Saturday, 15 September is the United Nations International Day of Democracy, a day for marking and celebrating the institution of democracy. This year the museum and the United Nations are together marking the day.

We are proud to again collaborate with the Museum of Australian Democracy to mark this important occasion. This year’s theme “Democracy Education” is as important as ever with many countries around the world undergoing democratic transitions. It is only with educated citizens that a sustainable culture of democracy can emerge and indeed be maintained in successful democracies such as that of Australia.

Christopher Woodthorpe, Director of the United Nations Information Centre for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

The museum has objects in its collection to tell the story of how democracy has spread around the world. Side-by side in our Designing Democracy exhibition sits a fragment of the Berlin Wall and a tais mane woven by the people of Timor-Leste. The fall of the Berlin Wall was a pivotal moment in the spread of democracy, marking the effective end of the Soviet Union and the introduction of democratic rule to much of Europe. The tais mane was made by the Alola Foundation, an organisation of women in East Timor founded by Kirsty Sword Gusmao, wife of the first East Timorese President (and now Prime Minister) Xanana Gusmao. Alola helps promote womens’ empowerment and participation in Timor-Leste.

These two objects sit opposite our interactive timeline where important rights and freedoms around the world can be compared and contrasted country-by-country.

The Museum will be marking International Day of Democracy by offering all visitors free admission and a memento on Saturday 15 September. The United Nations flags will be on display over the weekend and if you visit after dark, you’ll see our iconic Old Parliament House building turn United Nations blue.

You can find out more about the International Day of Democracy by visiting the United Nations website.