by Simone Galimberti
The 15th of September is celebrated internationally as the International Day of Democracy.
It is a United Nations-sanctioned day, one of the many recognized by the international body to highlight important issues that affect the planet and humanity.
Considering how the member states are so divided on matters of human rights and democracy, it is almost a miracle that there was an agreement to observe an international day on these issues.
Yet, perhaps commemorating this day is not totally surprising considering that even the most heinous regimes consider themselves, at least on paper, adhering to and respecting democratic norms and principles.
In this regard, the Asia Pacific is a global trailblazer, setting a high bar on trumping and stifling civil and political rights and within the wider region, South East Asia is doing its bits to contribute and preserve this track record.
As highlighted by the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) in a press release on occasion of International Day of Democracy, “ ASEAN has not shown serious efforts to promote universal values of democracy in its member states such as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; holding free and fair elections; a pluralistic system of political parties and organizations; separation of powers; independence of the branches of government; freedom of expression and the press; and constitutional subordination of all state institutions to the legally constituted civilian authority”.
The specific theme of this year is the role of Artificial Intelligence to promote or destroy the democratic fabric of our societies.
I am not going to touch on it, not because it is an unimportant issue but because it is essential to talk more about the fundamentals, as underscored by APHR.
I will focus on possible remedies and practical, actionable, concrete initiatives that could really re-energize and re-vitalize democracy and human rights.
First, we need a massive effort at the grassroots level.
The same passion and commitment put into promoting the fight against climate warming and biodiversity degradation should also be shared to promote democracy and human rights.
Indeed, we need an overarching effort to engage the youths of the region in civic actions that can have direct repercussions on improving and enhancing the quality of democracy in the South East Asia.
It is not going to be easy as both students and their higher learning institutions in which they study, are conveniently brushing aside any discussion on human rights and democracy.
Second, the role of the international community.
International philanthropies organizations, human rights organizations working globally have a special responsibility to try to generate interest among the great numbers of detached, insulated and disinterested students of the region.
As we know, it is not that there is apathy and cynicism among them throughout the region. There are best practices, and we can look at the vigour put by students in Thailand to assert their rights and defend democracy.
Those members of the international community valuing democracy and, at least in words, profess steadfast, unflinching support for human rights, no matter risking of being accused of hypocrisy when they sign business deals with authoritarian and semi-democratic regimes of South East Asia, must play a big role.
While it is difficult, often impractical and inconvenient to raise issues of democracy and human rights in the official nations ‘ interactions, we should invest huge sums to support discussions and debate on these issues with local youths.
Ambassadors from these nations should be much more proactive and prioritize public engagements with youths and students.
While in diplomacy, pragmatism and real politick reign supreme, there is nothing that prevents the representatives of nations caring about democracy and human rights from stepping up their efforts.
Funding, even small grants, should be made available to support micro initiatives around human rights and democracy, offering students and young people channels to discuss topics that too often are ignored and neglected.
When their high-ranking senior officials do visit the capitals of South East Asia, they should always prioritize meeting with students and youths.
Such dialogues, even though they are just rich in symbolism and nothing else, would offer a way to embolden new generations to think differently.
Let’s not forget that the United Nations has been recently trying to highlight the importance of human rights to achieve sustainable development.
It means, for example, that climate change cannot be fought without giving people a voice and respecting their rights.
The Secretary General of the United Nations has been pushing to underscore the essentials of human rights through his Call to Action for Human Rights.
That’s why the regional office in Bangkok, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, plays such a vital role.
It should be equipped with more resources to scale its work in the region, also considering the active role played by the High Commissioner, Volker Türk through his initiative, Human Rights: A Path for Solutions, to commemorate, last year, the 75th anniversary of the adaption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
But then we need to tackle what it is, according to APHR, the defining issue, “integrating the institutionalization of democracy norms and promotion into the drafting of the ASEAN Vision 2045, which is set to be adopted in 2025 as the realization of the ASEAN Charter’s promises to strengthen democracy in the region”.
On this case, more awareness and knowledge on the part of the youths on democracy and human rights should lead to an overall discussion on the future of ASEAN.
Like all regional cooperation projects, ASEAN is, by definition, an elite initiative that is far from the day to day lives of the people.
This year and the next one are going to be fundamental for the future of the bloc.
Citizens, with the help of media outlets and with the involvement of social influencers who should espouse the cause, must take an informed interest on the ongoing negotiations on the future of ASEAN.
Ideally schools and universities should debate the way forward for this institution that is so remote and aloof that no one really cares about.
Lastly, we should remind ourselves that the status of democracy is ailing everywhere and not only in the South East Asia.
While we should enable the new generations to get engaged and involved, it is indispensable to find ways to improve the current existing model based on representations and elections.
It is high time that bottom up, deliberative forms of democracy are taken into consideration and given the due importance.
There are many ways to do so by putting the people and especially the youths at the center not only of the conversation but also at the center of the decision making.
While localized, endogenous ways must be found to strengthen democracy in the South East Asia, it is essential to reflect on how to do it.
It is indispensable to make democracy and human rights stronger by rethinking the way democracy works, making it more inclusive and participatory.
The author writes about development, regional integration and democracy and human rights in the Asia Pacific
