International and regional conventions – such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Organization of American States’ declaration of minority rights – guarantee all Latin Americans the freedom to partake in their governments. In practice, however, marginalized populations are often underrepresented in the political process.
Interview/Speech/Testimony
5 Oct 2012
The design of a country’s electoral system can affect the formation of political parties and the ways in which minority groups enter the political arena. IFES’ 2012 Hybl Fellow Geoffrey Macdonald, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Denver, is exploring how electoral system design and party rules incentivize ethnic groups to form political associations.
5 Oct 2012
On Monday, October 1, Georgians cast their ballots to elect 150 members to parliament. These polls held particular significance, as constitutional amendments will bestow increased power on parliamentarians and on the prime minister when they take effect in December 2013.
4 Oct 2012
While with IFES, Libna Bonilla worked hand-in-hand with Maximo Zaldivar, then chief of party in Guatemala, and other team members to help Guatemala's Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) deliver the 2011 general elections. Bonilla is starting a new chapter as deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Guatemala in Washington.
2 Oct 2012
Maimuna Mwidau, a women’s advocate from Kenya and a 2012 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award recipient, has worked to advance gender equality throughout Africa. Kenya’s 2010 constitution, which guarantees women a place at the table of Kenyan politics, has been the pinnacle of her efforts thus far.
2 Oct 2012
On September 20, 2012, the capital city of Jakarta held its second round of elections for governor. The first round of this important poll took place on July 11, 2012.
20 Sep 2012
As the leader in democracy promotion, IFES experts have worked in every corner of the globe from developing to mature democracies, under challenging conditions and tight deadlines to help people have a voice in the way they are governed.
15 Aug 2012
For democratic values to prevail, it is important to instill them in the younger generation. In Azerbaijan, a group of youths founded OL! Azerbaijan - a non-political social youth movement that fosters independent thinking and personal responsibility - two important characteristics for a thriving democracy. Vugar Salamli, co-founder and Executive Director of OL!
10 Aug 2012
Young persons can be powerful change agents in their communities. Disseminating information on the electoral cycle, volunteering in voter registration drives, observing elections to ensure rights are respected, and forming watchdog organizations are some of the many ways youths around the world are making a difference.
10 Aug 2012
Young persons can be powerful change agents in their communities. Disseminating information on the electoral cycle, volunteering in voter registration drives, observing elections to ensure rights are respected, and forming watchdog organizations are some of the many ways youths around the world are making a difference.
