News

On April 2, DI-Bangladesh conducted a Town Hall Meeting in Sylhet, bringing together 100 participants to discuss the topic “Prospects for a Neutral Election: What Does Holding a Neutral Election Really Mean and How to Achieve One.” The event was part of a series of DI Town Hall Meetings that began in 2011, designed to increase opportunities for constituents and local political and civic activists to participate in Bangladeshi politics.

Democracy International launched today its first electronic newsletter with the goal of periodically updating partners, clients and colleagues on its projects around the world. The first edition reports on DI’s activities to support successful electoral reforms in El Salvador; the launch of ESOA, an Afghan civil society network for electoral reform supported by DI; and our Young Leaders Fellowship program and new Women and Youth Center in Bangladesh.

The Electoral Support Organization of Afghanistan (ESOA), a new Afghan civil society network supported by Democracy International (DI), expects to open its headquarters in Kabul later this month. This new office will centralize the coordination of ESOA’s planned activities, including the establishment of electoral reform working groups and the formation of a broader coalition of civil society organizations that will work to enhance civil society’s advocacy for electoral reform.

On March 11, El Salvador successfully held Legislative and Municipal elections under a new electoral system that implemented recent reforms in line with the spirit of the peace accords signed 20 years ago. To support these reforms, Democracy International (DI) has provided significant technical assistance to the Salvadoran Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and implemented a highly publicized voter education campaign.

After completing the selection of 12 outstanding young political activists, DI-Bangladesh is ready to start its new Developing Young Leaders Fellowship in the summer of 2012, part of DI’s Democratic Participation and Reform program in the country. Funded by USAID, the program is designed to work with national political parties, civil society groups and individual young people and women to promote democratic, issue-based politics in Bangladesh.