See latest news about democracy around the world from partners, associates and others working in the field of democracy below.

The World Movement for Democracy monitors legal actions around the world that affect civil society organizations. See the latest list of updates on laws that affect civil society around the world here.

Special Announcement - October 20, 2011

With this issue of DemocracyNews we are pleased to include a new section, entitled “News and Views from the Steering Committee,” that provides information about recent publications and activities of Committee members, as well as occasional brief commentaries on current democracy issues.  Read more here.

Statement on the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize - October 7, 2011

The World Movement for Democracy extends its sincere congratulations to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman on receiving the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize. We wish them every success in all their good work. Read more here.

Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) Members Arrested - September 23, 2011

On Wednesday, September 21, 12 members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) were arrested during a peaceful demonstration to commemorate International Day of Peace in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city. According to Freedom House, “WOZA was distributing leaflets and flowers when interrupted by nearly 50 riot police, who rounded up the group and beat them with batons — claiming they had ‘no permission’ to march.” WOZA is a participating organization in the World Movement for Democracy. Read more here.

Statement of the World Movement for Democracy - September 15, 2011
 
Go to: http://www.wmd.org/about/statements/international-day-democracy-september-15-2011

Statement on Violations of Freedom of Expression in Ecuador - August 8, 2011

The Secretariat of the World Movement for Democracy, a global network of democracy activists, practitioners, scholars, and others engaged in advancing democracy, expresses its grave concern regarding continuing violations of freedom of expression in Ecuador, as documented in reports issued by, among others, Freedom House and the International Committee to Protect Journalists, as well as by the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Read more here.

Leading Human Rights Activist Arrested in Belarus - August 5, 2011

On Thursday, 4 August, Ales Bialatski, leader of the Viasna (Spring) Human Rights Center, Belarus’ leading human rights organization, was arrested by the KGB and Financial Police in Minsk. Both Viasna’s office and Mr. Bialatski’s private apartment were searched. Mr. Bialatski is also a vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). Read more here.

The Steering Committee of the World Movement has issued the following statement regarding the death of Cuban Activist Juan Wilfredo Soto García.  The statement is available in English and Spanish.
Read more here.

World Movement Participant Detained in Vietnam

According to the Reagan-Fascell Fellows Program at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), former NED Democracy Fellow and World Movement Participant Mr. Le Quoc Quan was arrested on April 4, 2011, while approaching the People's Court of Hanoi to observe the trial of prominent legal activist, Cu Huy Ha Vu.  Quan, a lawyer, was detained while peaceably standing outside the court.  NED calls for the immediate release of Quan. Read more here.

World Movement Participants Beaten in Bahrain

According to the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR), in the early morning of April 9, its president and World Movement participant, Mohammed Al-Maskati (right) was beaten by Special Forces and a civilian militia in Bahrain. Mr. Al-Maskati was at an apartment with human rights activist and fellow World Movement participant, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. In addition to beating Mr. Al-Maskati, Special Forces and civilian militia searched the apartment, beat and arrested Mr. Al-Khawaja, arrested his sons-in-law, and struck his daughter. Click here for more information.

Newsletter of the World Movement for Democracy-April 2011  Read the full alert here.

Civil Society Welcomes Maina Kiai as UNHRC Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and of Association

30 MARCH 2011 - ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS:World Alliance for Citizen Participation, the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), and the World Movement for Democracy welcome the appointment of Maina Kiai as the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association for the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). His appointment comes at a crucial time when issues related to freedom of assembly are at the core of recent developments in North Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. Read more here.

World Movement Secretariat Congratulates Steering Committee Member on UN Appointment

The Secretariat of the World Movement for Democracy extends its warm congratulations to World Movement Steering Committee member Maina Kiai (Kenya), who was recently appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association for the UN Human Rights Council. His appointment was announced during the 16th Session of the Human Rights Council, held February 28 – March 25, 2011. Mr. Kiai has been a member of the World Movement Steering Committee since 2008. Read more here.

Activists Imprisoned, NGO Closed Down in Azerbaijan

In recent weeks, there has been an increased effort to limit the work of civil society in Azerbaijan. According to the online publication The Peninsula, five young activists were arrested this week for organizing a nationwide day of protest scheduled for today. The imprisoned activists have been charged “hooliganism,” just as noted “Donkey Bloggers” Adnan Haji-zadeh and Emin Milli were charged in July 2009. Read more here.

Threats Targeting Opposition Activists in Bahrain

Protests in Bahrain have continued since February 14, 2011, the 10th anniversary of a referendum in favor of the National Action Charter of Bahrain, which returned the country to constitutional rule.  Sources on the ground report that on Friday, March 11, there will be a march to the Court of the King of Bahrain to push for the dissolution of the Monarchy. Given the recent increase in number of deployed security forces, there is a growing fear that the march will elicit more attacks against the opposition. Read more here.

World Movement Posts New Democracy Voices Interviews

In February, the World Movement posted two new DemocracyVoices interviews with Executive Director of Women's and Human Rights, Djingarey Maiga (Mali) and  with Yuyun (Indonesia) of the Indonesian NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy. In her video interview, Ms. Maiga discusses women's rights and strategies for involving men in women's rights activism.  Ms. Yuyun talks about the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and lessons learned from attending NGO Forum for African Commission for Human and Peoples Rights.

Go to: www.wmd.org/about/democracyvoices

INSIGHT:The challenges of democracy in Africa
The Citizen
(Business/Local Business)
By Dr Jean Ping Africa’s destiny will be shaped by how much Africa constructs a sense of common identity based, not on the narrow lenses of state, race or religion, but constructed on Africa’s belief in ...
Friday, 06 May 2011

Zimbabwe: The Road to Reform or Another Dead End?
International Crisis Group
President Mugabe's call for early elections has increased fears of a .... under the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the SADC ...

Idasa remembers Chris Hani - read Nic Borain's reminiscences here

For a brief time in the late 1980′s I had occasion to spend some time with Chris Hani, then Chief of Staff of the ANC’s uMkhonto we Sizwe and Secretary General of the South African Communist Party.

I was working for the Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa (IDASA) and a meeting between the ANC’s military and the South African Defence Force seemed like a natural extension and deepening of the work IDASA had done in putting the white establishment in contact with the ANC.

Read Nic Borain's reminiscences here.

2010 Democracy Perception Barometer 

What does democracy mean to ordinary citizens and how does it improve their lives?  How do citizens think democracy is working for them and their communities?  How do citizens think their local democratically elected leaders and municipalities are doing and do they trust them?  Is democracy becoming more entrenched in the communities in which they live?  Is there a difference in citizens' views about how national government is doing compared to the local sphere of municipal government?  Is the ballot used as an instrument of accountability or do citizens vote for other reasons?  How do citizens feel about voicing dissent?  And what does this all mean for the local government elections of 18th May 2011?

These and other questions form the basis of the 2010 Democracy Perception Barometer.  The study engages and interprets the views of 330 ordinary citizens who classify themselves as poor.  They live in 6 rural communities (Nxamalala, Gezubuso, Mafakatini, KwaMpande, Ndaleni and Trust Feed) which are administered by 3 different local municipalities (Msunduzi Local Municipality, Richmond Local Municipality and uMshwathi Local Municipality) and fall under the uMgungundlovu District Municipality.  The perceptions reflected in this report, offer surprising boldness and suggest that the situation in which our communities exist is becoming serious; with high levels of unhappiness about how democracy is being practised and what it is delivering. Read full report from PACSA here.

CIPE Launches "Democracy in Action" Newsletter

In February, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) launched "Democracy in Action," a new bi-monthly newsletter that captures stories from the field and illustrates the power of local action.  The first issue of the newsletter includes stories from Egypt, Lebanon, Russia, and Yemen.  In the electronic publication, CIPE also articulates the organization's approach to combating corruption.

Go to: www.cipe.org/fieldRep/index.html

Registration Open for CIVICUS World Assembly

CIVICUS has opened registration for its annual World Assembly, which will be held on September 10-12, 2011, in Montreal, Canada.  Under the overarching theme of "Acting Together for a Just World," the annual theme of the 2011 World Assembly is "Civil Society and Global Decision-Making: Doing it Better." By engaging all facets of civil society as well as representatives from other sectors in participative dialogue, CIVICUS aims to explore how to ensure that the voices of the people are heard in global fora. 

Go to: www.civicusassembly.org (information available in English, French, and Spanish)

CIVICUS Launches Civil Society Watch Online Platform

In February, CIVICUS launched the "Civil Society Watch Online" platform.  The online platform tracks threats to civil society reported by CIVICUS members and the general public around the world. The platform currently contains reports from over 70 countries and provides the unique ability for civil society, the media, and the public worldwide to access information, unite, and take action on reported threats.

Go to: www.wmd.org/projects/defending-civil-society/updates-ngo-laws/civicus-launches-civil-society-watch-online-platfo

Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Starts Grant Competition for Civil Society in Belarus

As a means of addressing the needs of the Belarusian society, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a grant competition.  The competition welcomes projects that work towards building democracy in Belarus.  NGOs in Belarus are encouraged to propose projects that will be executed by the end of the year. The deadline for applications is March 17.

Go to: http://bit.ly/ecRRhC (in Polish)

Danube University Krems to Host Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government

On May 5-6, 2011, Danube University Krems in Austria will host the 2011 Conference for E-Democracy and Open Government.  Participants at the conference will discuss the positive and negative possibilities that come with electronic voting or "e-voting."  The conference will be followed by an international e-voting workshop for Doctorate PhD students on May 7-8, 2011.

Human Rights Report Card Now Available in French and Spanish

In December, the Democracy Coalition Project (DCP) released its annual report, "Human Rights Council Report Card: Government Positions on Key Issues 2009-2010." The report assesses the work of the UN Human Rights Council on issues debated by the body during its fourth year of work, from July 2009 to June 2010.  The report is now available in PDF format in French and Spanish.

For English, go to: www.wmd.org/news/2011/january-2011#dcp

For French, go to: www.demcoalition.org/site09-2008/pdf/pdf/HRC%2009-10%20Report_French.pdf

For Spanish, go to: www.demcoalition.org/site09-2008/pdf/pdf/HRC%2009-10%20Report_Spanish.pdf

HREA Offers Course on Human Rights and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) and the Human Rights Centre of the UN Mandated University for Peace are offering a new short certificate course "Human Rights and Alternative Dispute Resolution" on May 2-June 15, 2011.  This is an e-learning course designed for working professionals in NGOs, government, international organizations, businesses, or community leaders interested in addressing human rights violations through alternative dispute resolution tools.

Go to: www.hrea.org/alternative-dispute-resolution

Call for Nominations: Rafto Prize for Human Rights 2011

The Rafto Foundation is now accepting nominations from organizations and individuals for its 2011 Rafto Prize for Human Rights.  Nominees should be active participants in the struggle for the ideals and principles underlying the Human Rights Charter.  Previous Rafto Laureates have included Rebiya Kadeer of East Turkestan, Shirin Ebadi of Iran, and Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma.

Go to: www.rafto.no/?page=38

Promo-LEX Expresses Concern for Political Prisoners in Transnistria

On February 10, the Promo-LEX Association based in Moldova issued an appeal expressing concern for political prisoners Ilie Cazac and Ernest Vardanean, who have been accused of espionage and high treason. Ernest Vardanean, a journalist, was sentenced to 15 years in December 2010, and Ilie Cazac was sentenced to 14 years in prison this February.  Promo-LEX asserts that the rulings of the Transnistrian court represent a new attack on human rights and a serious abuse against the local inhabitants. Furthermore, Promo-LEX declares its profound concern regarding the lack of transparency in the trials of the accused and condemns the denial of access to unrestricted legal assistance to them. 

Go to: www.promolex.md

Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association Launches New Research Portal

The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA) with the support of Global Development Network recently launched VoxLACEA, a portal for research-based policy analysis and commentary by leading scholars on issues relevant to Latin America and the Caribbean.  The purpose of VoxLACEA is to raise the level of the policy debate in Latin America and the Caribbean by providing a platform for researchers to present the policy implications of their work, and for researchers to learn about the policy debates in the region.  The portal as an independent economic discussion forum enriched by individual contributions, institutional reports, and self-produced data, will welcome economists of all nationalities, theoretical orientations, and policy perspectives.

Go to: http://vox.lacea.org

Go to: www.donau-uni.ac.at/en/department/gpa/telematik/edemocracy-conference/edem/vid/14978/index.php

Steering Committee Member Addresses How the EU Can Support Arab Reform

On March 2, World Movement Steering Committee member Roel von Meijenfeldt of the Netherlands contributed an article, "Beyond fear: How the EU can support Arab reform," to the blog "Democracy Digest."  In the article, von Meijenfeldt writes that the European Union has for too long preferred stability to democracy along its southern fringe.  He adds that the current openings in the Arab world provide a rebuttal of several disabling myths and a historic opportunity for Europe to base policy on principles and act according to its declared values.

Go to: www.demdigest.net/blog/2011/03/beyond-fear-how-the-eu-can-support-arab-reform

African Center for Justice and Peace Studies Issues Report on Darfur Referendum Process

In February, the African Center for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) released a new report, "Rendered Invisible: Darfur Deteriorates as International Pressure Shifts to the Referendum Process." Concurrent to the Southern Sudan referendum for self-determination and post-referendum negotiations, intense fighting occurred in Darfur amidst a deteriorating environment for humanitarian aid.  This report analyzes the dissolution of the Abuja agreement, the Doha peace process, and the internal "peace from within" government strategy, as well as dwindling humanitarian aid on the pretext of insecurity and lack of access.

Go to: www.wmd.org/sites/default/files/Darfur.pdf

Google Encourages Students in Online Marketing Challenge

For the first time ever, the Google for Nonprofits team is collaborating with the Google Online Marketing Challenge to encourage students to help NGOs during the Challenge, by introducing the NGO Impact Award. The Challenge allows student teams from across the world to receive US$200 of free online advertising with Google AdWords and then work with local businesses or NGOs to create effective online marketing campaigns. Google.org will make a donation in the name of the top three winning student teams to their nonprofit partners.

Go to: www.google.com/onlinechallenge

SALTO-YOUTH Launches Partner Finding Tool

SALTO-YOUTH, a network of eight resource centers in Europe with youth foci, has launched "Otlas," a partner finding tool.  Otlas is intended help activists and organizations tackle the first steps in building projects and identifying partners for international activities.  The Otlas database is interactive, allowing organizations to register and initiate projects.

Go to: www.salto-youth.net/tools/otlas-partner-finding/?oldEngineRedirect=true

Balarus -

NGOs Call for UN Human Rights Council Resolution on Situation in Belarus

Several NGOs, including several World Movement participating organizations, have issued a statement calling for the adoption of a resolution on Belarus at the 16th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Signatories assert that it is critically important for the Human Rights Council to condemn unequivocally the widespread human rights violations perpetrated in the aftermath of the December 19, 2010 presidential election and the ongoing government crackdown on the opposition and civil society.

Go to: http://civicus.org/content/110222BelarusletterforHRC.pdf

Cuba - Lady in White on Hunger Strike in Cuba for the Release of Political Prisoners, For more information, contact: info@wymdonline.org

China

Human Rights in China Launches Campaign for 35 Imprisoned Activists

On February 1, Human Rights in China (HRIC) launched its "Take Action in the Year of the Rabbit!" campaign.  The campaign focuses on 35 imprisoned activists and human rights defenders in China who have been advocating for environmental protection, land rights, religious freedom, and democratic reform.  HRIC is asking people to send letters of support to the activists as well as to their families.  On its Web site, HRIC supplies a list of the activists, their activities, their prison sentences, their mailing addresses, and sample letters.

English PEN Announces Reading Campaign for Liu Xiaobo

In February, English PEN issued a statement calling on organizations to join a worldwide reading campaign for Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo of China.  The aim of the campaign is to encourage Liu's supporters around the world to stage a reading of Liu Xiaobo's poem, "You Wait for me with Dust," on March 20, 2011.  Organizes request campaign participants to document their events for a later publication that will demonstrate the scale of the support. Readers are also encouraged to wear Liu Xiaobo masks (available online to print) to increase the visual and dramatic impact of the reading.

Go to: www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/chinaworldwidereadingforliuxiaobo

Crack Down on Egypt-inspired Protests in China

According to Asian One News and the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), in the last week the government of China has been taking more severe actions against activists as anonymous calls for "Jasmine Revolution" protests have emerged throughout the country.In its "Defending Civil Society" report, the World Movement for Democracy articulates six principles that govern and protect Civil Society from repressive intrusions on the part of governments.

For more information from Asian One News, go to: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20110225-265361.html

For more information from CHRD, go to: http://chrdnet.org/2011/02/25/a-quiet-crackdown-yet-likely-the-harshest-in-recent-years

DRC

Congolese Human Rights Defenders Receive Death Threats

FIDH and OMCT call on concerned individuals and organizations to write to and urge the Congolese authorities to guarantee the safety and security of Jean Claude Katende, Georges Kapiamba, all ASADHO members, and other human rights defenders in DRC.

Egypt 

The World Youth Movement for Democracy (WMD) recently issued a "Statement on Recent Demonstrations in the Middle East & North Africa," which offers solidarity with protestors in Egypt and throughout the region.  As has been widely reported, there were nationwide protests in Egypt, initiated through groups on Facebook and Twitter.  Egyptian authorities have sought to curtail the demonstrations by using force and by blocking or limiting access to these sites.  The World Youth Movement for Democracy is calling on the Egyptian Government and governments around the world to respect the rights of assembly and expression.  World Movement participants are encouraged to send messages of solidarity to be included in the final World Youth Movement statement. See more here.

Civil Society Calls for Democratic Transition and Accountability in Egypt

On March 3, a number of civil society organizations, including several World Movement participating organizations, signed a statement calling for the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in Egypt to open the doors for democratic transformation and secure accountability of the Mubarak regime.  Specifically, the CSOs call on the Council to "expose and curb the catastrophic consequences of theft, financial, and administrative corruption, and the ruination of the country's political life perpetrated by a broad network of interests, including the office of the presidency, prominent figures of what was previously known as the ruling National Democratic Party, and influential leaders within the parliament and the executive branch."  Moreover, they call for elections to be held after a period of peaceful transition and ask that the rights of civil society are fully respected during that political transition.

Go to: www.cihrs.org/english/newssystem/details.aspx?id=2769

Read Civicus URGENT Update from CIVICUS partner in Egypt here also see the ADF's Urgent International Appeal to Civil Society here as well as NIMD Blog by Roel van Meinjenfeldt on the Fourth Wave of democracy engulfing the Arab world here.

Civil Society Organizations Call on International Community to Protect Rights of the Egyptian People 

Egypt & Tunisia - 113 Arrested and One Dead in Sudanese Demonstrations. African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) states that the demonstrations were influenced by recent events in Tunisia and Egypt. See more information here.

The International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies (ISC/CD), which is chaired by Idasa’s Executive Director, Paul Graham, has been watching the wave of popular protests in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere and has expressed the hope and optimism inspired by this expression of ordinary people’s deep-seated desire for democracy. Read the ISC/CD’s statements here.

Read here an article by Pambazuka News on 'The Casablanca Call for democracy and human rights' by the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy.

An important declaration -- The Casablanca Call for Democracy and Human Rights -- has been signed by 2,200 Arab intellectuals from over 20 countries following the outbreak of recent events in Tunisia and Egypt. Read the article in the Today Zaman here.

Life, ordinary life, is meant to follow certain rhythms. We grow, seasons change and we assume new positions in the world. When you have finished being a child you put away childish things and move on to the next stage of life. Read the article by Richard Pithouse entitled, 'Revolution Comes Like a Thief in the Night'published on the South African Civil Society Information Service website.

Eurasia

Activists Imprisoned, NGO Closed Down in Azerbaijan
 
In recent weeks, there has been an increased effort to limit the work of civil society in Azerbaijan. According to the online publication The Peninsula, five young activists were arrested this week for organizing a nationwide day of protest scheduled for today. The imprisoned activists have been charged “hooliganism,” just as noted “Donkey Bloggers” Adnan Haji-zadeh and Emin Milli were charged in July 2009.

NGOs Issue Open Letter to President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan regarding Case of Yevgeniy Zhovtis, For more information about Yevgeniy's case, go to: www.wmd.org/networking/central-and-eastern-europe-eurasia/spotlight/central-asia#zhovtis

Ghana - See the latest on freedom of speech in Ghana.

Libya -

George E. Curry...The U.S. Switches Back and Forth on Gaddafi

According to a 2008 poll of 19 African countries by www.afrobarometer.org, 29 percent of those polled rated their country as a full democracy, 30 percent of the respondents described their country as a democracy with minor problems, 25 percent labeled their country as a democracy with major problems and only 11 percent said they either didn’t live in a democracy or didn’t know the status of their nation.
Despite those statistics, some African leaders fear the Obama administration may now use its incursion into Libya as an excuse to support military intervention in other African counties, providing a further setback to sovereignty and self-governance on the continent.? 

Civil Society Calls on International Organizations to Protect Human Rights in Libya

Take Action!

Sign the online UN Watch petition calling on the UN, the EU, and leading politicians to stop the killings in Libya: www.unwatch.org/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.1288071/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?aid=15350
Sign the online petition calling on the UN to condemn the actions taken by the Libyan government: www.petitiononline.com/Mukhtar1/petition.html 

To read the FIDH statement, go to: www.fidh.org/Massacres-in-Libya-The-African-Commission-on

To read the ADF statement, go to: http://africandemocracyforum.org/attachments/-01_ADF%20Statement%20on%20Libya%20protests.pdf

To read the CIVICUS statement, go to: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:1408216.6970324285/rid:f513f185326b7ed8b86432763a80f600

Namibia

Namibia Institute for Democracy Publishes Guide for Financial Management of NGOs

The Namibia Institute for Democracy (NID) recently published its "Practical Guide to the Financial Management of NGOs," which is intended to assist organizations in their financial management functions.  The guide has been developed using input from numerous training sessions with NGOs.  It covers issues such as accounting systems, budgeting, financial reporting, staff administration, and audits.

Go to: www.nid.org.na/pdf/publications/Financial%20training%20manual.pdf

Nigeria -

Nigeria: Youth + technology = change
A 2006 Afrobarometer survey showed that support for democracy declined from 81% in 2000 to 65% in 2005. Similarly, the number of Nigerians satisfied with democracy had plummeted from 84% in 2000 to 25% in 2005. ?In a keynote speech at The Future Awards in 2010, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the executive director at the World Bank, challenged Nigeria’s youth to say “enough”.

Sudan - See the Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections statement on the referendum in Southern Sudan here and the Carter Centre's statement here.

Sudan - The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and its member organisation the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) strongly condemn the ongoing repression by Sudanese authorities against peaceful demonstrators who call for democracy and the respect of human rights in the country. Read the statement by FIDH and ACJPS, go to: www.fidh.org/A-protest-for-freedoms-inspired-by-the-events-in

Centre For Democracy Development in West Africa has published editions of West Africa Insight on Conflict Risk in West Africa and Food Security in West Africa.

The Africa Legislatures Project has compiled a report on Kenya’s parliament - as well as a report on Democratic progress in Ghana.

Uganda - Gay Rights Activist Murdered in Uganda, see CIVICUS press release for more information. 

Uganda - The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP) and Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) strongly condemn the attacks and call on the Ugandan authorities to end all practices that undermine freedom of expression in the country; ensure that those found responsible for violations are held accountable; and observe the provisions in the 1995 Uganda Constitution, the 1998 UN Declaration on human rights defenders, the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, and other human rights treaties that guarantee freedom of expression and association. For any further information on these recent attacks on journalists in Uganda, please contact Ms Caroline Magambo, Advocacy Assistant at EHAHRDP, by telephone at +256784115707 or by email at advocacy@defenddefenders.org. For more information about the Defending Civil Society project, go to: www.wmd.org/projects/defending-civil-society 

Ukraine

IFES Publishes Report on Public Opinion in Ukraine

In February, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) issued a new report, "Transition and Trepidation: Public Opinion in Ukraine," a summary and assessment of a survey conducted in September 2010.  The survey addressed several issues, including political and economic stability, governance, democracy and rights, and foreign policy in the past 20 years of independence. The survey had 1,519 respondents throughout the country.

Go to: www.ifes.org/Content/Publications/Survey/2010/~/media/Files/Publications/Survey/2010/20110207_Ukraine_Key_Findings.pdf