DemocracyNews Special: 2012 International Day of Democracy

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DemocracyNews Special: 2012 International Day of Democracy

 

In recognition of International Day of Democracy on September 15, the World Movement for Democracy expresses is solidarity with the thousands of democracy and human rights activists around the world who continue to fight for the values they believe in; to build the institutions that make those values meaningful to the citizens of their countries; to deepen their knowledge about democracy, human rights, and the strategies of nonviolence; and to support each other in their struggles against tyranny and oppression. 

As the World Movement’s Seventh Assembly in Lima, Peru, next month approaches, we look forward in particular to honoring three movements that we will recognize at the Assembly through the presentation of our Democracy Courage Tributes: the Human Rights Defenders in Bahrain, the Advocates for the Rights of Sexual Minorities Worldwide, and the Pro-Democracy Movement in Cuba.  These Tributes will add to the wide recognition the World Movement has given to groups and movements in many other regions and countries at its previous assemblies over the past 12 years.

We also hope that the many workshops and panel discussions at the Assembly in Lima—under the general theme of political, social, and economic inclusion, and focusing on defending civil society, youth engagement and empowerment, and building democracy movements—will provide new and useful ideas that the many participants who will attend can take back to their communities to improve their work and the work of their colleagues.  (We only wish we could accommodate many more participants having already reached full capacity for the space.)

The World Movement’s Defending Civil Society project also continues to address the growing trend of new laws and other legal measures enacted under varying pretenses to close down civil society space, thus limiting the work of democracy and human rights advocates.  Bringing together civil society organizations to discuss the most effective ways to prevent such laws and measures from being passed and implemented, or to press for the reform of regressive laws already on the books, is a priority of our work, along with efforts to address the more traditional ways in which governments continue to suppress dissent and civil society activism. 

Despite the formidable challenges to building a more democratic world, we continue to have one main reason for our optimism: the strong dedication, devotion, and tireless work of World Movement for Democracy participants in every region and in every country.  In celebration of International Day of Democracy, therefore, we convey our best wishes for success in all the important work that you do.

World Movement Secretariat

www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=1047928

www.defendingcivilsociety.org/

www.wmd.org/assemblies/sixth-assembly/democracy-courage-tributes

www.un.org/en/events/democracyday/index.shtml

 

 

 

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