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2019 Annual Report of the Community of Democracies

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2019 Annual Report of the Community of Democracies 2019 Annual Report of the Community of Democracies February 2020 2019 Annual Report of the Community of Democracies February 2020 2 Annual Report Community of Democracies Community of Democracies Annual Report 3 Table of contents Overview by the Secretary General Thomas E. Garrett ....................................................................7 Intergovernmental Cooperation ............................................................................................................10 Presidency of the Community of Democracies ................................................................10 Executive Committee of the Community of Democracies ............................................11 Governing Council of the Community of Democracies ..................................................13 Renewal Process in the Membership in the Governing Council .................................22 Expansion of the Governing Council ...................................................................................23 Working Groups.........................................................................................................................24 Community of Democracies and Civil Society ...................................................................................28 Events and Activities ..................................................................................................................................30 Strategic Objectives ..................................................................................................................30 Official Visits and High-Level Delegations ..........................................................................32 Gender Equality .........................................................................................................................38 SDG16+ CoD Engagement .....................................................................................................44 CoD Participation in Other Key Events Promoting Democracy....................................50 4 Annual Report Community of Democracies Community of Democracies Annual Report 5 Overview by the Secretary General Thomas E. Garrett It is my pleasure to present the 2019 Annual Report of the Community of Democracies. Last year, the Community of Democracies (CoD) was able to highlight that multilateralism and common action are the best response to both challenges to democracy and opportunities for democratic consolidation. In 2019, there was measurable progress for the Community of Democracies, with new leadership, expansion of the Governing Council (GC), and engagement addressing vital democracy-related issues by the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies (PSCD) in more than a dozen capitals, from Addis Ababa and Bamako to Ulaanbaatar and Yerevan. I would like to thank Governing Council Members for their commitment and continued support, and the PSCD team for their hard work. In an Extraordinary Governing Council meeting on the margins of the 74th United Nations General Assembly, the Community of Democracies was honored to welcome Romania as its new Presidency for 2019-2021. Under this return to traditional CoD leadership, the Community has commenced preparations for the 10th Ministerial Conference, to be OVERVIEW held in Bucharest in June 2020, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the CoD. This past year also saw growth in the Governing Council, with the accession of two new Member States: Georgia and the Republic of North Macedonia. GC membership is an acknowledgment of the progress made by both countries in democratic development. The growth also increases the diversity and broad experience of the Governing Council, which includes Member States at different stages of democracy and from every region of the world. Governing Council meetings featured discussion panels with external experts on subjects ranging from governance devolution to youth political participation. As an important new activity, Member States concluded each Governing Council meeting with the adoption of an Outcome Statement, in which they reaffirmed their commitment to work together with civil society on pressing democracy-related issues, including the protection of media freedom and cooperation with the private sector to advance the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, especially Goal 16. Looking ahead, June 2020 will mark the 20th Anniversary of the Community of Democracies Community of Democracies Annual Report 7 and the adoption of the Warsaw Declaration. The Anniversary will provide an important opportunity to promote the Warsaw Declaration as a roadmap for democracy, highlight past accomplishments of the Community of Democracies and determine future activities and actions. I am looking forward to working together with the Presidency, Governing Council and the Civil Society Pillar as we commemorate two decades of shared democratic effort to promote, protect and defend the universal values enshrined in the Warsaw Declaration. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION 8 Annual Report Community of Democracies Intergovernmental Cooperation Executive Committee of the Community of Democracies In 2019, the Executive Committee continued to provide strategic recommendations Presidency of the Community of Democracies and opinions to the Governing Council to inform decisions on the activities of the CoD. The rotating six-month chairmanship of the Executive Committee was held by the United On September 15, 2019, the Community of Democracies welcomed Romania as Kingdom (September 2018- March 2019) and Poland (March 2019- September 2019). it assumed the two-year Presidency of the CoD, following a collective chairmanship held by the United Kingdom and Poland with the Executive Committee in 2019. In its leadership During two face-to-face meetings, held in Warsaw, in June and November, Member States role, the Presidency discussed current and planned activities of the CoD, in line with its Strategic Plan and oversees, coordinates and in preparation for the CoD 2020 Ministerial Conference. facilitates CoD activities and provides leadership to meet the CoD Strategic Objectives. “The UK is honoured to have been Chair of the Executive Committee and I was The Presidency works with particularly pleased to open the meeting of the Governing Council in January the Governing Council, and discuss with esteemed colleagues from member states the importance the Executive Committee of democratic participation. The UK will continue its commitment and the Secretary General. to the Community of Democracies through membership of its Executive As priorities for the next Committee and its Working Groups.” two years, the Romanian Presidency intends to focus Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Commonwealth its efforts on participation and the UN at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of youth in decision- making at all levels and the role of the private sector During the Polish chairmanship, H.E. Mr. Piotr Wilczek, Poland’s Ambassador to the United in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In June 2020, Romanian States, hosted an event for the CoD in Washington, D.C. A special guest was Secretary Presidency will also host the 10th Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies. of State Dr. Madeleine Albright, who offered remarks on the history of the CoD and its role in preserving democracy. “At a time when democracy is under pressure in many places around the world, running the Presidency will multiply our efforts to further rule of law and democracy. It motivates us to continue to defend the core democratic values, principles, and standards as we committed in Warsaw, when Romania signed “Through solidarity, established democracies the founding Declaration.” can come closer to fulfilling their potential. Struggling democracies can find the help they Minister of Foreign Affairs,Ramona-Nicole Mănescu, need to deliver on freedom’s promise. And future at Romania’s accession to the Presidency, September 2019 democracies can draw inspiration in their quest for social progress and political change.” Dr. Madeleine Albright 10 Annual Report Community of Democracies Community of Democracies Annual Report 11 . Governing Council of the Community of Democracies Three Governing Council meetings took place in 2019, including an Extraordinary Governing Council meeting on the margins of the 74th United Nations General Assembly. Each Governing Council meeting resulted in adoption of an Outcome Statement by the Member States, an important new practice for the Community of Democracies. In addition, discussions were held in the framework of the CoD Strategic Objectives, featuring panels on vital democracy-related issues. As an important milestone for the Community of Democracies, 2019 also saw the expansion of the Governing Council, with the accession of two new Member States, Georgia and the Republic of North Macedonia. MEETINGS OF THE CoD GOVERNING COUNCIL 29th Meeting of the Community’s Governing Council, January 29, 2019, London KEY HIGHLIGHTS: “Even though the Polish chairmanship V Chaired by the United Kingdom. of the Community of Democracies’ Executive V Observers: Germany, Latvia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Maldives, Committee has come to an end, our goals remain Montenegro, Peru, Timor-Leste, The Alliance for Democracy Foundation, International IDEA. unchanged: Poland will continuously strive to share its experiences gained during the process The meeting featured three discussion panels: of
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