Together with Innovation for Change, we want to share some highlights from the Forum for Democracy 2023: Strengthening Democracy and Citizen Participation, which took place in the Dominican Republic on June 31st.
The event began with a presentation by ICNL on the enabling environment in Latin America and the Caribbean, setting the stage for the first panel, which addressed the shrinking civic space in the region and the work of civil society organizations in promoting democracy and defending that fundamental space.
During the Forum, there was a review of current trends in the state of democracy worldwide, leading to the second panel on civil society in the digital age. This panel addressed the challenge of combating disinformation and fostering digital empowerment in the region to strengthen citizen activism.
Furthermore, one of the highlighted activities was the screening of the FOTOpodcast “Multiple Perspectives,” an initiative that seeks to amplify and shed light on the voices and realities of Central America, produced by Connectas.
The event concluded with a panel on the importance of effective partnerships to enhance initiatives and practices aimed at strengthening democracy, featuring representatives from USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), and the New Zealand Embassy in Mexico. Throughout the Forum, a space for dialogue and reflection was created, bringing together prominent representatives of civil society, donors, and allies from the region with the common goal of strengthening democratic systems, fostering citizen participation, combating corruption, and promoting respect for human rights in our region.
We would like to express our gratitude to all participants, speakers, and collaborators who made this important event possible.