UN increasingly involved in democracy building, says Ban

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday spotlighted the growing trend for emerging democracies to seek help from the United Nations, in a message marking the International Day of Democracy.

While democracy is considered as the optimal social and political system, the challenges to consolidating democracy around the world remain "formidable and numerous," Ban said.

"Demand for UN assistance with institution-building, elections, the rule of law, the strengthening of civil society and other key aspects of democracy have grown considerably," he said on the second annual celebration of the International Day.

"Restoring or building new democracies, preserving fragile democracies and improving the quality of even long-established democracies requires commitment and hard work," the secretary-general added.

To support the world body's efforts in establishing democracies, Ban said he has created a set of guidelines committing the entire UN organization to principled, coherent and consistent action, and to "ensure that UN assistance truly helps to build national capacities and nurture democratic cultures."

Democracy contributes significantly to economic and social progress, international peace and security and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, Ban said, calling for the United Nations to "rededicate ourselves to those principles."