Demo Finland's Democracy Week

To raise awareness about the interlinkages between development and democracy, Demo Finland is organising a Democracy Week in September 2010. Demo is inviting politicians, civil society representatives and other experts both from Finland and abroad to join the week’s festivities.

Events of the Democracy Week will coincide with the UN’s International Day of Democracy, which is celebrated annually and world-wide on September 15th. Demo Finland has been celebrating this day ever since its establishment in 2007. By declaring September 15th as the International Day of Democracy, the UN stresses the continuing need to promote democratisation, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It also reminds national governments to continue working towards these goals.

Demo Finland is organising three events during the Democracy Week:

14.-15.9 Democracy and Human Rights for Development – a two-day seminar at Allergiatalo Congress centre, Helsinki
15.9. International Democracy Day Party, Restaurant Kaisaniemi, Helsinki
16.9. Democracy as Prerequisite for Development – seminar, Merikasarmi, Helsinki

In the opening seminar of the week examines the interconnectedness between democracy, human rights and development. The seminar is organised jointly with the Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights (KIOS). Speakers will include politicians and civil society representatives both from Finland and developing countries as well as democracy and human rights experts from international institutions. The themes of the seminar will touch upon participation of youth in politics in Nepal and Sri Lanka, democracy and human rights work by women in Ethiopia and Tanzania, promotion of workers’ rights in Rwanda as well as the impact of democratic participation on development in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The week’s festivities will culminate with Democracy Party in the evening of September 15th where democracy is celebrated. This casual function is organised together with UNDP and UN Association of Finland. This will be the time to toast for democracy and celebrate the diversity it warrants. There will be live music and DJs for the dance enthusiasts, a photo exhibition presenting Demo’s work and the floor will be open for greetings and short speeches. The function is open for the general public with special guests being the seminar attendants.

Factual programme of the week will continue on the 16th with a seminar organised in co-operation with the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This seminar focuses on raising awareness about democracy support and strengthening its standing in Finland. Speakers will include international experts, representatives from recipient countries as well as Finnish professionals.

More information coming up shortly.