Council for a Community of Democracies

Participants of the Lisbon Ministerial in July 2009, including CCD President Robert LaGamma and several ISC Members

CCD Accomplishments in 2009 and Looking Ahead to 2010

2009 was a pivotal year in the development and mission of the Council for a Community of Democracies, in which it successfully organized civil society participation in the Lisbon Ministerial, organized its first regional training workshop on the Diplomat's Handbook and began to forge an effective relationship with the Lithuanian Chair of the CD by participating in Convening Group meetings and assisting in the reformulation of old and new CD Working Groups. 2010 further promises to be a groundbreaking year thanks in large part to a UN Democracy Fund grant in which we will be organizing 5 regional roundtables of civil society in addition to planning regional training workshops on the Diplomat's Handbook. Members of the ISC will further be involved in the Working Groups; and the CD’s 10th Anniversary meeting in Krakow will be an opportunity for the organization to relaunch itself to provide more effective support for democracy.

Read CCD's 2009 Year in Review

	The Diplomat's Handbook for Democracy Development Support Now in Spanish Thanks to the government of Spain, the Diplomat's Handbook for Democracy Development Support may now be found in Spanish. This marks an important development for the handbook as CCD begins to plan for diplomats' training workshops in Latin America while increasing the accessibility of this important work to the region and other Spanish speakers. Read the Handbook in Spanish here.
Sweden's Democracy Ambassador, Maria Leissner Participates in the CD Roundtable in Brussels	Europe Signals Greater Engagement in the Community of Democracies On November 16, Lithuania’s government convened a roundtable in Brussels entitled “New Partnerships in Democracy Building: the European Union and the Community of Democracies.” Concurrent to this meeting, the Council of the European Union agreed to a set of conclusions, entitled, “Council Conclusions on Democracy Support in the EU’s External Relations.” In it, they adopted conclusions acknowledging the importance of democracy support, and the need to improve existing policy to promote greater cohesion, effectiveness and visibility in regards to its democracy support agenda. Finally, the Council for a Community of Democracies convened a workshop in Warsaw regarding the Diplomat’s Handbook on November 20-21 at the Natolin Campus of the College of Europe. Read More about These Meetings and EU Conclusions
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor Addresses the Opening Ceremony of the Lisbon Ministerial of the Community of Democracies	Portugal Hosts Fifth Ministerial of the Community of Democracies The Fifth Ministerial of the Community of Democracies was held July 11-12 in Lisbon, hosted by the Portuguese Chair of the CD. Governments met with democrats from civil society to discuss the state of democracy promotion in the world and challenges for the Community of Democracies. The CD issued the Lisbon Declaration committing states to support democratic values, and it also issued a special statement on the situation in Honduras. CCD organized preparatory meetings for non-governmental participants, and civil society issued its own statements articulating its concerns and hopes for effective partnership with participating governments of the CD. The Ministerial concluded with the transfer of the CD Chairmanship to Lithuania, which will host the next Ministerial scheduled for 2011. Read More about the July 2009 Lisbon Ministerial of the Community of Democracies
	2009 Asian Roundtable Discusses Impact of Global Economic Crisis on Democracy in Asia On April 30 and May 1, a group of more than 50 civil society leaders from 17 countries met in Jakarta, jointly organized by YAPPIKA (Civil Society Alliance for Democracy in Indonesia) and the World Forum for Democratization in Asia, to prepare for the 2009 Ministerial of the Community of Democracies in Lisbon, Portugal. The meeting focused on the theme of the upcoming Ministerial, discussing the impact of the global economic crisis on democracy in Asia, as well as considering options that could make the Community of Democracies (CD) a more effective actor in the support of democracy around the world. CCD President Robert LaGamma delivered the keynote address at the opening of the meeting. Read More about the 2009 Asia Roundtable

	POMED Recommendations for US Policy in the Middle East 3 February 2010
	Concerns Grow Ahead of Ethiopian Elections 3 February 2010
	Thousands of Russian Protestors Gather in Kaliningrad; Protestors Arrested in Moscow 2 February 2010
	Afghanistan Parliamentary Election Postponed; Karzai States Plan For Rebuilding 2 February 2010
	Chinese Democracy Activist Jailed Illegally 1 February 2010
	Underground News from North Korea 1 February 2010
	Sec. Clinton Speaks on Development and Democracy 1 February 2010
	Iran Executes Two amid Continued Unrest 29 January 2010
	Former Guatemalan President Arrested 29 January 2010
	Sudanese Elections Announced for April 28 January 2010
	Hong Kong Lawmakers Resign to Promote Democracy 28 January 2010
	Liberian President Announces Bid for Re-Election in 201127 January 2010
Click here for More Democracy News

ISC Statement on Imprisonment of Chee Soon Juan| January 21, 2010

Convening Group Statement on President 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

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.