International Day of Democracy: Space for Civil Society

“Democracy” can be defined as 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.

For countries to build successful and stable democracies, the existence of a strong and freely operating civil society is crucial. Civil societies act as vehicles for social progress and economic growth. They also have an important role in keeping governments accountable and help represent the diverse interests of the population. The roles civil societies play are coming into even sharper focus as governments across the globe seek agreement on a post-2015 development agenda.

But evidence suggests that the current global environment for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is growing ever more challenging, with some states opting for less democratic forms of government (even if the longer-term trend is still towards more democratic governance). One manifestation of this is an increase in government restrictions that limit the ability of NGOs to work or to receive funding. For this reason, the UN chose the theme for this year’s International Day of Democracy as “Space for Civil Society”, to remind governments of the very important functions performed by CSOs.

International Democracy Day is also a platform to recognise the benefits of democracy and the rule of law to individual states and to support the rules-based international system. The UK has long played a global role promoting democracy worldwide, through country-specific support and by working to develop an international political environment supportive of democratic transitions e.g. our collaboration with regional organisations like the African Union.

This year’s International Day of Democracy is particularly special for us because we are celebrating it during the 800^th anniversary of the Magna Carta, the best-known and arguably most significant legal document ever written. Magna Carta set out enduring principles of the rule of law, predating modern concepts of democracy and human rights. It was an inspiration for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many other national and international legal documents.

Democracy and the rule of law take time to take root: the very important role of civil societies in this process should be taken seriously. So countries should put in place an enabling environment for CSO sustainability and engagement. Their voices need to be heard, since they are often the driving forces in achieving stronger democratic institutions and accountable governments. Happy International Democracy Day, a reminder to make space for CSOs!