On May 3, the world celebrated World Press Freedom Day. Reflecting on the day’s events, a few important questions arise about what role the media plays in a community and in a democracy. First, how does freedom of the press compare to freedom of speech? Not only do journalists need freedom to speak and write [...]
Tag archives for Democracy
From the Field: Our Ongoing Efforts in Egypt
Submitted by: David Yang, USAID Office of Democracy & Governance For the past two months, USAID has responded rapidly to the historic events in Egypt. We are pivoting our existing portfolio of 36 democracy programs implemented by Egyptian, U.S. and international organizations to support the new opportunity. During the protests, our partners deployed observers throughout [...]
Haiti: First Impressions on the Runoff Election
Submitted by Ben Edwards, USAID/Haiti Like most days in Port-au-Prince, Haitians began to fill the streets at sunrise. On this Sunday, however, they were headed to the polls, eager to exercise their democratic right in the presidential runoff and parliamentary elections. Voters at many polling stations waited calmly in line for their turn to vote. [...]
Southern Sudan Referendum Results: Independence
Submitted by: Angela Stephens, USAID Africa Bureau Today it was announced that in a landslide vote nearly 99% of southern Sudanese voters opted to secede from Sudan. The Government of Sudan has formally accepted the outcome, an important step in preserving peace in a region that has suffered through decades of war. But just weeks [...]
Voters Chose Secession for Southern Sudan, Provisional Referendum Results Show
Provisional results announced in Juba Sunday for the referendum on self-determination for southern Sudan indicate that southern Sudanese voted overwhelmingly to secede and form a new nation. Of more than 3.8 million votes cast, nearly 99 percent chose secession, and just over 1 percent chose unity with northern Sudan.
The Role of Teachers and Textbooks in a Democracy
Submitted by: Diana Harper “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.” —James Madison, 1788 This month’s historic referendum will determine southern Sudan’s future, either as an independent country of part of a unified Sudan. Voting ends on Saturday, January [...]
The “Stuff” of Democracy – USAID Supports the Southern Sudan Referendum
Submitted by Diana Harper Two hands clasped together, or one hand alone? This is the choice that southern Sudanese voters will face in less than one week, when they choose either to remain part of a unified Sudan or to secede and form an independent country. Several democratic milestones have paved the way for Sudan [...]
Sudan Takes Another Step in Its Peace Process
Submitted by Diana Harper Last week we reported on the successful and peaceful close of voter registration in Sudan for January’s referendum on southern independence. In another promising development, this month Blue Nile state began popular consultations, a political process guaranteed by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended Sudan’s violent, 22-year civil war. [...]
