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Sierra Leone: Campaign Encourages Women’s Participation in July Elections
NDI and the 50/50 Group, a local partner of NDI, held a march through Freetown and a program of speakers on June 7 to launch a national effort to encourage women’s participation in upcoming local government elections as candidates, activists, leaders, and voters.
 Bolivia: NDI Examines Link Between Political Reform And Poverty Reduction
A new report assesses how Bolivia’s political leaders can effectively administer democratic reforms to help alleviate the challenges of poverty.
 Macedonia: EU Aspirant Confronts Problematic Elections
Generally peaceful parliamentary elections on June 1 were marred by instances of violence and irregularities, placing renewed emphasis on the need to create and sustain democratic political practices. With efforts centered around a political party code of electoral conduct, NDI is helping Macedonians bring these issues to the fore.
Previously:
Political Parties Commit to Democratic Election Standards
 Albania: Prime Minister Berisha Pledges Support for More Women in Elective Positions
At an NDI workshop for politically active women in Tirana, Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha pledged to support a proposed gender quota law that would result in significant increases to the number of women holding elective office.
 East Africa: Legislators Draft Recommendations for Accountability, Transparency in Extractive Industries
Members of the East African Legislative Assembly recently met in Arusha, Tanzania, for a two-day workshop on fostering transparency in the region's extractive industries. The workshop, co-sponsored by NDI, led to the drafting of a resolution proposing cooperation among East African legislators in the management of oil and mineral resources.
 Georgia: Political Parties Making Progress under Code of Conduct
In the lead up to May parliamentary elections, nine Georgian political parties have signed a Code of Conduct, a voluntary agreement between NDI and the party organizations. The groups have made progress toward accountability but monitoring is needed to encourage best practices, NDI has found.
Elections
Nepal: Domestic Observers Report on Constituent Assembly Elections
The Democracy and Election Alliance Nepal (DEAN), an NDI partner organization, said the overall conduct of April 10 elections was satisfactory but noted numerous flaws in the election process.
Previously:
Morocco: NDI Issues Final Report on 2007 Legislative Elections
While praising election-day administration by Moroccan officials and the serious, platform-based campaigns of many political parties, the Institute noted a strikingly low rate of turnout and high rate of spoiled, blank and protest ballots for the Sept. 7 elections.
Zimbabwe: NDI Expert Discusses Situation on C-Span
Saying "there has been no election in Zimbabwe," Patrick Merloe, NDI's Director for Election Programs, appeared on Washington Journal on July 1 and continued the Institute's call for elections under a transitional government and with international supervision.
Previously:
- NDI Calls for International Action to Defend Population:
Press release (*.pdf)
- NDI Condemns Repressive Actions in Zimbabwe:
Press release (*.pdf)
Georgia: Code of Conduct led to Improved Pre-Election Environment before May Parliamentary vote
Political parties took positive steps before May 21 parliamentary elections, according to an NDI report. Problems remained, however, and parties used the code more often to resolve problems than to prevent them.
Previously:
Azerbaijan: NDI Urges Reversal of Court Decision Against Election Monitoring Center
The National Democratic Institute has expressed deep concern regarding a May 14 court decision in Baku that shut down the Election Monitoring Center (EMC), a nonpartisan domestic monitoring organization that works in partnership with NDI in Azerbaijan.
Cambodia: NDI Assesses Preparations for National Assembly Elections
A pre-election delegation, in an April 4 report, recognized improvements in political conditions but noted serious remaining problems as the country prepares for July 27 elections.
Fellowship Honors NDI Staffer Andi Parhamovich
NDI's Andi Parhamovich Fellowship, honoring a staff member killed in Iraq, will assist women working for NDI or its partner organizations to strengthen democracy. The first award will go to someone from the Middle East & North Africa region.
Latin America: Political Leadership Program
Since 1999, NDI’s Political Leadership Program has encouraged modernization and renewal within 49 participating parties from 10 Latin American countries by strengthening the leadership skills of emerging leaders. The seminar site and participating countries for the 2008 Leadership Program are still being determined.
In celebration of its first anniversary, iKNOW Politics, the International Knowledge Network of Women In Politics, held launch events in Europe and Mexico on March 3. Hosted by the European Parliament, the Brussels event featured remarks by Vice President Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou and a video message from NDI Chairman Madeleine Albright. In Mexico City, participants heard from UN Resident Representative Magdy Martinez-Soliman and Rocio Gaytan, president of the National Institute of Women (INMUJERES).
Founded by NDI in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), iKNOW Politics is an online resource for, and network of, politically active women. It now includes almost 2,000 members from more than 150 countries.
Jordan: Middle East Civic Leaders Confer on Technology and Elections
 A two-day regional conference in Jordan, hosted by NDI, brought together civic leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, West Bank/Gaza and Yemen to discuss innovative uses of information technology in election monitoring.
NDI ‘Changing the world of internet and Politics’ with Election Monitoring Technology
 In recognition of its breakthrough use of cell phone text messaging in election monitoring, NDI has been lauded as one of “the Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of the Internet and Politics.”
NDI is a non-profit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide by promoting citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.
More About NDI »
Democracy Dialogue
 In the spring 2008 issue of Innovations, a journal of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ian Schuler of NDI's technology team writes about the Institute's increasing use of text messaging in election-monitoring efforts.
Read more »
 Jim Swigert, NDI's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, spoke at at a recent panel discussion in London about the relationship of democracy to policies affecting the poor.
Read more »
Recent Publications
Other Recent Publications:
NDI in the News
- “Democratic Possibilities: What Next?,” Daily Times, Feb. 28, 2008
- “Give politics a chance, say civil society activists,” Pakistan Times, Feb. 28, 2008
- “PAKISTAN: Asma calls for independence of judiciary, media,” Dawn, Feb. 27, 2008
- “Vote Is Expected to Further Weaken Musharraf,” New York Times, Feb. 18, 2008
- “Workers Meet MPs Over Salaries,” Voice of America News, Feb. 18, 2008
More Stories »
Access Democracy is a resource library created by NDI to encourage an exchange of information and experiences among democratic activists and practitioners around the world. The library presents selected web sites and resource materials developed by the Institute and its in-country political and civic partners.
NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. To find more information on specific NDI programs around the world, click on a region below.
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