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In recent years, particularly in the wake of COVID, the political and economic environments of the West Bank and Gaza (WBG) have generally deteriorated, exacerbated by continued conflict with Israel, little opportunity for political competition and limited venues for civic activity.
With the help of local partners, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) is working throughout Sierra Leone to prepare women to overcome traditional barriers to their political participation and ensure their voices are heard in Parliament and the country’s local councils. These efforts extend across the expanse of Sierra Leone’s distinct regions, including the rural northern district of Koinadugu.
For decades, party international organizations have mobilized like-minded political parties from around the world to share knowledge and organize a joint agenda. However, democratically-minded party networks have historically lacked a dedicated international space to collaborate with each other in the defense of democratic institutions globally.
Last month in Tanzania, representatives from diverse backgrounds, including civil society organizations (CSOs), women and youth groups, faith-based leaders, regional and ward leaders gathered in the town of Bukoba, Kagera for the Women in Politics Forum.
Parliamentary Committees serve a vital role in parliaments around the world, examining issues in detail through functions that include fact finding, deliberating and conducting oversight. Committees allow legislators to convene over specific issues and seek expertise to create meaningful reform. Building upon the efficacy of committees and parliamentary staff harnesses the strength of legislators in maintaining functional democracies.
Growing up, Charlilaos Koroma, Ibrahim Dumbuya and Nenneh Kargbo found themselves on the frontlines of the fight against discrimination in Sierra Leone. As children with physical disabilities, they were born into a society ill-equipped to accommodate physical accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and unprepared to accept PWDs as equal members of society.
2024 is a pivotal year for democracy around the world. Some of the world's largest democracies will be going to the polls this year, while elections everywhere are facing critical challenges. Authoritarians globally are increasingly seeking to gain unfair advantages by restricting political space, disrupting elections, and undermining pre- and post-election processes, while new technologies like artificial intelligence have the potential to harm information integrity.
In March 2024, two friends, Fofana and Koffi, set out on a hunting trip in a forest near their village of Akakro, as they often did. After successfully bagging their first game, Koffi split away to relieve himself. Fofana kept walking and suddenly thought he spotted a wild boar in the bushes in the distance – but when he shot at it and heard his friend Koffi’s cries, he realized with terror his mistake.
Two years ago, NDI held a series of discussions with women political leaders around the world and asked them what steps could be taken to address the gendered violence they face online. The effort validated that technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is a global challenge and a threat to the full participation of women in politics. It also recognized that TFGBV is a personal challenge to every woman in political and public life.
In recognition of the International Day of People with Disabilities, NDI is highlighting the essential work of partners who are at the forefront of fighting for greater levels of equality and organizing to shift social norms and perceptions and reduce barriers to political participation for persons with disabilities.