Building the World Movement for Democracy

"I think the most useful aspects of the conference are personal contact with our good partners from NED. It is much easier now to discuss the details of the new projects and to develop the existing ones." ~ Vladimir Vedrashko, Russia "We, the people of Bhutan, have very high expectations from the 'World Movement for Democracy', which may bring people of different thoughts and ethos into one fold to work together." ~ Narad Adhikari, Bhutan "I found the New Delhi conference very helpful in building contacts and establishing potential sources of information that can often be hard to come by. If this movement really gets off the ground it could go down in history..." ~ Anne-Marie Stott, France "I found the most useful parts of the conference to be the various workshops, the variety of participants' backgrounds, and the amazing efforts that were put together to provide democrats around the world with the opportunity to network, and share their experiences and thoughts." ~ Kenza Aquertit, Morocco "What a great feeling to wake up and realize that we have just made history. The ball of history is now in our courts. The responsibility of supporting democracy in our communities rests on our shoulders." ~ Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack, Nigeria "For me it was an honor and a privilege to be able to participate in such an important event and to meet so many wonderful women and men from all over the world who have devoted all their positive energies to the cause of democracy. Thank you for making it possible for me to share my hopes and dreams of a better Colombia with others and to learn from them that although the road might be full with obstacles, there is always a light of hope." ~ Elisabeth Ungar, Colombia The conference offered a wonderful opportunity to meet democracy activists from around the world, learn about the work they are doing and discuss how we can support each other. ~ Joseph Davis, United States The conference presented a unique and timely turning point in the global quest for democracy. ~ Livingstone Sewanyana, Uganda "Most useful was getting to know people and specific experiences, exchanging opinions and ideas, networking... Last, but not least, a feeling of solidarity." ~ Youssef Mouawad, Lebanon "This conference was a great success in that it established a network of democratic forces worldwide for the first time." ~ Jian-li Yang, China "It was a very moving experience for me to meet so many different people engaged in the fight for democracy. People, like me, who do not have a democracy in their country, and people who have one but are striving to make it better." ~ Annabelle Rodriguez, Garcia, Cuba

Carl Gershman of NED, Winston Lord of the International Rescue Committee, Lodi Gyari, Special Envoy for the Dalai Lama and George Fernandes, Minister of Defense of India. Learned Dees of NED, Marc Plattner of the International Forum at NED, and Olisa Agbakoba of Afronet in Nigeria. David Lowe, of NED, and Xiao Qiang of Human Rights in China. Irena Lasota of the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe of Poland and the United States, and Levan Berdzenishvili of the Civic Development International Center of Georgia. Tarun Das of the Confederation of Indian Industry and Amartya Sen, conference keynote speaker. Jim McDermott, U.S. Congressman, I.K. Gujral, former Prime Minister of India, V. A. Pai Panandikar, of the Centre for Policy Research, and Gary Ackerman, U.S. Congressman and Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India, discussing U.S.- India relations at the conference.