Stories

International Summit in Kosovo Produces “Pristina Principles” to Increase Women’s Empowerment

After three days of meetings in Pristina, Kosovo, a group of women and men leaders from around the world has created the “Pristina Principles,” a set of guidelines and priorities aimed at eliminating barriers to women’s political participation, aiding their economic empowerment and giving them access to security and justice in the region and around the world.

With the ability to make informed choices and express their will at the ballot box, Georgians participated in their most competitive elections in a decade on Oct. 1 and ushered in a period that will require a consultative and participatory legislative process in a newly-pluralist parliament, an NDI observer delegation said Oct. 2 in Tbilisi.

“The responsibility now lies with the country’s political leaders to engage immediately in constructive dialogue and reconciliation,” NDI said.

“Democracy is not perfect, but it is the best system so far,” said Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese activist, member of parliament and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate at a Sept. 19 dinner co-hosted by NDI and the International Republican Institute (IRI). “The best thing about democracy is that it allows for non-violent change in power, without hurt to the country.”

On the International Day of Democracy, Sept. 15, civil society organizations from across the globe joined in a call to parliaments worldwide for stronger collaboration to improve openness, transparency and citizen participation in the legislative process.

Golos, Russia’s largest independent election monitoring organization and a long-time NDI partner, has been awarded the 2012 Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee for its "outstanding efforts to promote democratic values through free and fair elections in Russia," according to a statement by Secretary General Bjørn Engesland. Sakharov, a scientist, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was an outspoken advocate of civil liberties and civil reforms in the Soviet Union.

Nepal has survived considerable political turmoil in recent years, including an armed conflict, failure of the Constituent Assembly to deliver a new constitution and the inability of leadership to form a sustainable government. Although the country has managed the political upheaval, recent events threaten the country’s chances for continued democratic change.

NDI Georgia Releases Political Poll Ratings and Crosstabs

NDI has released results of a public opinion survey designed to measure Georgian voters’ attitudes toward parliamentary elections expected in October.

If the elections were held tomorrow, the poll found, 37 percent of likely voters said their first choice would be the United National Movement (UNM); 22 percent said “don’t know”; 21 percent refused to answer; 12 percent chose Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream Coalition; 3 percent said “no party”; 3 percent said the Christian Democratic Movement (CDM); and 2 percent named other opposition parties.

NDI will host more than 300 diplomats and political leaders from more than 100 countries in Charlotte, N.C., at this year’s Democratic National Convention. The visitors are part of NDI’s International Leaders Forum (ILF), which the Institute has hosted during every Democratic National Convention since 1984.

NDI’s guests include current and former heads of state, cabinet ministers, members of parliament, political party leaders and more than 100 ambassadors who are members of the Washington-based diplomatic corps.

An innovative website in Georgia, electionportal.ge, is breaking new ground by pulling together election monitoring information and historical data on voting patterns to help political parties, candidates, civic organizations and academics learn more about the Georgian political process and voter attitudes and behavior.

Angolans will go to the polls on Aug. 31 for a historic election, the third in the country’s history and the first presidential election since a civil war ended in 2002.

Despite this significance, most Angolans are not fully informed of their rights as voters and many are unaware of recent changes to election laws, such as expansion of term limits and changes in voting procedures. In addition, the elections will take place amid growing violence against opposition supporters and a wave of student-led activism against wealth disparities.

International Summit in Kosovo Produces “Pristina Principles” to Increase Women’s Empowerment

Calm and Orderly Georgian Elections Set New Political Landscape, NDI Mission Finds

NDI, IRI Honor Aung San Suu Kyi

Civic Organizations Unite in Landmark Call for Parliamentary Openness and Citizen Participation

Golos Receives Sakharov Freedom Award

NDI Staff Member Provides an Inside Look into Nepal’s Political Climate

NDI Georgia Releases Political Poll Ratings and Crosstabs

NDI Welcomes International Visitors During Democratic National Convention

Interactive Georgian Website Gives Citizens Access to Election Data

Political Parties and CSOs Use Lessons Learned to Prepare for Angola Elections

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