Parliaments and legislatures around the world have grappled with the switch to virtual operations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Latin America, NDI, the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Centre for Innovation in Parliament and the Chilean Congress hosted a webinar for legislative staff from nine countries to allow staff to learn from each other as they continue to digitally adapt.

On June 23, Malawians went to the polls for the second time in a year to elect a president. The election was held under difficult circumstances, forcing the election commission, citizen observers and the voting public to balance public health and safety during COVID-19, a compressed schedule and uncertainty due to ongoing legal disputes. Despite these challenges, citizen observers commended the election commission and Malawians for holding a smooth and peaceful election day.  

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama turned 85 this week, and millions of followers of the charismatic religious leader joined Tibetans across the world to celebrate his birthday. In the years since his exile from Tibet in 1959, the Dalai Lama has become both a major international figure and a common symbol of peaceful resistance, leading a community and a cause that has garnered significant international support.

The 2019 election cycle changed the face of Tunisian politics, ushering in many non-affiliated candidates and political outsiders into parliament, including the election of political outsider President Kaïs Saïed. By electing a new class of political leaders, Tunisian voters expressed their discontent with the status quo and their desire to empower new voices who could change the economic, political and social situation in Tunisia. But despite these changes, Tunisia has so far been unable to address its underlying economic weaknesses.

From June 20-25, in cooperation with its four partner debate clubs and the participation of more than 60 young debaters, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) held the latest event in its Voice of Change—Youth Debates program: a virtual debate tournament. Despite substantial challenges, including power cuts and issues with internet accessibility and connectivity across the country, 16 teams (four from each club) participated in the single-elimination tournament. 

This month, the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) is celebrating #CEPPSGlobalPride! In support of our global commitment to the empowerment and inclusion of marginalized populations in political processes, we’re recognizing the essential work of CEPPS partners to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) inclusion and equality. In this series, we are highlighting some of our partners around the world who are at the forefront of fighting for LGBTI equality and inclusion in democracy and governance. 

Earlier this week, NDI Board Chairman and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke with Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Angelina Jolie about what it means to be risk-taking women. Their conversation was moderated by Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski founder of Know Your Value, a movement and multi-touchpoint platform that helps women recognize, and be recognized for, their personal and professional value by developing and inspiring individual growth. 

On June 4, NDI Ecuador held its fourth democracy webinar in the COVID-19 environment to launch the Democracy Code Reform Resource. The resource breaks down sweeping reforms passed in January 2020 to the Democracy Code, Ecuador’s electoral and political party laws.