The International Day of Democracy is celebrated every year on September 15. The resolution to celebrated September 15 as the International Day of Democracy was passed on November 8, 2007, in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The main aim of celebrating this day is to promote and uphold the principles of democracy. All the member states are invited to commemorate the day for creating public awareness. The word democracy means – government of the people, by the people and for the people. Amit Shah Claims India is 'World's Oldest Democracy'. Is the BJP Chief Factually Right?

In September 1997 the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) adopted a Universal Declaration on Democracy. The declaration affirmed the principles of democracy, the elements and exercise of democratic government, and the international scope of democracy. Qatar took the initiative in drafting the text of a UNGA resolution and convened consultations with UN member states. The resolution entitled "Support by the United Nations system of efforts of Governments to promote and consolidate new or restored democracies", was adopted by consensus on November 8, 2007.

Every year, the day is celebrated with a different theme. This year, the theme of the International Democracy Day is “Participation”. According to the UN, in 2019, the International Democracy Day is an opportunity to recall that democracy is about people and it is built on inclusion, equal treatment and participation. The UN further added that it is a fundamental building block for peace, sustainable development and human rights. International Day of the African Child 2019: History, Theme And Significance of Day Focusing on the Upliftment of African Children.

The theme for the International Democracy Day 2018 was “Democracy under Strain: Solutions for a Changing World.” To mark the first International Day of Democracy in 2008, the IPU held a special event at the House of Parliaments in Geneva. With a population of over 1.3 billion people, India is the most populous democracy in the world, while the United States is the world’s oldest democracy

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 14, 2019 06:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).