Confronting the Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century
Second World Assembly
November 12-15, 2000
São Paulo, Brazil
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Message from the Steering Committee (html, pdf)
Democracy as a Starting Point (html, pdf)
Excerpts from the Keynote Address by
Fernando Henrique Cardoso
President of Brazil
Greetings from Around the World (html, pdf)
Democracy Courage Tributes (html, pdf)
Workshop Reports
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Networking Young Democracy Activists
Organizers:
Jordan Branch (U.S.)
Cristina de Miranda Costa (Brazil)
Marek Kapusta (Slovak Republic)
Rapporteurs:
Jordan Branch (U.S.)
National Endowment for Democracy
Fernanda Papa (Brazil)
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
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Moderators:
Jordan Branch (U.S.)
Cristina de Miranda Costa (Brazil)
Sybille Reinke de Buitrago (Germany, U.S.-based)
National Endowment for Democracy
Presenters:
Hakim Addad (Algeria)
Rally for Youth Action
Nurul Izzah Anwar (Malaysia)
Institute for Policy Research
Marek Kapusta (Slovak Republic)
Nadacia pre Obciansku Spolocnost
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The workshop brought together more than 35 participants, including both young and more experienced activists. Marek Kapusta, Hakim Addad, and Nurul Izzah Anwar described their experiences in the struggle for democracy in their countries. For instance, Marek Kapusta reviewed innovative ways to "get out the vote"; Hakim Addad detailed his work in youth education; and Nurul Izzah Anwar related her experience in youth activism.
The discussion focused on how youth participation in democracies can be promoted, on examples of young activist involvement in democracy promotion, and on specific activities to follow up the workshop. The workshop was very productive in developing a better understanding of the different problems young democracy activists face around the world. For example, many of the participants confront an assumption of inexperience in their work due to their youth, and thus also a presumed lack of legitimacy. There are also difficulties in reaching out to others and securing support. Participants exchanged ideas for action and for learning from one another's experiences and ideas.
Recommendations:
- Create a Global Network of Young Democracy Activists along with regional subcommittees to undertake tasks of importance to young people and young activists.
- Establish contact with youth organizations worldwide and facilitate networking among them.
- Establish a "chat channel" and utilize the Internet in other ways to facilitate networking.
- Exchange resources and announce conferences and events for youth through a regular newsletter.
- Act as a voice for those young activists who were not able to attend the Assembly.
- Draw on the work of the Network of Democracy Assistance Foundations to attract support for young activists.
- Provide information to the public and leaders around the world about issues of concern to young people and young democracy activists and encourage them to give heightened attention to those issues.
- Launch a program to "adopt" young persons currently persecuted and initiate letter-writing and other campaigns to support them.
- Publish articles and reports on youth issues in journals and encourage journalists to do the same.
- Facilitate and/or conduct training in cross-border assistance as well as in using new information and communication technology in democracy promotion work.
- Facilitate the representation of young activists at international conferences to highlight the needs of youth around the world.
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