NDI - Venezuela

Albright Reaffirms Need to Work at Preserving 'Gift of Freedom'

fgalleto — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:38:42 +0000

The fragility of freedom and how to preserve it was one of the themes explored at the 10th anniversary meeting of the Community of Democracies (CoD), a global coalition of democratic countries, meeting July 2-4 in Krakow, Poland.

NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright, who as U.S. secretary of state was an initiator of the organization along with the late Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, returned to Poland for the gathering. In 2000 in Warsaw, ministerial delegations from 106 countries signed a declaration, "Toward the Community of Democracies," with the aim of demonstrating methods of support to countries striving for democracy and freedom.

The Krakow meeting was attended by 80 official delegations from around the world, including 40 at the ministerial level, as well as 200 civil society activists from Burma, Zimbabwe, China, Russia and Cuba, among other places. Also attending were parliamentarians from Europe, Africa and North America who are participants in the community's Parliamentary Forum, which was launched last March at the initiative of Lithuania, which currently holds the CoD chairmanship.

New Technologies Create Opportunities, Risks in Democracy Support

In the decade since the founding of the Community of Democracies, a major change has been the explosion of technology and the tools it has created, both for those supporting the free flow of ideas and other democratic values and for authoritarian states interested in the opposite, curtailing information and suppressing human rights. Speaking on a panel in Krakow, NDI's chief technology officer, Chris Spence, explored the role of technology in democratic development and the risks its use poses in closed societies.

"Our view is that technologies are clearly a net positive for democracy...because of the important role [they] can play in consolidating democracy in fragile and transitional democratic states," he said.

The Krakow meeting focused on challenges to democracy and, specifically, how to overcome obstacles in the path of building civil society in the contemporary world. The CoD is developing a global democracy work plan focusing on such areas as civil society protections; gender equality and women's rights; poverty, development and democracy; promoting democracy and responding to national and transnational threats; and regional cooperation.

Albright attributed the success of the first gathering in 2000 to Geremek, who died in 2008 and for whom a democracy award has now been named. "In his welcoming remarks," she said, "he declared that 'the emergence of democracy was the most important development of the 20th century.' But he also reminded us that the gift of freedom was never fully safe – because from one direction or another, the principles of freedom will always be opposed. He argued, therefore, that those who are blessed to live in a democracy have an obligation to repay that blessing by upholding free institutions and by teaching, protecting, and cherishing democratic values."

Albright presented the Geremek Award to Father José Conrado Rodriguez of Cuba, a minister in the impoverished city of Santiago de Cuba. Father José, she said, "reminds us that democracy – at its best – is more than just another system of government... Democracy is grounded in a belief that the legitimate power of governance comes not from the barrel of a gun, or from the means to arrest and to brutalize prisoners, or from the capacity to punish those who dare to voice their discontent. Power, to be legitimate, must come from the people."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who delivered a keynote address, noted "three essential elements of a free nation – representative government, a well-functioning market and civil society – that work like three legs of a stool." But "walls are closing in" on civic organizations in an increasing number of countries, she said, citing Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Venezuela, Russia, China and Egypt. "Over the last six years, 50 governments have issued new restrictions against NGOs, and the list of countries where civil society faces resistance is growing longer."

"An attack on civic activism and civil society is an attack on democracy," she said. "...it doesn't matter whether the goal is better laws or lower crime or cleaner air or social justice or consumer protection or entrepreneurship and innovation, societies move forward when the citizens that make up these groups are empowered to transform common interests into common actions that serve the common good."

The next ministerial level meeting will take place in 2011 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Related:

Pictured above: Lech Walesa and Madeleine Albright greet each other at the 10th anniversary meeting of the Community of Democracies. Photo courtesy of Pavol Demes.

Published on July 16, 2010

Venezuela

ggreene — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:23:02 +0000

Political polarization and limited citizen trust in democratic institutions remain fundamental characteristics of the Venezuelan political system more than twelve years after Hugo Chávez was elected president on a platform of radical change. Despite the country’s sharp political division, President Chávez continues to enjoy substantial popular support as demonstrated by recent elections and ongoing public opinion polling. Actions by his administration, however, have raised serious concerns about erosion of democratic institutions and processes. For the sixth consecutive year, Venezuela is listed as a country of concern by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The 2011 review of Venezuela by the UN Human Rights Council reflected similar concerns.

Many Venezuelan analysts argue that the country’s current polarization is rooted in the collapse of the nation’s party system during the 1980s and 1990s. Since then, new political leaders and parties have emerged – including both President Chávez’s supporters and his opponents – with different proposals to address the country’s social and economic challenges, which include increased criminal violence, persistent poverty, high inflation and declining petroleum revenues. However, the deepening political polarization in Venezuela has severely limited opportunities for dialogue and collaboration across political parties and between elected officials and civil society. Tensions are likely to increase ahead of presidential elections scheduled for October 2012, during which President Chávez will seek another six-year term.

Subscribe to updates about Venezuela

Current NDI Activities

Since undertaking its first Venezuela program in 1995, NDI has worked to encourage Venezuelan political leaders to engage in constructive, pluralistic debate on reforms to improve democratic governance as well as to promote adherence to international norms and standards for transparent electoral processes. Current Institute programs support regional efforts to exchange best practices and international experiences with political party leaders, elected officials and civic leaders on issues such as improving government service delivery, facilitating the political participation of marginalized populations and supporting exchanges of best practices regarding citizen participation in electoral processes.

Past NDI Activities

NDI conducted several different democracy strengthening activities and maintained a field presence in Venezuela until March 2011. As a neutral, non-partisan entity, the Institute works with political forces representing the full spectrum of political opinion. NDI programs have sought to help reduce political polarization and to support democratic practices by working with Venezuelans to share international experiences for the reform and modernization of political parties.

Party strengthening activities in Venezuela have consisted of technical assistance offered to leading political parties. Such assistance has included sharing international experiences, practices and informational materials for building inclusive, transparent and responsive political parties. By providing party strengthening materials and organizing exchanges with domestic and international practitioners who have successfully strengthened parties in other countries, NDI sought to assist Venezuelan parties with better responding to the needs of citizens and with strengthening their abilities to propose meaningful policies, offer assistance and work with both pro-government and opposition parties.

In addition, NDI has supported the integrity and transparency of electoral processes by sharing best practices learned by regional monitoring groups and NDI technical expertise gained through observation efforts in more than 80 countries with Venezuelan citizen groups. Election monitoring by nonpartisan civic organizations has played an important role in strengthening democracy in Latin America and other regions. Networks of independent volunteer observers have helped increase public confidence in election processes by deterring and exposing irregularities, providing a constructive avenue for popular political participation and collecting information to improve future elections. NDI shared information on effective election monitoring in support of Venezuelan nonpartisan election observation initiatives in various national and local elections since 1995.

In 2001, NDI sought to re-engage citizens in politics and political parties by promoting accountability at the municipal level. NDI partnered with Argentine Transparency International chapter Poder Ciudadano, a Venezuelan civic group, and six municipal governments to implement anti-corruption and accountability mechanisms to increase citizen input in decision-making and to encourage oversight of local government administration.

As part of its regional Political Leadership Program (LP), in 1999 and 2000, NDI provided assistance to emerging Venezuelan political leaders and their parties on topics such as political party renewal, strategic planning, negotiation and outreach to under-represented sectors of society. The LP seeks to develop the skills of emerging political leaders to promote modern, transparent and responsive political parties. LP participants represented the Venezuelan parties Acción Democrática, COPEI, Movimiento Quinta República, and Proyecto Venezuela.

Contact Information

For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:

Washington, D.C.
Jim Swigert, Senior Associate
jswigert@ndi.org

Subscribe to updates about Venezuela

NDI 2005 Annual Report

vrao — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

12/01/2005

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the report	6.23 MB

NDI Reports: A Review of the Activities of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

vrao — Mon, 21 Jul 2003 04:00:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

12/01/2008

Resource Type:

Newsletter

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Spring 2011: Digital Mapping, Women's Participation, Domestic Monitoring	1.2 MB
December 2008: Making Democracy Deliver	2.37 MB
Summer 2008: Kosovo, Pakistan, Sudan	571.9 KB
Summer 2007: Youth, Women, Technology	801.33 KB
Summer 2006: Bosnia, Liberia, West Bank and Gaza	462.92 KB
Fall 2005: Kosovo, Iraq, Kuwait	865.42 KB
Spring 2005: Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan	813.77 KB
Spring 2004: Win With Women, Elections in Eurasia	615.17 KB
Fall 2003: Celebrating 20 Years	808.11 KB
Spring 2003: Women's Leadership in Yemen, Nepal, Senegal	468.06 KB
Fall 2002: Democracy in the Middle East, Cuba	547.6 KB
Spring 2002: Asian Political Parties, Afghanistan	528.32 KB
Winter 2001: Sept. 11, Nicaragua, Belarus	507.47 KB
Summer 2001: Election Monitors in Central & Eastern Europe	683 KB
Spring 2001: Mexico, Peru, Serbia	732.14 KB
Winter 2000: Zimbabwe, Croatia, Thailand	2.52 MB
Winter 1999: Indonesia, Nigeria, Azerbaijan	3.23 MB
Fall 1999: Nigeria, Indonesia, Morocco	1.29 MB
Winter 1998: Kenya, Poland, Northern Ireland	2.26 MB
Summer 1998: Hong Kong, Ukraine, Ghana	2.01 MB
Winter 1997: Nicaragua, South Africa, Ghana	2.93 MB
Summer 1996: Russia, International Leaders Forum	2.98 MB
Spring 1996: West Bank Gaza, Bosnia, Burundi	2.4 MB
Winter 1995: West Bank Gaza, Ukraine, Malawi	3.28 MB
Fall 1995: South Africa, Russia, Yemen	2.22 MB
Summer 1995: Haiti, Peru, Malawi	2.68 MB
Spring 1994: South Africa, Mexico, Ethiopia	3.43 MB
Summer 1993: Russia, Namibia, Nicaragua	3.52 MB
Spring 1993: Cambodia, South Africa, Yemen	3.71 MB
Spring 1992: Romania, South Africa, Bolivia	1.99 MB
Winter 1991: Zambia, Poland, the Baltics	2.05 MB
Summer 1991: Zambia, Mexico, Bangladesh	1.26 MB
Spring 1991: Namibia, Russia, Senegal	1.36 MB
Winter 1990: Poland, Namibia, Bangladesh	1.33 MB
Fall 1990: Former Soviet Republics, Haiti, Bulgaria	2.07 MB
Summer 1990: Eastern Europe, Dominican Republic, Haiti	2.7 MB
Spring 1990: Hungary, Nicaragua, Panama	1.3 MB
Winter 1989: Pakistan, Argentina, Chile	1.59 MB
Fall 1988: Chile, Pakistan, Nicaragua	1.26 MB
Summer 1988: Costa Rica, Panama, Chile	1.61 MB
Spring 1988: Tunisia, Chile, Paraguay	1.28 MB
Winter 1987: Haiti, Chile, Nicaragua	1.84 MB
Fall 1987: Haiti, Uruguay, Nicaragua	1.43 MB
Spring 1987: Argentina, Philippines, Haiti	1.22 MB
Spring 1986: Philippines, Brazil, Northern Ireland	2.26 MB
Summer 1986: Chile, South Korea, Northern Ireland	2.92 MB
Winter 1986: Mondale Assumes Chairmanship, Argentina, Haiti	3.96 MB
Summer 1985: Senegal, Northern Ireland, South America	1.15 MB

Future Political Leaders to Examine Challenges Facing Political Parties in the Americas

Wed, 24 Feb 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

02/24/1999

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the release	185.38 KB

NDI - Venezuela

Albright Reaffirms Need to Work at Preserving 'Gift of Freedom'

New Technologies Create Opportunities, Risks in Democracy Support

Venezuela

Read More

Current NDI Activities

Past NDI Activities

Contact Information

NDI 2005 Annual Report

NDI Reports: A Review of the Activities of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs

Future Political Leaders to Examine Challenges Facing Political Parties in the Americas