19 May 2009 

(la version français ci-dessous) 

15 September 2008 

Today, the African Democracy Forum (ADF), a network of over 450 democracy and human rights organizations throughout Africa, joins the world to celebrate the United Nations’ first International Day of Democracy.  The members of the ADF congratulate the UN on recognizing the importance of democratic societies by declaring this International Day of Democracy.  We also note that the first International Day of Democracy is launched during this important year marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  In addition, we welcome the UN’s  recent efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and culture around the world by creating the UN Democracy Fund and cooperating with the Community of Democracies on the establishment on the Democracy Caucus.

Over the last decade, we have witnessed a score of countries in Africa making transitions to democracy.  Many African countries now exercise multi-party elections on a regular basis.  Civil wars in West and Central Africa have ended, and efforts to build democratic societies in regions are multiplying.  And, in 2007, the African Union adopted an important new document, the Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance. 

However, these transitions face great challenges.  Political violence against citizens continues.  Lives of independent journalists are threatened.  Civil society groups cannot carry out their work freely due to political and legal barriers.  Leaders and members of opposition parties in many countries are still severely harassed and intimidated.  Corruption continues to be one of the largest obstacles for Africa’s democratic consolidation and economic development.  We pay tribute to those brothers, sisters, and friends who have paid with their lives in our long continuing struggles to develop democracy on our continent.  

In commemorating this International Day of Democracy, as citizens on the African Continent, we re-commit ourselves to efforts to promote democratic values and respect for human rights and to strengthen democratic institutions.  We also call on all member states of the United Nations to reaffirm their commitment to all the UN treaties, conventions, and declarations that seeks to ensure the protection of human rights, gender equality, rule of law, and interests of citizens.  In particular, the ADF urges UN member states to:

• Encourage African states to sign and ratify the African Union’s Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance immediately.
• Continue the UN’s support for democracy promotion activities through the UN Democracy Fund and the Democracy Caucus.
• Recognize the important role of civil society groups in democratic transitions and consolidation.
• Promote a safe environment in which citizens’ initiatives can be encouraged and carried out freely by endorsing the World Movement for Democracy’s report on Defending Civil Society, which articulates the long-held, widely recognized principles for protecting civil society, such as the rights to assembly, expression, advocacy, and to receive cross-border assistance.

Hannah Forster

Chairperson, African Democracy Forum