On Tuesday, April 19, NDI’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jim Swigert, delivered remarks before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the prospects  for democracy in Central America’s Northern Triangle.

Without a special traffic light that emits an audible signal, people who are blind or have low vision may risk their lives by the simple act of crossing streets. Such audible signals are expensive, particularly in Moldova, which is Europe’s poorest country. A civic group in Soroca, a city in northern Moldova, didn’t let this stop them. Thanks to their successful advocacy, the quality of life for Soroca’s large community of  blind citizens is improving and inspiring further community involvement.

Identifying the Issues

On November 12, 2015, the Malian National Assembly adopted a historic gender quota bill. The new law, which requires that at least 30 percent of elected or appointed officials be women, is a result of concerted action to reverse several years of negative trends in women’s   representation in positions of power.

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For Debby Linares Sandoval, the challenges faced by transgender women in Guatemala are personal. Watching her peers struggle to gain access to basic healthcare services, and experiencing discrimination herself as a transgender woman, Linares began to realize the importance of not just advocating for human rights, but also actively participating in the broader political system to effect even greater change.  

NDI released new public opinion research, which reveals a clear path forward for Iraq’s road to reconciliation. The research, which is the result of 22 in-depth interviews with Iraqi leaders and a nationwide survey of 2,200 citizens conducted between December 12, 2015 and January 8, 2016, points to the need for Iraq’s politicians and governing institutions to work together to forge a shared vision for the country.