Kurt Bassuener, Research Director with the Handbook team, is addressing participants at the High level Democracy Meeting in Krakow about the Diplomat's Handbook.
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Palmer Prize for Diplomats Accepting Nominations until Dec. 1, 2010
The Council for a Community of Democracies (CCD) is pleased to announce the creation of the Palmer Prize for Significant Contributions to the Advancement of Democracy by Diplomats, to be awarded at the Community of Democracies (CD) Ministerial in Vilnius, Lithuania in 2011. The award is intended for diplomats who display valor under difficult circumstances and take risks or are especially inventive in their sustained efforts to assist civil society to advance democracy in their countries of assignment. Our models for the award are drawn from the experiences highlighted in the Diplomat’s Handbook for Democracy Development Support, a work inspired by Ambassador Mark Palmer and his exceptional service to the cause of democracy as US Ambassador to Hungary during that country’s transition to democracy. Nominations may be made by governments and civil society organizations by or before the deadline of December 1, 2010.
For more information on the Palmer Prize, please click here.
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CCD Has Published the Second Edition of the Diplomat's Handbook for Democracy Development Support
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The story of how diplomats from democratic countries have sought to support democracy and human rights in the difficult circumstances they confront in places like Cuba, Egypt and China is told in the revised and expanded Second Edition of The Diplomat’s Handbook for Democracy Development Support. The Handbook documents and provides a rationale for a relatively new dimension in international diplomacy, how diplomats support and promote democracy abroad. The new edition of the Handbook was initially published in Warsaw, Poland to be available to those participating in the July 2-4 High Level Democracy Meeting that was held in Poland’s historic city of Kraków to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the CD. It is available on the Diplomat's Handbook website here.
The latest case study on China, just released on August 2, 2010 may be found here. |
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Working Group Chairpersons discuss their work at the High Level Democracy meeting in Krakow
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Civil Society Plays Key Role in Krakow High Level Democracy Meeting
To commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Community of Democracies, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, hosted the High Level Democracy Meeting of the CD from July 2 - 4. Over 100 civil society leaders and democracy activists from every region of the world participated, including the civil society component of the CD, the International Steering Committee (ISC), a network of 25 democracy activists. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and many other high-level representatives including ministers and ambassadors from democratic countries were also in attendance. ISC Chairman, Paul Graham, delivered remarks to participants during the High Level Political Segment following Clinton's speech on the key role civil society plays in support of democracy around the world. US President Barack Obama issued a statement congratulating the CD on its Tenth Anniversary.
To read more about the conference, click here.
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 The United States House of Representatives Passed a Resolution Commending the Community of Democracies on May 12, 2010
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United States House of Representatives Passes Resolution Commending the Community of Democracies
On May 12, 2010, United States Representative Mike Quigley, of Illinois, introduced a resolution to the US House of Representatives entitled "Commending the Community of Democracies for its achievements since it was founded in 2000." With 31 cosponsors, the resolution was passed without objection. The gathered representatives commended the CD for its ten years of work in "promoting democratic rules and strengthening democratic institutions around the world," as Representative Engel from New York stated in his remarks to the floor. With the High Level Democracy meeting in Krakow to commemorate the CD's 10th Anniversary in July, the resolution "endorses the Krakow conference" and "extends its best wishes ... for the Community's ongoing efforts to promote democracy worldwide."
Read the Full Text of the Resolution Here |
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CCD Announces the Publication of its Roundtable Report on Democracy in Africa
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CCD Publishes Pretoria Roundtable Report on State of Democracy in Africa
Under a grant from the United Nations Democracy Fund, and in partnership with the African Democracy Forum and the Institute for Democracy in Africa (IDASA), CCD held its first in a series of regional roundtables on democracy from February 22-24 in Pretoria, South Africa. Based on discussions with nearly 40 leaders of civil society from 13 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, this report presents a series of recommendations to the governments of the Community of Democracies on such issues as gender equality, threats to civil society, and others. The report also highlights how the Community of Democracies can support the ratifications process of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, a document which requires the signature and ratification of 15 African Union member governments to enter into force.
Read the Full Report Here
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| The ISC Endorses the Mindanao Peoples' Peace Agenda | August 16, 2010 |
| Convening Group Statement on the Situation in Haiti | April 14, 2010 |
| Convening Group Statement on Draft United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education & Training | March 2, 2010 |
| ISC Statement on Imprisonment of Chee Soon Juan| January 21, 2010 |
| Convening Group Statement on Presidential Elections in Ukraine | January 14, 2010 |
| CD Statement on Aung San Suu Kyi | October 26, 2009 |
| ISC/CD Says More than Lip Service Needed from International Community on Burma | July 12, 2009 |
| ISC/CD Calls for Release of Six Convicted Journalists in The Gambia | August 12, 2009 |
| Nongovernmental Declarations from the Lisbon Ministerial of the Community of Democracies | July 22, 2009 |
| Report of the Portuguese Presidency of the Convening Group | July 20, 2009 |
| Lisbon Declaration of the Community of Democracies | July 12, 2009 |
| Nongovernmental Recommendations of the Jakarta Roundtable for the Lisbon Ministerial | May 1, 2009 |
| CCD Task Force Recommendations to Obama Administration on Democracy Promotion | November 2008 |
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Since 2005, CCD has served as Secretariat for the International Steering Committee of the Nongovernmental Process of the Community of Democracies (ISC/CD). The ISC/CD is the recognized representative of civil society within the framework of the Community of Democracies. Members include representatives from all five regions of the world - Africa (sub-Saharan), the Americas, Asia, Europe (including Russia and NIS), and the Middle East/North Africa. |
The Diplomat's Handbook for Democracy Development Support is a project of the Community of Democracies, managed by CCD. Diplomats have often played vital roles supporting democratic transitions in their countries of assignment, but until now, no comprehensive training has existed to teach diplomats of the tools they have available. The Handbook contains resources and case studies documenting how diplomats can effectively assist civil society activists trying to promote democratic change in their countries. |
The concept of "education for democracy" is one of the core principles of the Community of Democracies. CCD has held three meetings on this theme, bringing together representatives of ministries of education, experts in education policy and reform, and civil society leaders to develop strategies for strengthening democracy education around the world. The Global Strategic Plan for Democracy Education, developed at a 2003 meeting, presents practical recommendations for improving approaches to teaching about democracy. |
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