With their country already racked by corruption, economic depression, and a healthcare system crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lebanese could not see how their situation could get any worse. Then came the devastating Port of Beirut explosion on August 4, 2020. 

In January 2020, the Honduran government chose not to renew the mandate of the Organization for American States’ Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity (MACCIH). Shuttering MACCIH rolled back important progress in combating impunity from the law in a country where corruption is endemic in the political system. Earlier this year, Honduran courts dismissed a case against two dozen legislators connected to a vast corruption scheme, known as Pandora, to embezzle public funds for political ends.

Imagine: the world is gripped by a global health crisis caused by a mysterious virus spreading death and devastating communities. As scientists struggle to find a treatment, disinformation proves as infectious as the virus. National governments refuse to work together, cover up key information, marginalize affected communities, and contradict themselves, each other and science.

In August 2020, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville held the first general election since the region voted overwhelmingly for separation from Papua New Guinea last year. Voters headed to the polls to elect the new president and representatives responsible for establishing the world’s newest independent country.

Member of Parliament (MP) Wafa Bani Mustafa knew that in order to change the status quo in Jordan, one in which no woman has ever made it to the head of the parliament or head of the government, she would need to tackle one main hurdle - violence against women in public life.  Political violence, whether its exclusion, harassment, bullying or physical attacks, has detrimental effects on the participation and presence of women in decision-making processes. In Jordan, women involved in politics tend to face cyberbullying, harassment and death threats.

Political parties play an important role in aggregating and representing public interests, shaping political agendas and developing government policies and programs. Parties are also a vehicle for contesting power and earning the right to govern through peaceful elections. To become more competitive, parties can make room for diverse voices within their organizations and practice more inclusive policy-making and decision-making. These actions will help build and maintain a broader base of constituent support and earn citizen trust.  

Amidst this year’s health crisis caused by the pandemic and the worsening economic situation in Iraq, a group of women members of parliament (MPs) comes together across different political parties, sects, and ethnic backgrounds to address one common cause: combating domestic violence.