The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in ways unimaginable more than a year ago. Due to their ethnicity, gender, religion, age, or social status—or at the intersection of these identifiers—some people in the Pacific Islands and around the world are vulnerable to disproportionate impacts that compound health, psycho-social, and economic risks. However, while country-level statistical data about socio-economic effects is becoming more available, quantitative or qualitative data on how most vulnerable groups have experienced COVID-19 differently from others remain limited.
December 10, 2020
After five electoral cycles, Bougainville has proven its political and social will to conduct peaceful elections. Recognizing the historic importance of the 2020 general elections, voters held high expectations for a well-planned and successfully executed election as they turned out to elect the body that will negotiate the region’s independence from PNG. Moreover, the elections presented an opportunity to support greater political participation of women and promote their inclusion in the process for independence.
Manpreet Singh Anand
Manpreet Singh Anand joined the National Democratic Institute in 2019 as Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific region. In his long and varied career, Mr. Anand has worked as a senior leader in the public and private sectors in the areas of diplomacy, international development, foreign policy, strategic partnerships, energy, and national security.
In honor of its three decades supporting those who share a common desire to live in free societies that recognize basic human rights, NDI has published a 30th anniversary report highlighting its work in nearly every corner of every continent to advance the promise of democracy.