Confronting the Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century
Second World Assembly
November 12-15, 2000
São Paulo, Brazil
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Report Home
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
Participants (html, pdf)
Press (html, pdf)
Assembly Support (html)
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Democracy Courage Tributes
The World Movement for Democracy honored five groups who have shown exceptional courage in their work for freedom and democracy at a program held during the Second Assembly. The more than 400 participants sent a message of solidarity and support to their fellow democrats who often struggle in near anonymity and isolation against some of the most difficult challenges to democracy and human rights around the world. "Democracy Courage Tributes" were presented to the following groups by leading figures in the World Movement during a moving and often emotional ceremony held at the American Chamber of Commerce, São Paulo.
The Colombian Democratic Mayors have demonstrated not only a high level of commitment to democracy but also extraordinary courage under the cruelest of conditions. Colombia's mayors have paid the ultimate price to govern and defend democracy in their towns and cities. Over the past three years, 32 mayors have been assassinated, including 20 candidates for the mayoral elections held October 2000. Their unwavering commitment to keep the democratic hope alive, in the face of threats both to themselves and their families, has been an inspiration not only to their constituents but also to people throughout the region and the world.
Steering Committee Member Ayo Obe (at podium)
applauds leaders of the Civil Society Movement
of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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The Civil Society Movement of the Democratic Republic of Congo, composed of thousands of faith-based organizations, human rights groups, and members of the independent press, continues to be a beacon of hope in a country enmeshed in one of the world's largest and most destructive wars. After struggling valiantly during the early 1990s to move the country from dictatorship to democracy, the Civil Society Movement continues to represent the non-violent option for change in the Congo, as it advocates for an end to the current war, respect for human rights, and greater dialogue among all Congolese in defining the political future of the country.
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Steering Committee Member Mahnaz Afkhami accepts the tribute on behalf of Iran's Pro-Democracy Student Movement.
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Iran's Pro-Democracy Student Movement has spearheaded the Iranian people's struggle for basic freedoms, including the rights of free assembly and freedom of expression. Despite the fact that the movement has followed a peaceful course, voicing the people's grievances within the framework of the rules imposed by the authorities, they have been routinely subjected to governmental abuse, including unreasonable search and seizure, flogging, incarceration, denial of legal representation, excessive prison terms, and torture.
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Steering Committee Member Xiao Qiang accepts the tribute on behalf of the Tiananmen Mothers.
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The Tiananmen Mothers Network has played a crucial role in advancing the idea of accountability for human rights abuses in China. Founded in the aftermath of the June 4, 1989 massacre in Beijing, the network has made extraordinary efforts to establish a true picture of what happened by documenting the cases of people who were killed or wounded. It has provided moral support for the victims' families, and pursued unprecedented legal action. The network's founder, Ding Zilin, the mother of a victim of the massacre, has suffered enormous persecution for her insistence on speaking the truth and calling for an end to impunity.
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Please Note: The 5th Democracy Courage Tribute cannot be described here due to security concerns of the group involved. For further information, please send a message to world@ned.org.
We wish to thank the American Chamber of Commerce, São Paulo, Brazil, for generously hosting this important event and Latin Trade Magazine for its financial contribution.
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