Democracy for the future generations
Ladies and Gentlemen, Esteemed Delegates,
We understand that Democracy and elections play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of countries around the world. In Africa, where many nations have struggled with authoritarian leadership and political instability, the importance of democracy and fair elections cannot be overlooked. It is widely believed that democracy allows for the voice of the people to be heard and for leaders to be held accountable to their constituents. However, recent findings on Kenya’s election by the Youth Cafe (2023) showed that there was a decline of 5.17% of the registered youth in 2022 compared to the ones registered in the 2017 elections. The low youth participation was attributed to the general idea that the votes do not count in the elections, lack of trust and confidence in the political system and the youth’s unemployment issues. As such, it is important to provide meaningful economic engagements, provide improved democratic processes such as digital and free civic education and provide free and fair election processes.
We The Youth Café, a steadfast advocate for youth empowerment, human rights, and democratic values in Africa. stand here today to convey the collective voice of the youth on the African continent, addressing the esteemed assembly of the Global Democracy Coalition Forum 2024. We commend the efforts of the Global Democracy Coalition in fostering global dialogue, collaboration, and advocacy for democracy. The Forum's commitment to amplifying diverse voices and fostering regional discussions reflects a significant stride toward a more inclusive and robust global democracy agenda. We support sustainable development by promoting economic growth, social progress, environmental protection, and democracy to ensure that benefits are distributed equitably among all citizens. A democratic society values the participation and input of all its citizens, and sustainable development plays a crucial role in enabling citizens to thrive and contribute to the nation's well-being. By championing sustainability, democratic societies can foster a more inclusive and equitable environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
THE SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY
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THE SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY 〰️
Welcome to the GDC Forum and the Summit for Democracy
As we approach the GDC Forum and the Summit for Democracy, alongside Partners for Democracy Day, we are thrilled to share some exciting updates and news with you.
GDC Forum 2024
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GDC Forum 2024 〰️
Our journey begins next Monday 11 March, starting with the Americas event in Santo Domingo, followed by the events in Europe, Africa, Asia, and culminating with the Global Forum on 15 March. Detailed information for each one of them and the registration links can be found on the GDC website.
As part of our commitment to advancing democracy globally, and as we did last year, we are also gathering pledges from our partners to share during the Forum. This year, in collaboration with the Steering Group, we thought it would be nice to have some pledges for the GDC itself, and we have compiled four pledges for the coalition:
The Global Democracy Coalition commits to its vision and role as an agile, inclusive, and action-oriented multi-stakeholder Coalition.
The Global Democracy Coalition commits to deepening the discourse on democracy-related issues through various platforms.
The Global Democracy Coalition commits to bridging states and their national CSOs.
The Global Democracy Coalition commits to expanding global majority representation by 25% by 2025.
As we value your feedback, we would like for you to please take a moment to complete our survey to share your thoughts on each pledge. It won´t take more than 5 minutes and it will be open until Friday 8 March, COB.
Partners for Democracy (P4D)
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Partners for Democracy (P4D) 〰️
The call for proposals has been extended until 14 March COB due to a high interest in hosting events. Please submit your proposals through this form and reach out with any inquiries. You can also check all the events that will take place on the P4D website, which is updated continuously.
The 3rd Summit for Democracy
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The 3rd Summit for Democracy 〰️
The event will be held in South Korea from March 18 to 20. The presidential office revealed the date on Tuesday.
The summit’s plenary session, which will be attended by global leaders, will be held virtually on March 20.
the first day of the summit
On the first day of the summit on March 18, minister-level meetings and roundtables will be held while the following day will see workshops on the theme of democracy for the future generation.
The first Summit for Democracy was held virtually in December 2021, hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, with the leaders of about 100 countries in attendance. The second summit was held last year, co-hosted by President Yoon Suk-yeol and the leaders of the U.S., Costa Rica, the Netherlands and the Republic of Zambia.
Meanwhile, multiple diplomatic sources said Tuesday that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken could visit South Korea next month on the occasion of the Summit for Democracy.
In December 2021, the U.S. Government hosted the first of two Summits for Democracy. In the face of challenges to democracy globally, they brought together government, civil society and private sector leaders to form a global agenda for democratic renewal.
THE THEMES OF THE SUMMIT:
The event focused on three themes: defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and advancing respect for human rights. At the first Summit, governments were asked to make commitments to improving democracy both at home and abroad, to be implemented during a ‘Year of Action’ between the first and second Summits. 16 Democracy Cohorts were organized to connect governments and civil society, supporting the implementation of commitments and raising ambitions moving forward.
THE SECOND SUMMIT:
A second Summit was held on 29 and 30 March 2023, co-hosted by the governments of the United States, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, and Zambia. The Summit events showcased progress made by governments on their commitments during the ‘Year of Action’ and the work of the 16 multistakeholder Democracy Cohorts. The regional summits focused on: ‘Promoting the role of youth and political and democratic spaces’ in Costa Rica; ‘Media freedom for the wider European region’ in the Netherlands; ‘Free, fair and transparent elections in Africa’ in Zambia; ‘Anti-corruption in the Indo-Pacific region’ in South Korea; and ‘Advancing technology for democracy’ in the USA.
THE THIRD SUMMIT:
A third Summit is anticipated in March 2024, hosted by the Republic of Korea. This website will be updated as more information is known, please check back for news updates. We invite you to explore the Commitments Dashboard and the Democracy Cohorts page on this website to see what work is ongoing and what has been achieved through the work associated with the Summit initiative.
Summit for Democracy
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Summit for Democracy 〰️
Explore the newly launched Summit for Democracy website for event details and registration links, especially if you plan to attend the second day of the Summit in person in South Korea. For comprehensive information on the Summit, you can also visit the website curated by our IDEA colleagues. We eagerly anticipate your participation at the GDC Forum, P4D, or the Summit, whether in person or online. Your participation is integral to the success of our initiatives.