Staff Reporter
TODAY, the 15th of September 2023, as members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Parliament of Namibia joins the rest of the international parliamentary community in observing the International Day of Democracy.
Prof. Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly, explained that the United Nations General Assembly acknowledged the resilience and universality of the principle of democracy in November 2007 by declaring 1st September as the International Day of Democracy to celebrate democracy worldwide.
“Highly symbolic, the date coincides with the adoption, in September 1997, of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Universal Declaration on Democracy. This year’s theme for the International Day of Democracy, ‘Empowering the Next Generation,’ focuses on young people’s essential role in advancing democracy and ensuring that their voices are included in the decisions that have a profound impact on their world,” Prof. Katjavivi said.
He added that the Namibian Parliament remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering the next generation through the following initiatives: Youth Inclusion in Decision Making, Education and Civic Engagement, Digital Literacy and Access, Youth-Led Initiatives, and Open Dialogue.
“The Parliament of the Republic of Namibia ensures young people’s political participation to prepare them for a democratic future. As a nation, we are taking proactive steps to ensure that we cultivate and groom the leaders of tomorrow who will take the reins of responsibility to exercise their democratic rights as they shape the affairs of this country. Namibia advocates citizen participation, which is a critical component of the nation’s democracy. Public participation gives people the power to learn and understand the decisions that affect their lives. Young people are the current and future custodians of democracy,” Katjavivi said.
