The Global Commission on Democracy and Multilateralism, convened by Club de Madrid in partnership with International IDEA, the Open Government Partnership, and the European Democracy Hub, was formed in 2025 to examine how the multilateral system can better uphold democratic principles amid increasing geopolitical fragmentation, democratic backsliding, and declining adherence to international norms. This background paper presents the findings of the Commission’s Working Group on Revitalizing Support for Democracy within the United Nations system, led by International IDEA. It examines how the United Nations can strengthen and protect democratic governance despite having no explicit mandate to promote democracy, highlighting work already undertaken across the system on electoral assistance, the rule-of-law, constitutional support, peacebuilding, human rights, anti-corruption, gender equality, and civic participation. 

The paper calls for this work to be protected and adequately funded, alongside stronger coordination across United Nations entities, safeguards for established normative frameworks, and expanding partnerships with civil society and other actors. It also proposes more transformative reforms, including placing democracy at the center of the post-2030 development agenda, strengthening human rights mechanisms, expanding civil society, citizen, and parliamentary participation in United Nations processes, and making democracy a priority for the next United Nations Secretary-General. The paper urges Member States to demonstrate stronger political leadership through consistent advocacy, reporting, predictable funding, coalition-building with like-minded countries, and clear commitments from candidates for senior United Nations leadership on the importance of strengthening and protecting democratic governance as a critical enabler of the three pillars of the United Nations system: development, human rights, and peace and security.