| International IDEA News | July - September 2008 | www.idea.int | » View in browser |
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 EDITORIAL |
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Democracy should not be taken for granted |
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 Last year the UN General Assembly established an annual International Day of Democracy to be celebrated on 15 September. Some may ask, what can an international day of democracy accomplish? Well, not much in itself. But what is significant is that UN member states actually have agreed that democracy is worth celebrating. In the run up to this first Democracy Day, the African Union Commission and International IDEA launched a Joint Activity Plan for supporting democracy in Africa.» Read more |
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 By Vidar Helgesen, Secretary-General |
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| FOCUS: Democracy building in Africa |
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| African Union Commission and International IDEA launch ‘Joint Activity Plan’ to support democracy in Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: September 12, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Efforts directed at building and consolidating democracy in Africa received an added boost through the launch of a ‘Joint Activity Plan’ for democracy in Africa by the African Union Commission and International IDEA on 12 September 2008 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. » Read more |
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 Photo:© Margot Gould/IDEA |
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| OTHER NEWS |
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Political process in Andean countries |
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| Posted: September 29, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thirty years after the “third democratic wave”, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), International IDEA and Casa de América organized a roundtable on “Political Process in Andean Countries” on 26 September 2008, in Madrid, Spain to examine the progress and setbacks sustained by democratic governance in Andean countries together with the measures they have adopted in response. » Read more |
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Democracy in development |
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| Posted: September 15, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International IDEA and the Swedish government jointly launched an initiative to strengthen the EU’s democracy building agenda. The Initiative, “Democracy in Development – towards and beyond the Swedish EU Presidency 2009”, is based on in-depth analysis and multi-regional consultations, providing an opportunity for actors in non-EU regions to share their perspectives on how EU could improve its democracy building support efforts. » Read more |
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Training politicians in Peru |
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| Posted: September 1, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Two training programmes for political leaders were organized in Lima, Peru by International IDEA and Asociación Civil Transparencia for political party members; the first contributing towards their knowledge on the role and responsibilities of political parties and the second, encouraging women for party leadership positions and elected office. » Read more |
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International IDEA visits the Constituent Assembly of Nepal |
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| Posted: August 15, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The majority of members of the Constituent Assembly of Nepal have little or no constitution making experience. A good number are women, who constitute one third of the Assembly. To support these members, initiatives such as orientation programmes on rules of procedure and constitutional dialogue are needed. International IDEA is one of the partners invited to support these programmes. » Read more |
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The challenges of electoral reform in Mexico |
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| Posted: August 25, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
On 19 August 2008, International IDEA organized a seminar specifically to address the problems arising from the implementation of the most recent federal electoral reform in Mexico. » Read more |
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Bolivia reflects on the referendums in Latin America and voting abroad |
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| Posted: July 30, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Voting abroad is not a new issue in Latin America, but it has become especially relevant in recent years. In an effort to analyze its characteristics, reach and limitations in the region, International IDEA and the national Electoral Court of Bolivia organized “International Workshops for Democracy: Referendums in Latin America and Voting Abroad” in La Paz, Bolivia, between 22 – 25 July 2008. » Read more |
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ACE meets BRIDGE: Capacity development on a regional level |
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| Posted: August 15, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In July 2008 the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network and the BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) Project teamed up for a joint workshop in Senegal to discuss the progress of ACE’s regionalization strategy. » Read more |
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| NEW RELEASES |
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International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Tel: +46 8 698 37 00, Fax: +46 8 20 24 22 | E-mail: info@idea.int | Web: www.idea.int
Editors: James Lenahan and Monika Ericson
International IDEA, Strömsborg, SE-103 34 Stockholm, Sweden
© 2008, International IDEA. All rights reserved.
Tel: +46 8 698 37 00, Fax: +46 8 20 24 22 | E-mail: info@idea.int | Web: www.idea.int
Editors: James Lenahan and Monika Ericson
International IDEA, Strömsborg, SE-103 34 Stockholm, Sweden
© 2008, International IDEA. All rights reserved.