UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has spotlighted the growing trend for emerging democracies to seek help from the United Nations in a message marking the International Day of Democracy.

While democracy is considered as the optimal social and political system, the challenges to consolidating democracy around the world remain "formidable and numerous," stressed the UN chief.

This was contained in a statement issued in the Ghanian capital Accra on Thursday by the United Nations Information Center.

"Demand for UN assistance with institution-building, elections, the rule of law, the strengthening of civil society and other key aspects of democracy have grown considerably," he said on the second annual celebration of the day.

"Restoring or building new democracies, preserving fragile democracies and improving the quality of even long-established democracies requires commitment and hard work," he added.

To support the world body's efforts in establishing democracies, Ban said, he had created a set of guidelines committing the entire UN organization to principled, coherent and consistent action, and to "ensure that UN assistance truly helped to build national capacities and nurture democratic cultures."

Democracy contributes significantly to economic and social progress, international peace and security and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, said Ban, while calling for the UN to "rededicate ourselves to those principles."

Underscoring that although primary responsibility for democratic change lies within national societies, Ban said the international community could play a vital supportive role.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2009)