Democracy, the product of a strong, active, and vocal society, is as much a process as a goal. Only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society, and individuals can the ideal of democracy become a reality to be enjoyed by all.

International Day of Democracy, which is celebrated on September 15, provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in world. It is significant that since this Day was proclaimed in 2007, nations, especially new democracies, have been working hard to nurture and consolidate their democratic foundations.

Democracy empowers people with the capabilities and the choices to drive change that will help to improve their lives. Democracy provides the natural environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights.

As one of the universal and indivisible core values of the United Nations, democracy is based on the freely expressed will of people and linked to the rule of law and exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The values of freedom, respect for human rights, and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential to a democracy.

These values are in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and further developed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Declaration spells out the rights that are essential for effective political participation, and although the United Nations (UN) Charter includes no mention of the word democracy, the opening words of the UN Charter “We the Peoples’’ reflects the main principle of democracy, that the people are the source of the legitimacy of sovereign states and the United Nations.

Since the Declaration was adopted, it has inspired constitution making around the world and has greatly contributed to the global acceptance of democracy as a universal value.

Time and again, democracy has proven that development takes off faster if people are given a genuine say in their governance and a chance to share in the fruits of progress.