The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.
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Democracy Updates
For more than two decades, women in Bahrain have struggled to raise awareness of domestic violence. The Kingdom has no laws or government policies to address violence against women and a draft law that would establish penalties has been languishing in the parliament for years. To push the issue, the Bahrain Women’s Union (BWU), an association of 12 women's organizations, launched an advocacy campaign on Dec. 11 for a domestic violence law, which has been a priority for the union since its founding in 2001.
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Leveraging new media tools to extend an issue or candidate's reach is now a necessary component of campaigns of all kinds. In order to help the next generation of activists in the Middle East and North Africa adopt new media tools effectively, a group of civil society activists representing 11 countries gathered in Istanbul in November at an event organized by Aswat, an Arabic language website for Middle Eastern democratic activists.
Bahrain
Since March 2002, NDI has worked with Bahraini political leaders, civil society members and government officials from across the political spectrum to strengthen Bahraini political and civil society organizations and enhance their capacity to play a constructive and meaningful role in the country’s reforms. NDI has provided technical assistance to political society leaders to review relevant legislation, including the political societies’ law, and has hosted discussions on the implications of and opportunities in the King’s reform measures introduced by King Shaikh Hamad ibn Isa al Khalifah. NDI programs have also focused on strengthening the role of youth and providing training and support for women running for public office. Additionally, the Institute has carried out focus groups and interactive trainings covering topics such as communication skills, electoral campaign planning, strategic planning, voter outreach, advocacy strategy, media election coverage, domestic monitoring, candidate training and awareness campaigns. The overarching objective of NDI’s activities in Bahrain is to improve the prospects for a more inclusive and viable democratic process by strengthening the institution of parliament and fostering the civil participation of citizens.
Political Context
Strengthening Parliament
Increasing Youth Political Participation
Regional Initiatives
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