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More than two decades since the 1998 reforms that brought an end to the New Order regime and returned the power to vote in direct elections to the people, Indonesia is often called a beacon of democracy in the Southeast Asia region. However, challenges to inclusive and accountable politics across the different levels of Indonesia’s complex democracy remain.
Since 2016, WFD has worked with national and subnational legislatures as well as civil society and thought leaders in Indonesia. WFD’s mission in the country has emphasised incorporating human rights principles in both policymaking and its implementation. An important landmark in this effort was the introduction of post-legislative scrutiny mechanism in the Indonesian Parliament, a process which WFD supported extensively.
WFD Indonesia also supports the parliament’s efforts to enhance its transparency and accountability through the Open Parliament initiative. In 2020, WFD’s environmental democracy project began to aid the parliament in responding to growing concerns over environmental sustainability, in line with the country’s green economy commitment. In 2022, WFD Indonesia began implementing a regional project aimed at advancing women’s political leadership alongside other offices in Southeast Asia.
Since 2016, WFD has worked with national and subnational legislatures as well as civil society and thought leaders in Indonesia. WFD’s mission in the country has emphasised incorporating human rights principles in both policymaking and its implementation. An important landmark in this effort was the introduction of post-legislative scrutiny mechanism in the Indonesian Parliament, a process which WFD supported extensively.
WFD Indonesia also supports the parliament’s efforts to enhance its transparency and accountability through the Open Parliament initiative. In 2020, WFD’s environmental democracy project began to aid the parliament in responding to growing concerns over environmental sustainability, in line with the country’s green economy commitment. In 2022, WFD Indonesia began implementing a regional project aimed at advancing women’s political leadership alongside other offices in Southeast Asia.
This strategy outlines our vision, values, and mission, our ambition for 2022-2025 and what WFD will do to achieve that ambition.
WFD’s youth training workshops are helping Lebanon’s democracy to be more able to ensure that the exploitation of its offshore gas fields benefits the whole of society.
Lebanon |
Green budgeting is a novel concept not only for Albania but also for other much developed countries. Green Budgeting consists of tools and instruments of budgetary policy-making to help achieve environmental and climate goals. Similar practices in Albania that have achieved some positive results include the Gender Budgeting.
Albania | Report |
How have parliaments responded to the Paris Agreement during the past five years? In which way are parliaments making sure that climate legislation does have an impact? These were some of the questions guiding the new report “Parliaments and the Paris Agreement”, published by Westminster Foundation for Democracy, ParlAmericas, INTER PARES, and GLOBE International. Based on this report, we put forward five golden rules for conducting climate-proof Post-Legislative Scrutiny.
Jordan is a small upper-middle-income country known for its stability in a turbulent region. However, it faces significant socio-economic, environmental and political challenges due to regional instability, the impact of the global financial crisis, the Arab Spring and conflicts in neighbouring countries. Politically, Jordan has a history of monarchical rule combined with attempts at democratic governance. Although political parties are legally recognized, government controls have often stifled political activity, leading to periods of inactivity and recovery. There have been continuous efforts to deepen democracy, especially after the Arab Spring, with initiatives to improve political representation and reduce authoritarian practices. The Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System was established in 2021 to reform electoral laws and strengthen political parties, aiming for a more dynamic democratic environment.
WFD has been working in Jordan since 2012, when we helped establish the firstparliamentary Legislative Studies and Research Centre (LSRC) within the House of Representatives (HoR). Building on our longstanding relationship, WFD continues to support the HoR to deliver on its priorities. By facilitating access to international, regional and local experts and supporting knowledge exchange between counterparts.
WFD has been working in Jordan since 2012, when we helped establish the firstparliamentary Legislative Studies and Research Centre (LSRC) within the House of Representatives (HoR). Building on our longstanding relationship, WFD continues to support the HoR to deliver on its priorities. By facilitating access to international, regional and local experts and supporting knowledge exchange between counterparts.
Open societies around the world and the international system that supports them are under growing threat. This Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) and Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) publication provides detailed analysis and practical ideas for how the UK can meet this challenge with a ‘renewed commitment to (being) a force for good in the world-defending openness, democracy and human rights’ necessary for ‘shaping the open international order of the future’.
Report |
In Albania, WFD is working to help improve political party accessibility. We do this by working with their youth wings and by generating research and evidence for improving the political and national discourse.
WFD Albania also works with civil society organisations (CSOs) to strengthen their advocacy capacities, facilitate networking and exchange among them, and helping them to better interact with different layers of governance. The focus of the work with CSOs has been in the health sector and environmental democracy.
Furthermore, we assessed the dynamics and potential of the six most prominent civic movements in Albania. In April 2021 we helped monitor parliamentary elections by focusing on the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
WFD Albania also works with civil society organisations (CSOs) to strengthen their advocacy capacities, facilitate networking and exchange among them, and helping them to better interact with different layers of governance. The focus of the work with CSOs has been in the health sector and environmental democracy.
Furthermore, we assessed the dynamics and potential of the six most prominent civic movements in Albania. In April 2021 we helped monitor parliamentary elections by focusing on the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
As parliaments worldwide start to pay more attention to implementation of legislation, the University of Hull and Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) recently organised in London an expert seminar on Post-Legislative Scrutiny, bringing together academics, parliamentary researchers, parliamentarians and legislative impact specialists.
This chapter is part of our policy brief that discusses where risks to democracy from AI are emerging, what a democratic response to AI governance and safety looks like and the role of parliaments worldwide in enabling this response. It outlines how the democratic governance community can help plot a course of action to ensure that democracy is protected in the face of rapid AI advancements.
Briefing |
To address democratic challenges and promote youth participation in public affairs, the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) is leading the European Union-funded project “Women and Youth in Democracy”. As members of the EPD, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), together with the Kofi Annan Foundation, and the Oslo Center, are implementing the third pillar of this project “Accountability Hubs”, which aims to improve the inclusion of young people in democracy and decision-making.
This foreword is part of our policy brief that discusses where risks to democracy from AI are emerging, what a democratic response to AI governance and safety looks like and the role of parliaments worldwide in enabling this response. It outlines how the democratic governance community can help plot a course of action to ensure that democracy is protected in the face of rapid AI advancements.
Briefing |
WFD is helping to make countries' political systems fairer, more inclusive, and more accountable. We do this by working with parliaments, political parties, electoral bodies and civil society.
Democracy promoters cannot avoid these trade-offs, but with systematic evaluation of past programmes they can navigate them more effectively. This policy paper draws on the Westminster Foundation for Democracy’s experience in parliamentary strengthening to suggest how this might be done.
Briefing |
This comparative study describes the process and reasons for Post-Legislative Scrutiny, presents relevant facts and trends in selected countries, and identifies opportunities relevant to the parliamentary strengthening programming of the Westminster foundation for democracy (WFD) and other democracy assistance organizations.
Study |