Democracy Matters
Parliaments across the world are facing increased demand to deliver the dividends of democracy and hold government to account while representing the interests and aspirations of the people. At the very outset, parliaments are required to enhance their systems with democratic values and inclusive approaches within the political and social environment of the country. To play their constitutional […]
In choosing to do development democratically, the UK can ensure that decisions about global Britain’s new priorities lay a foundation for long-lasting stability and prosperity.
To break the current trends of shrinking democratic space and increased inequality, it is important to ensure that the emergency powers – although vital in protecting health – are not used to shrink the democratic space.
Open parliaments are the cornerstones of democracy. They represent people’s voices, pass laws and oversee governments’ actions. Opening parliaments has many benefits including effective outcomes in key policy areas, better quality legislation and most importantly improved trust relationships between citizens and the parliament. Morocco officially joined the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in 2018. The House […]
To foster LGBT+ inclusive democracies, parliamentarians need to listen to LGBT+ voices, as well as access to more and better information. WFD is focusing on addressing these issues.
More than 500 political and civil leaders, Nobel Laureates, and organisations have signed an open letter to defend democracy, warning that the freedoms we cherish are under threat from governments using the COVID-19 crisis to tighten their grip on power.
by Devin O’Shaughnessy, WFD’s Director of Programmes The recent announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of plans to merge the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) into the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will undoubtedly impact the UK’s approach to development assistance for many years to come. Despite […]
Since COVID-19 first arrived in Sierra Leone, the Government has taken key measures to counter the pandemic including declaring a state of public emergency, issuing a ban on public gatherings, and travelling, and suspending all religious activities. In Parliament, the Speaker asked political party leaders to only have half of their members in the chambers, […]
How much money does Bosnia and Herzegovina lose due to youth emigration? Bosnia and Herzegovina is losing up to €21,000 per person that leaves the country, according to new research from WFD’s Western Balkans Democracy Initiative. The latest figures from 2018 show that 44,700 people left the country and according to OECD data, the favourite […]
As governments decide to postpone elections or alter electoral processes because of COVID-19, it is crucial that they have a transparent debate about doing so. Importantly, they must consult key stakeholders or public trust in the electoral processes can be severely damaged and democracy weakened.
“We want to be involved in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in East Africa.” 90% of young East Africans who responded to a survey on how COVID-19 has impacted their lives agreed with this statement. COVID-19 has affected us all in different ways. In East Africa, where over 70% of the population are young […]
How parliaments can uphold accountability for emergency powers granted to the executive
