A Note for Teachers

• Facing History and Ourselves is an educational charity providing teaching resources to help young people develop as empathetic, critical thinkers, who understand the role they can play in shaping society for the better. We believe that civic agency is developed through intellectual rigour, emotional engagement and ethical reflection. Learn more about us on our website.

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• This PowerPoint presentation has been created to be used in a S1-S4 and KS3-KS4 assembly on International Day of Democracy.

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• While you may need to modify this presentation to meet the needs of your students, please note that Facing History and Ourselves does not endorse your changes that alter the presentation's content or original layout.

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International Day of Democracy

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International Day of Democracy

What is International Day of Democracy and why does it matter?

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

What is International Day of Democracy?

• International Day of Democracy takes place annually on 15^th September.
• It is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of a democracy and to consider how citizens can contribute towards strengthening democracies.

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Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Word Associations

What words or phrases come to mind when you hear the following word:

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democracy

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Defining Democracy

democracy

noun

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The belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves.

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Features of a Healthy Democracy

• Free and fair elections, including voting rights;
• Free and open press;
• Freedom of expression;
• Trust in the democratic process;
• Ability to hold power to account;
• Space for disagreement and dissent;
• Equality before the law;
• Fair and equal rights for all.

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Do you think anything needs to be added to this list?

Why are the listed components of a healthy democracy important?

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The Risks to Democracy

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• Democracy is in decline around the world. There are now more autocracies (91) than democracies (88) for the first time in 20 years.
• Autocracies are governments in which one person holds power, there are no multi-party elections and no freedom of expression.
• Nearly 3 out of 4 people in the world (72%) live in autocracies. This is the highest number since 1978.
• Freedom of expression has gotten worse in 44 countries between 2023-2024. That is in a quarter of all countries in the world.

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What do you find surprising interesting and/or troubling about these statistics?

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The Loss of Democratic Rights in Hong Kong

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Nathan Law is a democracy activist and former lawmaker from Hong Kong. He had to leave the region to avoid prison once people began to lose their democratic rights.

As you watch the video think about the following questions:

1. Why does Law say the story of Hong Kong is a warning signal to everyone?
2. What is Law’s message to people living in democratic countries?
3. What do you think Law means when he says ‘the price of freedom is eternal vigilance’? How does this apply to democracy? Why do people in power need to be held to account?

Play video on YouTube

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The Loss of Democratic Rights in Hong Kong

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Nathan Law is a democracy activist and former lawmaker from Hong Kong. He had to leave the region to avoid prison once people began to lose their democratic rights.

As you watch the video think about the following questions:

• Why does everyone have to be aware of the loss of democracy in Hong Kong and in other countries?
• How did Law get into activism and politics?
• Why did Law have to leave Hong Kong?
• What can you do to ensure we do not lose our democratic rights in the UK?

Play video on YouTube

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‘Democracy is the only political system that allows people to take back control when leaders go down the wrong path.’

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Nathan Law

Think, Pair, Share

• Why is democracy important?
• What do you know about how the UK's democracy functions?
• How can you participate in our democracy?
• Why must young people play an important role in helping democracy thrive?

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1 and 2. World Health Organisation, Mental Health of Adolescents, November 2021

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Exit Ticket

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Take a moment to think about the following:

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In a democracy, people can ________

______________________________________.

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Living in a democracy is important because____________________________.

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I can stand up for democracy by ___

______________________________________.

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