The United Nations Office for Partnerships marked the International Day of Democracy with the launch of the second edition of the Handbook on Citizens' Assemblies, a practical resource designed to support governments, civil society organizations and practitioners in strengthening citizen participation through deliberative democratic processes.
The updated handbook, developed by the newDemocracy Foundation with support from the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provides guidance on the design and implementation of citizens' assemblies and other deliberative democratic mechanisms. Drawing on expanding international experience and lessons learned from practitioners worldwide, the publication aims to help decision-makers create more inclusive, participatory and trusted forms of governance.
The launch took place during a discussion at the Goals Lounge convened by the United Nations Office for Partnerships under the theme, "" The event brought together government representatives, civil society organizations, democracy practitioners and multilateral partners to explore how deliberative democratic processes can strengthen citizen agency, public trust and inclusive decision-making.
In his message marking the International Day of Democracy, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that democracy extends beyond elections and depends on the meaningful participation of people in public affairs.
Opening remarks were delivered by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. The discussion also featured representatives from the Permanent Missions of France and the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, alongside speakers from CIVICUS, UNDP and the newDemocracy Foundation.
Participants shared examples of how citizens' assemblies and other deliberative processes are being used around the world to address complex policy challenges, improve public trust and create more responsive governance systems. The discussion highlighted growing international recognition of the importance of meaningful public participation in strengthening democratic resilience and improving policy outcomes.
The release of the updated handbook reflects increasing global interest in deliberative democracy and provides a timely resource for policymakers and practitioners seeking practical approaches to engaging citizens in decision-making processes.
