With the Iraqi parliamentary elections approaching, transparency and integrity of the electoral process remain a prominent concern. According to the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) polling conducted after the 2018 parliamentary elections, less than one in five Iraqis believed the elections were free and fair. In advance of future elections, NDI has been actively working with its civil society organization partner, Al-Noor Universal Foundation (Al-Noor), to address public mistrust, enhance voter confidence and participation, and increase transparency of the elections. 

Libya is preparing to hold national elections on December 24, 2021, offering an opportunity to continue the country’s democratic transition after years of violence and political stalemate. In the Tripoli region, Libyans recently practiced their civic engagement during a series of municipal elections held from January to April 2021.

In 2015, Morocco began an initiative to shift governing power from a national, more centralized model,  to a regional model, in part to strengthen citizen trust and participation in government processes. Without adequate outreach, communication, and citizen consultation, though, regional government has, at times, been just as inaccessible as national politics.

On May 17, Georgian LGBTQI+ rights organization Tbilisi Pride, an NDI partner, published a memorandum signed by fifteen political parties that unambiguously rejects discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in Georgia. This public display of political unity aims to encourage a broader change in political and social attitudes in a country where political parties have often either avoided or been openly hostile to LGBTQI+ issues.

Information has the potential to be a global threat to democracy that extends far beyond election results. Clear, accurate information is key to ensuring open and transparent governance. Manipulated information can lower public trust in a country’s governing and oversight institutions and in the media, making people more likely to seek out alternative, unverified sources of information. This damages democratic processes by impeding informed decision-making and political participation by citizens.

The 2019 October Revolution in Iraq marked a new chapter for Iraqi youth; and while protesters took to the streets demanding government change and accountability, the political class still struggles to fulfill a critical aspect of political development — organized youth political participation.

It’s finally summer. Time to get outside, and in some places, enjoy a bit of a reprieve from a challenging year. It’s been a tough one, especially for democratic actors around the world. Democratic activists have never been more at risk. Tools to mobilize around democratic activity have never been more prevalent, while the vulnerability to surveillance and disinformation is overwhelming.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for government transparency, accountability and citizen engagement. In response, Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador have adopted open parliament plans and regulations that focus on increasing transparency and access to information; accountability; citizen participation; and ethics and probity.  

On May 1, just a few hours after opening its first session, El Salvador’s newly elected legislature summarily dismissed and reappointed a new attorney general and all five judges in the Supreme Court’s constitutional chamber.

As the representative body of the people, legislatures play a critical role in enacting policies that advance sustainable outcomes. As the world continues to face the impacts of climate change, legislatures must develop resilient institutions and policies to both prepare for and manage possible threats. They must also maintain oversight of executive actions, especially in the implementation of policies and programs that are intended to provide critical safety nets to citizens in the event of natural disasters.