Democracy: A just and inclusive society

Today is the International Day of Democracy with the theme this year being Democracy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The link between democracy and all-inclusive development is vital and challenging.  

In September last year, all 193 UN-Member-States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development -- a plan for achieving a better future for all, laying out a path over 15 years to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and protect our planet.   

According to the UN, the new goals result from a process that has been more inclusive than ever, with Governments involving business, civil society and citizens from the outset. Now, the task of implementing and monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals requires States to work in close partnership with civil society. Parliaments in particular have a critical role in translating the new sustainable development agenda into concrete action through passing legislation, making budget allocations and holding governments accountable. Speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended the world’s parliamentarians for the valuable role they played in shaping the new framework. He said their contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda would be equally critical. “People will look to you to hold your governments accountable for achieving the goals, and to write the laws and invest in the programmes that will make them a reality,” he said, noting that democratic principles also run through the entire document “like a silver thread.”  

For instance, Sustainable Development Goal No.16 -- peace, justice and strong institutions -- addresses democracy by calling for inclusive and participatory societies and institutions. It aims to, “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.”  

On a day like this we need to reflect on what Mahatma Gandhi has said -- What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy? This is particularly important for Sri Lanka which on January 8 last year, through the people’s silent revolution, ushered in a new era of good governance, democracy and social justice. All three are linked and without building a just society—essentially meaning a more equitable distribution of wealth and resources, good governance and democracy may be merely nice words for millions of people struggling for survival or enslaved in the poverty trap. More than 20 months after the historic election of President Maithripala Sirisena and one year after the national government was formed, the fruits of ‘Yahapalanaya’ have still not touched the lives, hearts and minds of millions of people.   

President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are repeatedly pledging that the national government’s economic development strategy will be sustainable, eco-friendly and all inclusive. The government also has promised that about one million job opportunities will be provided mainly for rural youth through equal access to quality education, digital technology and other vocational training. We hope the President, the Prime Minister, ministers and deputes, provincial and local council members will sincerely and selflessly commit themselves to this responsibility of building a just society. 

Since January last year vital steps have been taken to revive and consolidate democracy. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the Constitutional Council, the independent commissions, the restoration of judicial independence and the Right to Information law are among the highlights. Media freedom also has been restored to a large extent though we also see an unfortunate trend where sections are abusing this privilege by violating the principle that freedoms and rights are linked to responsibility.   

In the coming months and years the national government leaders need to follow President Sirisena’s repeated proclamation that he is the chief servant leader of the people. If this attitude brings about a paradigm shift with politicians sincerely serving the people and being accountable for every rupee spent then democracy will make more sense to the people than some show in parliament.