BY THE BUREAU OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE ON THE OCCASION OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2009

The world's celebration of the International Day of Democracy on 15 September 2009 touches a special chord with the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly. Sixty years ago, in 1949, the Council of Europe was created by ten European countries trying desperately to recover from the onslaught of nazism and fascism and the horrors of World War II, in order that Europe would never again experience such a negation of basic human values and rights.

Unique among international organisations, the Council of Europe was founded on three ideals: the preservation and strengthening of democracy; the consolidation and expansion of the rule of law; and the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Once despaired of by many, and under mortal threat, these universal values have today proven their strength, as virtually all European countries - forty-seven - are members of the Council of Europe and their parliaments represented in its Parliamentary Assembly. All have taken on specific legal commitments to uphold these values.

But as history shows, democracy is never safe, either from outside threats or from inner decay. Like any social endeavour, its health and its ability to achieve the aspirations of citizens depend on their daily involvement, empowerment, effort and ingenuity in organising and running it. This belief forms the essence of the work of the Council of Europe, whose Parliamentary Assembly is redoubling its efforts in order for all its member states to attain the highest standards of democracy and to spread these standards across the globe.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe therefore warmly welcomes the Interparliamentary Union's 1997 Universal Declaration on Democracy and the United Nations' proclamation a decade later of an International Day of Democracy. The world community will no doubt in the years to come suffer many setbacks along the difficult road to global democracy, but the strength of the democratic ideal - supported by millions across the world who thirst for freedom, justice and a political voice - is such that these obstacles will eventually be overcome. Europe must, and will, continue to be in the vanguard of this struggle.