Democracy Without Borders

Program Areas

Program Areas

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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. 

What is democracy?

Learn here what democracy is, how it has developed over time, and the challenges it faces.

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 helps coordinate the campaign for the appointment 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.

Endorsements

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

Publications

Our publications provide unique perspectives and background analysis 

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News and developments in this program area

EIU report: 2019 a year of democratic setbacks and popular protest
The twelfth edition of the Democracy Index covering 2019 that was published recently has concluded that global democracy is in its most fragile state since The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
Ryan Whyte | 07.02.2020
Dissatisfaction with democracy at an all-time high, new study says
A study from the University of Cambridge’s new Centre for the Future of Democracy that was launched these days has found dissatisfaction with democracy around the world at its highest
Peter Orvetti | 04.02.2020
Internet freedom and security challenges: notes from the IGF 2019
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was launched by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2006 and since then annual meetings have been held across the world. This year, Germany
Michael Weidinger | 04.12.2019
International IDEA presents new “global health check of democracy”
For the third time the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has published what they call “a global health check of democracy” in the form of their
Marie Becker | 22.11.2019