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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
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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
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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
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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. |