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The coronavirus crisis is hitting public health, the economy and the state of our democracy hard – nowhere more so than in developing countries.
Together with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), WFD is implementing a programme that is supporting Kenyan parliamentarians to prepare for the upcoming Conference of Parties 26 (COP26) in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Kenya |
Over 600 legislators, senior civil servants and experts in democracy have come together today (17 June) to share insights into how parliaments in Asia and around the world are monitoring and reviewing laws to ensure they work effectively for citizens, at a conference in Yangon, Myanmar.
Myanmar |
In response to COVID-19, countries have applied different legislative models to introduce emergency measures. Some countries declared a state of emergency. Others decided to rely on existing legislation to face the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite common assumptions, neither is ‘better’ or ‘worse’ for democracy and both approaches have carried considerable risks for parliamentary accountability. To declare an emergency or not to declare an emergency is not the question. Whether or not democracy is safeguarded depends on a separate set of good practices.
Between October 2016 and March 2017, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), in partnership with the Federation of Sri Lanka Local Government Association (FSLGA) organised five workshops targeted at potential cross-party women candidates.
On 24 August 2017, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in partnership with Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI), launched a new National Agenda for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the electoral and political process ahead of Sierra Leone’s 2018 elections.
In October 2019, the Forum of Organisations of People with Disabilities (FAMOD) and Mozambican Association of Disable People (ADEMO), in partnership with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), organised a dialogue between His Excellency Felipe Jacinto Nyusi and persons with disabilities in Mozambique.
Today, the UK hosts the Climate Ambition Summit, which marks one year to go until the COP26 Climate Change Summit. At COP26, major decisions will be taken which will have a fundamental impact on our world.
COVID-19 could affect a shift towards a surveillance culture. Once introduced, privacy-infringing technologies may be difficult to reverse. The next generation of digital technology and artificial intelligence could enable autocratic countries or those with weak democracies to identify and curb opposition. In democratic countries, there is a need for open discussion on how to prevent the emergence of a public-private surveillance state that compromises the fundamental right to privacy which is a bedrock of a functioning democracy. How parliaments address the concerns around increased surveillance and help to provide consensual solutions to challenges posed by new technologies may determine if they are seen as relevant in the modern age.
The Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy (CP4D) hosted current and former parliamentarians and leading civil society activists in Asia to facilitate a dialogue on specific ways in which progress can be made to advance equality and inclusion for LGBT+ persons.
WFD and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) supported parliamentarians in five Sub-Saharan Africa countries prepare for COP26.
Looking back at three successful years of WFD’s collaborative programme with the Algerian Parliament
Strong parliaments/legislatures are cornerstones of democracy. In 2019, WFD launched a programme that strengthened its partnership with the Algerian Parliament. Here is a summary of some of the programme’s outcomes after three years of successful implementation.
Algeria |
With half of the world’s population aged under 30, the survival and flourishing of democracy is highly dependent on the engagement of young people. WFD is working with the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Oslo Centre to support 40 young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa to reach their changemaking potential.
On 16 November, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) launched a Regional Road Map on Good Governance for the Western Balkans to support democratic institutions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia become more transparent and accountable.
On 8th of October 2019, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy launched the HUGEN project. HUGEN stands for human rights and gender network. The project aims to support Western Balkans parliaments in reaching international standards for human rights and gender equality.