Public security is the number one issue for Central American countries, especially those in what is known as the Northern Triangle, which includes El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. More than three quarters of the population in Central America believes that insecurity is the greatest problem facing the region, according to a recent United Nations report.

At a recent forum, leaders from government, political parties, business, academia and civil society in the region gathered in El Salvador to get to the root of the problem by highlighting the link between security and transparency.

Programs to improve the representation of indigenous people and women in Guatemala’s government and to reform laws governing elections and political parties are expected to be among the benefits of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed Sept. 24 by NDI and the Guatemalan Congress.

The agreement was signed by Roberto Alejos, president of the Guatemalan Congress, and Eduardo Núñez, NDI’s resident director in Guatemala. Addendums were signed by four chairs of congressional committees that will be working on the targeted areas.

Citizen participation as a centerpiece of Kosovo's democracy was the theme of a week-long series of International Day of Democracy (IDD) events held in Pristina last month. Kosovars from a wide variety of ethnic communities attended the events, and most expressed an eagerness to learn about, and participate in, the legislative process.

Citizen participation as a centerpiece of Kosovo's democracy was the theme of a week-long series of International Day of Democracy (IDD) events held in Pristina last month. Kosovars from a wide variety of ethnic communities attended the events, and most expressed an eagerness to learn about, and participate in, the legislative process.