In progress at UNHQ

Statements and Messages


SG/SM/17041-OBV/1509

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day of Democracy, observed on 15 September: Civil society is the oxygen of democracy. We see this clearly in the world’s most vibrant and stable democracies, where government and civil society work together for common goals. Civil society acts as a catalyst for social progress and economic growth. It plays a critical role in keeping government accountable and helps represent the diverse interests of the population, including its most vulnerable groups. The role of civil society has never been more important.