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Dear Colleagues,
This month, the global community is once again marking the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign that starts on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and concludes on December 10th, when Human Rights Day is celebrated around the world. First launched by feminist activists thirty years ago, the campaign against gender violence has reached more than 300 million people and continues to serve as an important occasion for individuals, institutions, and organizations around the world highlighting the need for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
As CEPPS takes part in this global campaign to end gender-based violence, you too can help by following us on Twitter, as we strive to recognize and support the vital work being done to advance women’s human rights and gender equity. Throughout the 16 Days Campaign, @CEPPS will tweet photos of partners as they display support for the campaign by wearing orange, the campaign’s signature color, and highlighting our work to end gender-based violence. Follow, participate, and take action to end gender-based violence!
Yours in Democracy,
Jerry Lavery
Managing Director, The Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening
Democracy! The Podcast is brought to you by CEPPS, with support from the United States Agency for International Development, through the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award. The entire first season has dropped and is available to you now, wherever you get your podcasts. Each episode takes an in-depth look at some of the biggest challenges facing the vitality of democracy around the world. Produced in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), you’ll hear from some of the most experienced experts working in the field of democracy, human rights, and governance and learn from first-hand accounts as they share how they tackle real-life problems and help move countries towards a more democratic process for all.
Listen to the latest episode and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Around the world, CEPPS works shoulder to shoulder with local partners to boost their ability to engage in a more inclusive democratic process. For example, CEPPS’s work with the Institute for Romani Culture in Albania (IRCA) amplifies the political voice of Roma communities through dialogue with political officials to deliver a more transparent electoral process.
To learn more about IRCA, watch their interview now!
The Countering Disinformation Guide combines the collective wisdom of organizations on the front lines of combating disinformation globally. Created in partnership with the CEPPS core partners: IFES, IRI, and NDI, the guide is a tool for practitioners, donors, political leaders, and civil society organizations around the world. This first-of-its-kind resource includes a global database of organizations, projects, and donors working on and supporting these efforts. The guide is available in English, Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish.
This June, the guide was presented at Rights Con, where representatives from the democracy, rights and governance community shared their work and perspectives from the field. Participants learned how to better connect with the civic technology, research and policy communities to support digital rights and democratic principles globally.
Watch the Rights Con panel now!
In Jordan, like many other countries in the Middle East, and North Africa, youth make up the majority of the country’s population. Despite this reality, the leadership in government and political institutions is often older and not tuned into the youth constituency. In many cases, this often stokes disillusionment and mistrust of formal institutions among younger populations.
CEPPS NDI’s Ana Usharek (“I Participate”) is a civic education and youth political participation program based at more than 20 university locations throughout Jordan. Launched in 2011 as an extracurricular activity for students, the goal of Ana Usharek is to teach young people how to engage with their local and national governments, and to build greater electoral integrity with a more responsive government.
The program aims to increase youth interest in electoral and political spheres, through civic education and active learning. From openly discussing democratic practices, to equipping students with the necessary skills to launch civic and political organizations, and grassroots advocacy campaigns, the program has proved to be effective and engaging.
Learn more about the Ana Usharek program here!
Under the Global Elections and Political Transitions Award, CEPPS has reached 9.5 million people through civic education programs since 2016. To learn more about these programs, check out our current activities!
