Drawing Democracy Worldwide

From the August Focus issue of "How Do Women Bring about Democracy?" on the International Museum of Women website, this article shows illustrations from the Global Democracy Day Initiative youth drawing competition. In 2007, to highlight Global Democracy Day, designated by the United Nations as September 15 each year, the Global Democracy Day Initiative staged a competition for youth around the world to illustrate what democracy means to them. The three entries chosen as winners explore different applications of democracy from gender equality in the home to the importance of individual participation. The illustrations aim to show what democracy means to young people from different walks of life.


The winners include the following titles, artists, and their locations, along with descriptive reflections by the jury members:

1. ‘Democracy starts at home' - Ongua Benard, Arua, Uganda. This drawing shows dominance of the male family member living in a traditional lifestyle for the region, and, near the bottom, the illustrator has written, "Non democracy practice in the family." From a juror: "Democracy on a national or local level is not immediately dependent on democratic family structures and gender equality. And then again: How can a repressed woman be able to be involved in society if she dare not speak her mind in her own home?"
2. ‘People are the pillars' - Abigail Machila, Lusaka, Zambia. The illustration shows people holding a city above their heads, and the illustrator's handwriting reads, "Authority to rule comes from the people, Accountability to the people by those who hold formal powers in Zambia, therefore participation is responsible for keeping our societies afloat." A jury member writes, "The illustration sends a clear message. It tells us that people are the pillars - the authorization to govern comes from the people."
3. ‘State House is the People's house' - Mphaso Sakala, Zambia. The sign held by the woman in this painting says, "We Rule, Please!" The sign in front of the building says, "Welcome to PLGY 1," which indicates the State House in Zambia. A juror states, "The illustration presents a cunning but important message about the core of democracy: ‘State House is the peoples' house'. House can be seen as the house the president actually lives in or as the ‘house' where the democracy operates - in both cases it is a relevant and interesting message."