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Election days matter in democracy – but they are not the only thing that matters. The best time to defend electoral integrity, and therefore democracy, is after an election. To be able to make improvements, we need politically smart approaches to electoral reform.
The year saw us conduct more than 600 activities, reaching over 6,000 participants and producing almost 100 products ranging from research on the cost of politics we commissioned to a strategic plan for the National Assembly of Pakistan that we supported.
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.
Between 2019 and 2022, WFD implemented a programme in Lebanon that provided institutional and legal guidance and support to parliamentary committees. WFD’s role centred on supporting the Lebanese Parliament’s efforts to engage citizens in decision-making processes in the face of economic and political crises.
Lebanon |
“Change is the end result of all true learning.” ― Leo Buscaglia
The primary reason for the establishment of the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) was to tackle the increasing level of violence against persons in all its forms, including GBV. As such, the Ondo State VAPP law, which was passed in July 2021, is a vital instrument for the agency to fulfil this objective. While the VAPP law has numerous provisions to protect all persons, regardless of gender, the greatest beneficiaries are women and children as they are often the targets of, not just GBV but, all forms of violence, including political violence.
The primary reason for the establishment of the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence (OSAA-GBV) was to tackle the increasing level of violence against persons in all its forms, including GBV. As such, the Ondo State VAPP law, which was passed in July 2021, is a vital instrument for the agency to fulfil this objective. While the VAPP law has numerous provisions to protect all persons, regardless of gender, the greatest beneficiaries are women and children as they are often the targets of, not just GBV but, all forms of violence, including political violence.
Nigeria |
In September 2018, WFD launched the three-year Western Balkans Democracy Initiative to strengthen political parties, parliamentary practice and democratic institutions in the region. The program in Montenegro worked on inclusion of the less represented groups (youth and marginalized women), with the aim to engage them more in the public and political life. After these initiatives, the program focused on the improvement of transparency and accountability policies. EU accession negotiations are the primary focus for institutions in Montenegro. Progress under Chapters 23 and 24 are central to the process, requiring the implementation of certain reforms before negotiations in other areas are taken forward.
Support for Montenegrin political parties with cross-party dialogue and to civil society organizations on transparency, accountability and effective policymaking will contribute to this reform agenda.
Support for Montenegrin political parties with cross-party dialogue and to civil society organizations on transparency, accountability and effective policymaking will contribute to this reform agenda.
WFD, under phase II of the Kenya Inclusive Political Parties (KIPP) programme, continues to promote people with disabilities' (PWDs) inclusion in politics. We are doing this by partnering with political parties to ensure they respond to the needs of PWDs within their internal party structures, political commitments, policies, and in elections.
Kenya |
In-line with the overall objective of the Inclusive and Accountable Politics programme to promote the participation of underrepresented groups in politics, WFD launched a #PoliticsWithValues campaign to promote values in political participation in Nigeria, in October 2019.
Nigeria |
Once the Summit for Democracy is over and we move into the year of action, legislators and political leaders who want to promote respect for human rights and help build disability-inclusive societies would do well to bear this set of skills and qualities in mind – and make sure they cultivate them
Following the end of President Yahya Jammeh’s undemocratic rule in The Gambia in 2016, citizens are increasingly supportive of efforts to make Gambian democracy more resilient, inclusive and accountable.
Tina Fahm, WFD Associate, Commissioner at the Independent Commission for Aid Impact and an LSE Lay Governor, explains how WFD’s Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy is helping citizens participate in mainstream politics and have their voices heard.
Tina Fahm, WFD Associate, Commissioner at the Independent Commission for Aid Impact and an LSE Lay Governor, explains how WFD’s Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy is helping citizens participate in mainstream politics and have their voices heard.
WFD has continued to mobilise and train Corps members to reach out to youths, women and PWDs with voter education messages and support the participation of marginalised groups in the electoral process.
Nigeria |
On Friday 15th of May, WFD in partnership with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), convened a webinar to discuss strengthening of democracy in Nigeria, with a focus on accountability and transparency.
Nigeria |
The 9 May 2018 elections brought the first change of government in Malaysia after 61 years. Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) led the orientation of the newly elected MPs and a round-table on future reforms chaired by the Speaker. The new government vowed to ‘Restore the Dignity of Parliament’ in its manifesto Promise 16 which had paved way for parliamentary reforms. In this context and drawing on internal and external expertise, WFD is working with the Malaysian parliament to embed institutional reforms.
These reforms aim to strengthen parliament at the centre of the country’s political life and make it relevant to the people it serves. The reform-focused interventions of WFD include enhancing capacity of the Parliamentary staff to support Members, providing technical support and guidance to the newly formed parliamentary committees and establishing accountable and inclusive parliamentary processes and systems.
The inclusion of women’s participation in politics is also an area that is continuing to develop in the country. As part of the broader Commonwealth Partnership for Development (CP4D) initiative, WFD is working with a local CSO to promote gender equality in Sabah and creating linkages with other CSOs as they develop advocacy strategies to raise awareness about gender issues. Low political representation of women, only 10% in the State Legislative Assembly, is a key driver of WFD’s work in Sabah.
These reforms aim to strengthen parliament at the centre of the country’s political life and make it relevant to the people it serves. The reform-focused interventions of WFD include enhancing capacity of the Parliamentary staff to support Members, providing technical support and guidance to the newly formed parliamentary committees and establishing accountable and inclusive parliamentary processes and systems.
The inclusion of women’s participation in politics is also an area that is continuing to develop in the country. As part of the broader Commonwealth Partnership for Development (CP4D) initiative, WFD is working with a local CSO to promote gender equality in Sabah and creating linkages with other CSOs as they develop advocacy strategies to raise awareness about gender issues. Low political representation of women, only 10% in the State Legislative Assembly, is a key driver of WFD’s work in Sabah.
Silvia Matallana Villegas - Postdoctoral researcher on Legislative Impact Analysis at the Mexican Senate and the Queretaro State University -
shares her reflections on the Mexican parliament's recent efforts to engage with PLS and what this means for elderly women.
shares her reflections on the Mexican parliament's recent efforts to engage with PLS and what this means for elderly women.
WFD engaged with key stakeholders, including women leaders and democratic institutions, working to support the country’s democratic transition process. From 2018 to 2021, WFD delivered negotiations and peacebuilding workshops and developed links between key leaders preparing the country for a peaceful transition towards a multi-party democracy.
Sudan |