Stronger Together: Partnerships for Supporting Democracy
The 2021 edition of International Democracy Week took place online on 15-17 September around the theme ‘Stronger Together: Partnerships for supporting democracy’.
Focusing on the renewed global democracy agenda, the 2021 Democracy Week featured an exciting line-up of international speakers from across the democracy spectrum who spoke of their experiences of democracy partnerships, from inter-state cooperation, transnational and trans-sectoral partnerships to local initiatives, including former-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, EU Special Representative Eamon Gilmore, Members of the European Parliament, EU and US officials, representatives of international organisations, civil society organisations, academia and business.
Over the course of 3 days, 6 online sessions were delivered:
- After Afghanistan: A discussion with the Brussels democracy support community
- Opening session: Partnerships for supporting democracy
- Human Rights Based Approach- a toolbox for placing the rights-holders at the centre of international partnerships
- Best Practices for International Democratisation Initiatives: Lessons from Georgia and the Eastern Partnership Programme
- Partnerships for supporting democracy online
Supporting democracy in Europe and the European Neighbourhood: The role of independent media and civil society
Best Practices for International Democratisation Initiatives: Lessons from Georgia and the Eastern Partnership Programme
ENoP's panel focused on the work of European political foundations in the Eastern Partnership country of Georgia. ENoP member organisations from 3 different political families, together with their Georgian partner organisations, reflected on their activities and drew lessons for international democratisation efforts.
Following an overview of the Georgian political context by Levan Tsutskiridze (Executive Director, Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy), we heard from Lilia Chikhladze (Programme Coordinator for Democratisation Programme, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Tbilisi Office), Christian Luijckx (International Officer, Haya van Someren Foundation) & Astrid Frey (Programme Manager, Eduardo Frei Foundation) who shared the way European and Georgian foundations operate in Georgia.