ISLAMABAD: International Day of Democracy is observed in Pakistan with events ranging from walks, seminars and press briefings focusing on this year’s theme of engaging young people to exercise their rights.
Observed every year on September 15 by the UN and civil society organizations in numerous countries, the day came into being via a UN General Assembly Resolution in 2007 that encouraged UN member countries to build up national programmes dedicated to promoting and consolidating their internal democratic processes.
Thereafter, a special day for democracy was created with the intent of increasing public awareness on the positive aspects of a political system created for the people, by the people. The UN as per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights understands 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.
This year’s theme of ‘Engaging Young People on Democracy’ looks to provide opportunities for young people to understand the freedoms enjoyed in democracy and be a part of the democratic process.
As a fifth of the global population falls in the age bracket of 15 to 25 years, the UN has selected this theme to highlight the growing number of youths falling in the trap of poverty and illiteracy who are unable to exercise their rights as citizens. It is particularly concerned by a prevailing sense of political disillusionment amongst young people, low young voter turnout in elections across the world, declining participation in political parties and civil society groups. Yet, the UN has expressed hope over the increasing use of social media by young people looking to promote democratic change in their countries.
In Pakistan, 2018 general elections witnessed an impressive 47 percent registered voters between the ages of 18 and 35 due to clever deployment of social media and campus canvassing by political parties for the first time in election campaigns. In spite of this record turnout, Pakistan’s youth bulge remains an unexploited resource according to groups working for youth development in the country.
One of the reasons cited for this is multidimensional poverty as defined by UN Human Development Report 2014 and high youth unemployment in Pakistan.
