Democracy means the people rule. It is a system that gives everyone the chance to vote on the key issues that affect them and elects representatives to make decisions on their behalf. It also has rules that protect people’s rights, freedoms and interests.
It promotes equality and justice, and is committed to the rule of law. It allows free and fair elections, and ensures that the results are upheld. It has well-defined fundamental rights and freedoms – including the right to speak, associate and move about. Everyone is accountable before the law and laws should be fair, clear and protect people’s rights. It encourages participation in government and society through mechanisms like referenda, enabling people to have their voices heard and hold their elected leaders to account.
It requires daily vigilance to defend and uphold, because it can be damaged or lost when citizens and leaders fail to uphold democratic norms and undermine the institutions of democracy for their own partisan or personal gain. However, it has survived in the past despite the challenges it has faced. We must keep moving forward, tackling new problems while continuing to build democracy’s strength for the future. That will help us achieve more equitable representation and a better quality of life for all.
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