Democracy Without Borders

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Global Democracy

GlobalDemocracy

 Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. — Article 21, Universal Declaration of Human Rights

We advocate a right to democracy at all levels

It is no longer possible to limit democracy to the nation-state. Conversely, democracy can only function on a global scale if it also prospers nationally. We support an improvement and strengthening of democracy and closer collaboration of democratic countries.

All people must enjoy access to fundamental political and civil rights, in particular the right to competitive free and fair elections and political participation.

Democracy Without Borders believes that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the  International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights constitute a right to democracy at all levels of public authority, from the local to the global.

As a measure to help strengthen democracy, Democracy Without Borders supports the creation of a new mandate of the UN Human Rights Council of Special Rapporteur on Democracy.

Two meanings of global democracy

Global democracy can address two things: the state of democracy across the world’s nation-states or democratization of global governance. Learn more about it here. The latter is part of our program area on global governance.

A UN Rapporteur on Democracy

Democracy Without Borders supports the creation of the mandate of a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy by the UN Human Rights Council.

An Alliance of Democracies

Democracy Without Borders supports the creation of an Alliance of Democracies following these principles and proposals.

Projects

DWB and its chapters are seeking donors and partners to develop projects in the field of democracy promotion at all levels.

Endorsements

We are part of the Global Democracy Coalition and we endorse the Coalition for Democratic Renewal.

News and developments in this program area

Bertelsmann Transformation Index depicts global instability and democratic decline
The 2018 edition of the Bertelsmann Transformation Index, in short BTI, published in March finds that the quality of democracy, market economy and governance has fallen to its lowest level…
Charles Marsh | 24.05.2018
State of Civil Society Report 2018: limitations on civic space met defiant resistance
The international alliance of civil society organizations CIVICUS released a report on the State of Civil Society that highlighted ten different trends in 2017. According to the report, attacks on…
Jessica Lee | 03.04.2018
Human Rights Watch report highlights dissent against rising populism
Human Rights Watch released its annual report in January 2018, providing a summary of the key human rights issues investigated from late 2016 to November 2017 in over 90 countries and…
Jessica Lee | 21.02.2018
EIU report: Freedom of speech under pressure, democracy continues to backslide
In the 10th edition of their Democracy Index, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently reported the worst performance in global democracy since 2010-11 in the aftermath of the global economic…
Phoebe Guinn | 19.02.2018