Heinmaa – Page 7 – News and Resources Portal for the Summit of Democracy

Solving the Failure of Governments to Respond to the Climate Crisis: The Case for Environmental Democracy

02/05/2022

From 29 to 31 March, the Westminster Foundation, in partnership with the National Democratic Institute and the World Resources Institute (WRI), organized an international conference on environmental democracy. The conference contributed to demonstrating the interdependencies between democracy and environmentalism: democratic legitimacy depends on an effective response to climate change, and fighting climate change requires such … Continued

United States and 60 Global Partners Launch Declaration for the Future of the Internet

02/05/2022

By Heinmaa

ON 28 April 2022, the White House announced the launch of the ‘Declaration for the Future of the Internet’. The Declaration, signed by 60 countries, is a political commitment to advance a positive vision for the internet and other digital technologies, with commitments to: Protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people; Promote a … Continued

Digital Services Act: Commission welcomes political agreement on rules ensuring a safe and accountable online environment

25/04/2022

By Heinmaa

On 23 April 2022, the Commission announced that a political agreement has been reached between the European Parliament and EU Member States on the December 2020 proposal on the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA will set an unprecedented new standard in holding platforms accountable for illegal and harmful content, providing better protections for users … Continued

Freedom House Nations in Transit 2022 Policy Recommendations

25/04/2022

By Heinmaa

Freedom House has released policy recommendations targeted towards helping to counter authoritarianism and support human rights and democracy in the Nations in Transit region. Solutions will need to involve states, civil society and the private sector, and care should be taken to ensure that solutions do not result in strengthened undemocratic alliances. Recommendations focus on … Continued

US State Department Kicks Off ‘Democracy Cohorts’ Initiative as Part of the Summit’s Year of Action

25/04/2022

By Heinmaa

The United States is launching multistakeholder platforms, called Democracy Cohorts, to take joint action in supporting commitment implementation in priority focus areas. Each Democracy Cohort will bring together governments and authorities that demonstrate the political will for progress on key Summit commitments in cooperation with the relevant non-governmental stakeholders. Each cohort will be co-led by … Continued

Global Partnership to End Online Violence Against Women Presents Opportunities for Tech and Government to Step Up

19/04/2022

By Heinmaa

Moira Whelan illuminates the importance of and makes recommendations regarding the US-led initiative, Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse, which is part of the Summit’s Year of Action. There is mounting evidence that online harassment presents a significant, persistent and systemic barrier to women’s political participation and is a threat to … Continued

The Russian Propaganda in Arabic Hidden from the West

19/04/2022

By Heinmaa

Nadia Oweidat outlines the concerning impact of Russian narratives in Arabic social media depictions of Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine. The messaging is overwhelmingly pro-Russian, with little to no pro-Western or pro-democracy voices. Given the propensity of leaders in the Gulf region to support authoritarian regimes, and increasing anti-Western and anti-democratic messaging over the past … Continued

Ukraine Crisis Prompts China to Swing Behind Myanmar’s Junta

19/04/2022

By Heinmaa

Jason Tower considers the recent shift in Chinese policy towards the authoritarian regime in Myanmar in light of its wider impact in the region, Chinese foreign policy, and its potential impact on democracy and human rights in the region. Over the past month, China has increased its military support for the junta and is also … Continued

The Dark Side of Democracy

11/04/2022

By Heinmaa

Katherine Ellena and Erica Shein write about the importance of tackling the threat of dark money in politics, especially in terms of protecting our electoral integrity. Despite the broad international attention to countering corruption and kleptocracy, efforts have been fairly ineffective, with international frameworks failing to keep up and containing many holes to exploit. Four … Continued

“The most bitter cigarette.” How Europe’s gas dependence is a hazard for democracy

11/04/2022

By Heinmaa

Mike Runey writes in Eurasianet about the European experience with the Southern Gas Corridor from Azerbaijan, illustrating the risks for Europe in attempting to find alternative sources to Russian energy. The $40 billion system of pipelines was approved over widespread objections, the criticisms of which have largely come to fruition. The loans and receipts gave … Continued

Author: Heinmaa