Find Out Who is in the World Movement: Updated "Networking Stories" Infographic The World Movement for Democracy is relaunching its "Networking Stories" infographic with 13 additional participant profiles. The dynamic infographic illustrates partnerships and collaborative efforts the World Movement helps foster throughout its network. Being connected through World Movement activities, World Movement participants explore opportunities for cross-regional networking and joint projects. Would you like to be highlighted in our next version? Email us and let us know what connections you have built through World Movement activities. | | |
Featured in This Issue: - Updated "Networking Stories" Infographic
- African Civil Society, Business, and Government Launch Joint Initiative
- Set Them Free Campaign Updates:
- Call for Applications: Hurford Youth Fellowship Program
| | | | | African Civil Society, Business, and Government Launch Joint Initiative This month, the World Movement for Democracy, Center for International Private Enterprise, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Africa Business Center launched "Strengthening the Voice of Business to Support Democratic Governance," a joint initiative to enhance collaborations among the private sector, civil society, and government.. At the eponymous event held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on January 16-17, 2018, nearly 400 members representing the three sectors from 10 different countries came together to identify areas of collaboration for strengthening democratic governance to address issues of ethical governance, security, and economic and political inclusion of marginalized populations. Marking the importance of this initiative, three heads of state were in attendance including Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou as well Ministers and parliamentarians. At the conclusion of the event, the Ouagadougou Declaration was issued to outline guiding principles for the collaborations among the three sectors. Learn more about the event and initiative here. | | | | Set Them Free Campaign Updates: Bahrain: On January 30, a Bahraini criminal court sentenced 58 political activists charged with terrorism by the government. Nineteen received life sentences while 37 others received sentences ranging from 5-15 years. Two activists received death sentences, joining 19 others prisoners on death row - the largest number since courts were established in 1923. In addition to the harsh sentences, 47 of the activists were stripped of Bahraini citizenship. World Movement joins the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights in condemning the death sentences of Bahrainis exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and association and urges the Bahraini government to release the activists and reinstate their citizenship. Help us share their story. Ethiopia: The World Movement is thrilled to learn that Dr. Merera Gudina was released on January 17, after serving more than year in pre-trial detention. Dr. Gudina, a scholar and chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), was arrested and accused of violating Ethiopia's 10-month state of emergency. He was released along with 527 others as part of a larger government amnesty for those arrested during the November 2015 protests in Oromia province. Despite the positive news, hundreds more remain imprisoned and we urge the Ethiopia government to release all of its political prisoners. Azerbaijan: Investigative journalist and political activist Afghan Mukhtarli was sentenced to six years in prison on January 12. He was found guilty of smuggling, illegal border crossing, as well as resisting a law enforcement official. Afghan has written about corruption in the defense industry and within the government. He was abducted from the streets of Tbilisi, Georgia in May 2017 by Azerbaijan's security forces and forcibly brought back to Baku. On January 23, opposition leader Gozal Bayramli was sentenced to 3 years in prison on smuggling charges. Gozal was returning from Georgia where she was receiving medical treatment and was stopped at the border before reaching Customs. Gozal is the Deputy Chairperson of Azerbaijani Popular Front Party and is among many other party members arrested on politically motivated charges in 2017. Click here to share a solidarity tweet for Afghan and Gozal and learn more about Azerbaijan's political prisoners. | | | | Call for Applications: Hurford Youth Fellowship Program The Hurford Youth Fellowship Program, facilitated by the World Movement for Democracy, seeks emerging civil society leaders from around the world who are committed to defending and promoting universal democratic principles. Through the Hurford program, two young activists will spend four months at the World Movement Secretariat office in Washington, D.C., where they will expand their global network, learn lessons from activists involved in democracy movements around the world, and contribute to the development of the World Movement for Democracy and the World Youth Movement for Democracy. Hurford Youth Fellows will conduct research and organize presentations and online discussions on key democracy issues. A project completed by the Fellows will be publicized and shared globally. The fellowship is open to applicants no older than 30 years of age from any country. Additional information and the Hurford Youth Fellow applications can be found here. Applications will be accepted until March 14, 2018. | | | | | |
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