IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney participated in the commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Community of Democracies that took place in Krakow, Poland from July 2-4, 2010. The event, organized by the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland with the Permanent Secretariat of the Community of Democracies, focused on ways to overcome the barriers that civil society organizations are facing in their work that ultimately contributes to vibrant democracies.

The meeting was attended by many highly distinguished guests including ministers and ambassadors from over 70 democratic countries from around the world -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, and Foreign Minister of Indonesia Raden Natalegawaover, among them-- 100 democracy and human rights activists, and NGO representatives.

Secretary Clinton delivered an impassioned address on the importance of civil society in the promotion and defense of democratic societies. Her speech reflected on her early assignment at the Children's Defense Fund and President Obama's career as a community organizer. The importance of Secretary Clinton's message was immediately reinforced by a release by the White House of a parallel statement by President Obama.

The Council for a Community of Democracies, which serves as the secretariat for the International Steering Committee, a network of 25 democracy activists from around the world, also released the Second Edition of its publication, The Diplomat's Handbook for Democracy Development Support, which features new case studies on Egypt and Cuba and may be found on its website: www.diplomatshandbook.org.