of Democracy, and it provides another opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, the national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.
Fuentes:
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N07/464/19/PDF/N0746419.pdf?OpenElement
http://www.un.org/en/events/democracyday/index.shtml