Media democracy is a production and distribution model which promotes a mass media system that informs and empowers all members of society, and enhances democratic values. The term also refers to a modern social movement evident in countries all over the world which attempts to make mainstream media more accountable to the publics they serve and to create more democratic alternatives.

It is a concept and a social movement that has grown as a response to the increased corporate domination of mass media and the perceived shrinking of the marketplace of ideas. Its proponents advocate monitoring and reforming the mass media, strengthening public service broadcasting, and developing and participating in alternative media and citizen journalism.

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As soon as he arrived into exile in India, H.H.The Dalai Lama as per to his long-cherished wish, he decided to turn Tibetan society into Free Democracy on the basis of its rich culture. In December 1959 while a long life offering was being given to His Holiness at Bodh Gaya, thirteen Tibetans from three traditional provinces of Tibet and four schools of Tibetan Buddhism were appointed as the first members of the Commission of Tibetan People’s Deputies.

Eventually on 2^nd September 1960, as the CTA’s experiment with modern democracy, the commission of Tibetan People’s Deputies was instituted which gradually matured into a full-fledged legislative body, thus coming to be known as the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD). Then in 2006, it was renamed as the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE).

From 3^rd September 1960 onwards for seven days, the members of parliament had studied on the merits and demerits of the government’s rules, regulations, policies and guiding principles and also its mistakes made in the past. Additionally, they too studied on the policies to be taken in the future, expansion of governmental departments, recruitment of official staffs, etc.

On 10^th October 1961, democratic constitution for future Tibet in brief was released. 

On 10^th March 1963, a detail draft democratic constitution for future Tibet having ten chapters and seventy seven articles was released.

On 4^th April 1963, the term of Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) was three years and beginning from the second Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD), one woman representative each from every province was added to the members of ATPD. His Holiness elected one member who was specialized in the field of literature.

On 8^th February 1964, new policy of electing and transferring of people’s representatives in bigger Tibetan settlements was founded.

In 1965, the old titles of the governmental officials which are inappropriate to the modern titles were replaced with new titles.

After getting no less experience by working in different departments, the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) was separately established for the parliament members on 1966 May 3.

In 1969, it has been decided to conduct annual meeting of settlement officers and the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD) was to conduct that meeting.

In 1972, the people living in and around Varanasi voluntarily founded committee of freedom movement in their locality and then the ATPD founded the same committee in every Tibetan settlement.

On 15^th August 1973, new policy of arranging officials of Tibetan government in exile was announced.

On 21^st November 1974, rules and regulations of election commission were fixed. It has been announced that the election of members of parliament should be equal between man and woman without any special seat for women.

In the year 1975, all the account and budget of every governmental department was decided to be controlled by any member of high authority.

As per to the discussion taken place in the sixth general meeting in 1975, it has been decided to commemorate 2^nd September as the Democracy day in the exile society. It has also been announced that the official leave would be given to all the civil servants.

On 5^th October 1977 members from Bon religious community were newly elected in the sixth Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD).

On 23^rd July 1979, according to the wish of Chharphul-Chhagtag Rinpoche, the terms of cabinet members (Kalons) has been extended to five years.

From 1979 onwards, Tibetan delegates had visited four times in Tibet.

In 1981, Rules and regulations on annual general meeting of the Tibetan government and people was enacted in which it has been declared that the meeting will be conducted after every two years instead of annually.

In 1981, Dhotoe (one of the traditional provinces of Tibet) disagreed to the declaration of equal voting during the eighth ATPD by all the three traditional provinces of Tibet.

From 1982 onwards, investigation delegates for peace talks went twice into Tibet.

From 8^th July 1985, two years were extended to the terms of eighth ATPD and since then the term of MPs have become five years.

On 2^nd September 1985, grand celebration was arranged to commemorate the Silver Jubilee (25^th) of the founding of modern democratic system of administration in the exile Tibetan society.

On 21^st September 1987, H.H.The Dalai Lama gave speech on five preliminary points on Peace.

On 15^th June 1988, H.H.The Dalai Lama addressed to the members of the European Parliament at Strasbourg.

In 1988, the tenth ATPD and the fourth Religious gathering at Varanasi.

On 6^th May 1989, H.H.The Dalai Lama gave holy speech on the 16^th general meeting of the civil servants with regards to his own power and stable foundation of democracy in our Tibetan society.

On 10^th December 1989, H.H.The Dalai Lama received Noble Peace Prize on the international human rights day.   

On 11^th May 1990, H.H.The Dalai Lama addressed the gathering of 370 participants including MPs (Chithue), Cabinet members (Kalons), civil servants, general public on the promotion of democracy in exile Tibetan society. His Holiness founded one new committee for constitution review and also stopped appointing cabinet members and giving presents to MPs by His Holiness.

On 29^th May 1991, members of ATPD took oath infront of H.H.The Dalai Lama. The Parliament consists of 46 members. U-Tsang, Do-tod and Do-med, the three traditional provinces of Tibet, elect ten members each, while the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon faith elect two members each. Three members are elected by Tibetans in the west: two from Europe and one from North America. In addition, one to three members with distinction in the fields of art, science, literature and community service are nominated directly by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

On 14^th June 1991, the newly empowered Tibetan parliament issued the exile Tibetan constitution under the title of The Charter of the Tibetans in Exile

On 28^th June 1991, charter of exile Tibetan government has been approved officially by H.H.The Dalai Lama.

On 26^th February, 1992, political guidelines of future Tibet and summary of the charter has been publicly declared.

On 11^th March, 1992, Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission was instituted.

On 5^th September 2001, the Tibetan parliament, on the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, amended the Charter to provide for direct election of the Kalon Tripa (the highest executive authority) by the exile populace. The first directly-elected Kalon Tripa — Professor Samdhong Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin — took the oath of office on 5 September 2001. He was elected to the post of Kalon Tripa for the second time in August 2006.

On 19^th September 2001, the three cabinet ministers nominated by the Kalon Tripa got the parliament’s approval for their appointmen.

On 30^thMay 2006, there was no members of parliament nominated by H.H.The Dalai Lama in the fourteenth TPiE.

Declaration adopted without a vote* by the Inter-Parliamentary Council at its 161st session
(Cairo, 16 September 1997)
The Inter-Parliamentary Council,

Reaffirming the Inter-Parliamentary Union's commitment to peace and development and convinced that the strengthening of the democratisation process and representative institutions will greatly contribute to attaining this goal,

Reaffirming also the calling and commitment of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to promoting democracy and the establishment of pluralistic systems of representative government in the world, and wishing to strengthen its sustained and multiform action in this field,

Recalling that each State has the sovereign right, freely to choose and develop, in accordance with the will of its people, its own political, social, economic and cultural systems without interference by other States in strict conformity with the United Nations Charter,

Recalling also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted on 10 December 1948, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted on 16 December 1966, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination adopted on 21 December 1965 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women adopted on 18 December 1979,

Recalling further the Declaration on Criteria for Free and Fair Elections which it adopted in March 1994 and in which it confirmed that in any State the authority of the government can derive only from the will of the people as expressed in genuine, free and fair elections,

Referring to the Agenda for Democratisation presented on 20 December 1996 by the UN Secretary-General to the 51st session of the United Nations General Assembly,

Adopts the following Universal Declaration on Democracy and urges Governments and Parliaments throughout the world to be guided by its content:

FIRST PART - THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY

1. Democracy is a universally recognised ideal as well as a goal, which is based on common values shared by peoples throughout the world community irrespective of cultural, political, social and economic differences. It is thus a basic right of citizenship to be exercised under conditions of freedom, equality, transparency and responsibility, with due respect for the plurality of views, and in the interest of the polity.

2. Democracy is both an ideal to be pursued and a mode of government to be applied according to modalities which reflect the diversity of experiences and cultural particularities without derogating from internationally recognised principles, norms and standards. It is thus a constantly perfected and always perfectible state or condition whose progress will depend upon a variety of political, social, economic, and cultural factors.

3. As an ideal, democracy aims essentially to preserve and promote the dignity and fundamental rights of the individual, to achieve social justice, foster the economic and social development of the community, strengthen the cohesion of society and enhance national tranquillity, as well as to create a climate that is favourable for international peace. As a form of government, democracy is the best way of achieving these objectives; it is also the only political system that has the capacity for self-correction.

4. The achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society in which they work in equality and complementarity, drawing mutual enrichment from their differences.

5. A state of democracy ensures that the processes by which power is acceded to, wielded and alternates allow for free political competition and are the product of open, free and non-discriminatory participation by the people, exercised in accordance with the rule of law, in both letter and spirit.

6. Democracy is inseparable from the rights set forth in the international instruments recalled in the preamble. These rights must therefore be applied effectively and their proper exercise must be matched with individual and collective responsibilities.

7. Democracy is founded on the primacy of the law and the exercise of human rights. In a democratic State, no one is above the law and all are equal before the law.

8. Peace and economic, social and cultural development are both conditions for and fruits of democracy. There is thus interdependence between peace, development, respect for and observance of the rule of law and human rights.



SECOND PART - THE ELEMENTS AND EXERCISE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

9. Democracy is based on the existence of well-structured and well-functioning institutions, as well as on a body of standards and rules and on the will of society as a whole, fully conversant with its rights and responsibilities.

10. It is for democratic institutions to mediate tensions and maintain equilibrium between the competing claims of diversity and uniformity, individuality and collectivity, in order to enhance social cohesion and solidarity.

11. Democracy is founded on the right of everyone to take part in the management of public affairs; it therefore requires the existence of representative institutions at all levels and, in particular, a Parliament in which all components of society are represented and which has the requisite powers and means to express the will of the people by legislating and overseeing government action.

12. The key element in the exercise of democracy is the holding of free and fair elections at regular intervals enabling the people's will to be expressed. These elections must be held on the basis of universal, equal and secret suffrage so that all voters can choose their representatives in conditions of equality, openness and transparency that stimulate political competition. To that end, civil and political rights are essential, and more particularly among them, the rights to vote and to be elected, the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, access to information and the right to organise political parties and carry out political activities. Party organisation, activities, finances, funding and ethics must be properly regulated in an impartial manner in order to ensure the integrity of the democratic processes.

13. It is an essential function of the State to ensure the enjoyment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights to its citizens. Democracy thus goes hand in hand with an effective, honest and transparent government, freely chosen and accountable for its management of public affairs.

14. Public accountability, which is essential to democracy, applies to all those who hold public authority, whether elected or non-elected, and to all bodies of public authority without exception. Accountability entails a public right of access to information about the activities of government, the right to petition government and to seek redress through impartial administrative and judicial mechanisms.

15. Public life as a whole must be stamped by a sense of ethics and by transparency, and appropriate norms and procedures must be established to uphold them.

16. Individual participation in democratic processes and public life at all levels must be regulated fairly and impartially and must avoid any discrimination, as well as the risk of intimidation by State and non-State actors.

17. Judicial institutions and independent, impartial and effective oversight mechanisms are the guarantors for the rule of law on which democracy is founded. In order for these institutions and mechanisms fully to ensure respect for the rules, improve the fairness of the processes and redress injustices, there must be access by all to administrative and judicial remedies on the basis of equality as well as respect for administrative and judicial decisions both by the organs of the State and representatives of public authority and by each member of society.

18. While the existence of an active civil society is an essential element of democracy, the capacity and willingness of individuals to participate in democratic processes and make governance choices cannot be taken for granted. It is therefore necessary to develop conditions conducive to the genuine exercise of participatory rights, while also eliminating obstacles that prevent, hinder or inhibit this exercise. It is therefore indispensable to ensure the permanent enhancement of, inter alia, equality, transparency and education and to remove obstacles such as ignorance, intolerance, apathy, the lack of genuine choices and alternatives and the absence of measures designed to redress imbalances or discrimination of a social, cultural, religious and racial nature, or for reasons of gender.

19. A sustained state of democracy thus requires a democratic climate and culture constantly nurtured and reinforced by education and other vehicles of culture and information. Hence, a democratic society must be committed to education in the broadest sense of the term, and more particularly civic education and the shaping of a responsible citizenry.

20. Democratic processes are fostered by a favourable economic environment; therefore, in its overall effort for development, society must be committed to satisfying the basic economic needs of the most disadvantaged, thus ensuring their full integration in the democratic process.

21. The state of democracy presupposes freedom of opinion and expression; this right implies freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

22. The institutions and processes of democracy must accommodate the participation of all people in homogeneous as well as heterogeneous societies in order to safeguard diversity, pluralism and the right to be different in a climate of tolerance.

23. Democratic institutions and processes must also foster decentralised local and regional government and administration, which is a right and a necessity, and which makes it possible to broaden the base of public participation.





THIRD PART - THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION OF DEMOCRACY

24. Democracy must also be recognised as an international principle, applicable to international organisations and to States in their international relations. The principle of international democracy does not only mean equal or fair representation of States; it also extends to the economic rights and duties of States.

25. The principles of democracy must be applied to the international management of issues of global interest and the common heritage of humankind, in particular the human environment.

26. To preserve international democracy, States must ensure that their conduct conforms to international law, refrain from the use or threat of force and from any conduct that endangers or violates the sovereignty and political or territorial integrity of other States, and take steps to resolve their differences by peaceful means.

27. A democracy should support democratic principles in international relations. In that respect, democracies must refrain from undemocratic conduct, express solidarity with democratic governments and non-State actors like non-governmental organisations which work for democracy and human rights, and extend solidarity to those who are victims of human rights violations at the hands of undemocratic régimes. In order to strengthen international criminal justice, democracies must reject impunity for international crimes and serious violations of fundamental human rights and support the establishment of a permanent international criminal court.