The UN cannot continue to stand by as democracy retreats

Democracy is facing a global crisis. For nearly two decades, the world has witnessed a global democratic recession. More countries are shifting toward authoritarianism than toward democracy. Fundamental freedoms are eroding and civic space is shrinking.

Yet, despite democracy being a core principle of the United Nations, there is no dedicated UN mechanism to monitor and protect it. Unlike particular human rights such as freedom of expression or peaceful assembly, democracy lacks a UN Special Rapporteur—a role designed to assess, report, and advocate for its protection. This gap must be urgently addressed.

Across the world, elections are manipulated, political opposition is stifled, and judicial independence is under threat. Many governments that claim to support democratic values engage with authoritarian regimes, prioritizing economic and security interests over human rights. This failure has helped democratic norms to deteriorate, civic spaces to close, and fundamental freedoms to be curtailed.

There is no dedicated UN mechanism to monitor and protect democracy

Southeast Asia is a striking example of these trends. Myanmar remains under a military junta that silences opposition. Cambodia ensures one-party rule through unfair elections. Thailand’s political system remains constrained by military influence, while Indonesia faces growing oligarchic control. Independent media and dissenting voices in the Philippines are under siege, while Vietnam and Laos, both also under one-party rule, repress political opposition. Digital authoritarianism is expanding, with governments using surveillance and censorship to suppress dissent.

A UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy would provide impartial assessments of global democratic trends. The role would engage with governments, regional organizations, and civil society to promote stronger commitments to democratic principles. By investigating electoral integrity, judicial independence, and political freedoms, it would help fill gaps in the UN’s assessment of human rights. Establishing such a mandate would strengthen global efforts to protect democracy and empower pro-democracy voices fighting to uphold it.

The challenges in Southeast Asia also highlight the need for regional mechanisms to reinforce democratic governance. Unlike other regions, Southeast Asia lacks a structured approach to democracy-building, with no official electoral observation missions or coordinated initiatives to strengthen democratic institutions. ASEAN has no binding framework to uphold democracy, and its consensus-driven decision-making has failed to address crises like Myanmar. This is why ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) has called for an ASEAN Democracy Charter—a framework to reinforce democratic governance, which a UN Special Rapporteur could support.

A UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy can provide essential support

While some governments may resist this initiative, they cannot claim that democracy is a foreign imposition. Many of the strongest voices advocating for democracy today come from the Global South, demonstrating that democracy promotion is not a Western-driven agenda but a universal aspiration of most people everywhere. Certain Western countries themselves are on a path of autocratization.

Without a global mechanism to track and respond to these challenges, democracy will erode further. The UN has long played a role in safeguarding fundamental freedoms; establishing a Special Rapporteur on Democracy would be a natural and necessary extension of this commitment.

Democracy is an essential foundation for human rights. The UN cannot afford to stand by and watch as it erodes further. A UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy can provide essential support and advocacy. Now is the time to act before the decline becomes irreversible.