Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale traveled to the United Nations to participate in the launch of the Second Annual Democracy Video Challenge and to highlight the UN's International Day of Democracy on September 15, reports News Blaze.

The press release states that the Democracy Video Challenge enhances the global dialogue on democracy by asking filmmakers, youth and other citizens of the world to create video shorts that complete the phrase ‘Democracy is....’ Partners for the online video contest include the State Department, democracy and youth organizations, academia, and the news, film and entertainment industries.

Last year, over 900 videos were submitted from over 95 countries, and the six winners are currently in the United States, touring film studios, the United Nations, and the State Department as a part of their two-week trip to the US.

This year, “a rigorous, independent jury process and online voting open to the public - kind of like American Idol,” stated Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a jocular tone, in another article by News Blaze. She continued, “The video submissions represent an extraordinary diversity of ideas and opinions. Even though they demonstrate there are many ways to define democracy, its core meaning is universal.”

The Secretary emphasized that democracy goes beyond the notion of free and fair elections. Although it is a necessary condition, above all democracy provides, “an environment in which people can exercise civil and human rights without fear of persecution or retribution.”

Secretary of State Clinton asserted that this video contest not only stands as a reminder that young people always find new and creative ways to participate in and further democracy, but that the US “wants to keep the dialogue on democracy going forward.”

The Secretary then observed that this next generation of young people is more connected and consequently better able to communicate across oceans and boundaries, thus transcending the purpose of democracy.