Secretariat for the nongovernmental International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies (ISC/CD)

ABOUT the International Steering Committee

The International Steering Committee of the Nongovernmental Process of the Community of Democracies (ISC/CD) is a global network of civil society organizations committed to democracy and human rights. Established following the 2005 Santiago Ministerial of the intergovernmental Community of Democracies (CD), a coalition of democratic and democratizing countries formed in 2000, ISC/CD represents the views of civil society to governments within the CD framework. ISC/CD 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.

During the founding CD meeting in Warsaw, Madeleine Albright spoke at a parallel meeting of civil society actors called the “World Forum on Democracy,” organized by U.S. based Freedom House and the Stefan Batory Foundation of Poland. Addressing the audience of over 300 NGO representatives, democracy promoters, and civil society leaders from 80 nations, Albright affirmed the need for governments to work together with civil society in support of democracy. In subsequent ministerial conferences the civil society component of the CD was strengthened and further developed and emerged out of the preparations for the Santiago Ministerial Conference as the “non-governmental process of the Community of Democracies.”

CCD as ISC/CD Secretariat

Since 2005, CCD has served as Secretariat for the ISC/CD, representing the ISC/CD at meetings of the Convening Group in Washington, working with the Chair of the CD and the CD Permanent Secretariat and organizing meetings and activities for the ISC/CD. CCD works to involve civil society in the Working Groups of the CD and engages civil society organizations from around the world on such issues relevant to the Working Groups as: enabling and protecting civil society; gender equality; poverty, development & democracy; and democracy education, among others.

For more information regarding the ISC/CD and its activities
please visit its website at www.isc-cd.org