Following years of democratic liberalisation after the early 90s, the authoritarian backlash is seemingly in full swing, imposing restrictions on civil society and individual rights in countries in every region of the world. For some groups, women most notably, access to political participation and rights has always faced constraints. WFD’s research in this area looks at the distribution of power, be it political, social, or financial; how political elites limit democratic space and access to politics to maintain existing power structures; and how democracy support actors can provide an effective counterbalance through their programmes.
Parliaments are fundamental institutions of democratic governance. Effective parliaments contribute to the rule of law, economic prosperity, and improved social welfare of a country. To support the Parliament of Sierra Leone in its commitment towards providing the best parliamentary services to its citizens, WFD partnered with the legislature of the West African state in developing […]
Now is the time for parliaments and civil society to join forces to push back against shrinking civic spaces and protect democratic freedoms. In these worrying times, here are 4 things parliaments and their members can do to fight back against shrinking civic space.
This paper, authored by Julia Keutgen, Senior Transparency Advisor WFD, and Sarah Dodsworth, University of Queensland, is being launched as part of WFD’s Participation and Openness Week – or POW! Over the last 10 years an increasing number of governments have adopted new laws and practices that constrain civic space – the set of conditions […]
