LEON Statement on International Day of Democracy

Liberia Election Observation Network’s Statement on International Day of Democracy 

LEON joins the people of Liberia and the rest of the democratic world in celebrating September 15 as the International Day of Democracy. Every year, the memorization aims to raise public awareness about democracy, its meaning, and its importance. The day provides an opportunity to celebrate and appreciate democratic societies and tenants. Moreover, it allows people of the world to reflect on the history of democracy and to engage in conversations that emphasize ways and opportunities to promote, protect, and uphold democracy nationally and globally. 

The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, in his Message for International Democracy Day highlights that the focus of this year’s commemoration is “free, independent, and pluralistic media.” In what he calls the “dark paths,” the UN Secretary General frowns on the growing wave of brazen legal harassment, verbal assault, physical violence, censorship, online surveillance, and killings meted against the media and calls for joint forces “to secure freedom and the rights of people everywhere.”