From the COVID-19 pandemic to the heightening climate crisis to an increase in authoritarian overreach, 2020 has sorely tested the strength of democracies globally. Even while the world continues to reel from the effects of these multiple threats, at least one lesson of 2020 is already apparent: the parliaments most effective in upholding democratic norms and meeting citizen needs are the ones that have maintained a firm commitment to the principles of transparency, openness and accountability. 

From Côte d'Ivoire to Myanmar, Tanzania to Georgia, Bolivia to Jordan, Moldova, the U.S. and beyond, in recent weeks, elections across the globe have highlighted the importance of peaceful transitions. A pivotal moment of the democratic process, peaceful transitions signal a government’s commitment to respect the people’s will in electing their next leader.

Kenya’s 2010 constitution established a groundbreaking gender quota, requiring “not more than two-thirds of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender.” Ten years later, after numerous attempts, the government still has not adopted legislation to fully implement this constitutional requirement. As a result, this September 21, the Chief Justice of Kenya advised President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve parliament.

2020 has given the world another record for the books: in response to COVID-19, international financial institutions (IFIs) have mobilized unprecedented levels of lending for health and economic programs. While the current extraordinary circumstances may merit extraordinary levels of international financial support, the potential for misuse is an issue of concern as well.