SHAREFeb
06
2008
06
2008
Speech
Since the early nineties, the world is witnessing an unprecedented momentum in the development or regeneration of international instruments and mechanisms to tackle gross violations of human rights. There is a proliferation of international tribunals since...
Feb
06
2008
06
2008
Speech
The heart of the report Reconciliation and Traditional Justice After Violent Conflict is a series of case studies – of Uganda, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Rwanda, Mozambique and Liberia - using an agreed common methodology of assessment and approach.
These...
Feb
06
2008
06
2008
Speech
Transitional justice paradigms have moved from a de facto dichotomy (amnesty versus trials) to multiple conceptions of justice after transition. Diane Orentlicher, the United Nations’ independent expert on combating impunity, recently wrote: ‘Given the...
Feb
06
2008
06
2008
Speech
Jan
29
2008
29
2008
Speech
Democracy assistance has grown enormously in the volume of expenditure since 1989, but until recently there has been little assessment of what works and what doesn’t. Partnership for democracy building is based on support for a process which is fundamentally...
Dec
17
2007
17
2007
Speech
Nov
27
2007
27
2007
Speech
It is a paradox that while democracy today commands strong support of people all over the world, including those living in non-democratic countries, key democratic actors are actually widely disrespected. This is a challenge for democracy, and one that is...
Nov
05
2007
05
2007
Speech
Oct
24
2007
24
2007
Speech
"Why has diversity become such a popular theme? It has always existed, both in human society and in a way, in each of us, as individuals and products of the most obvious, “primordial” diversity – the diversity between a woman and a man.
We use the term...
Oct
23
2007
23
2007
Speech
"This paper offers initial reflections on the pertinent and timely questions raised by the Conference background document. It is based on the awareness that the topic, though increasingly studied and discussed in academic and political circles alike, has not...
Oct
22
2007
22
2007
Speech
Electoral assistance can be defined today as the legal, technical and logistic support provided to electoral laws, processes and institutions.
Sep
13
2007
13
2007
Speech
Let me admit that when I heard that a new theme in the development cooperation debate is “Democracy and Development” I was a bit puzzled. I asked if this really is something that has to be discussed. To me, development and democracy is part and parcel of each...
Sep
13
2007
13
2007
Speech
Thus, it is clear that there has been a converging evolution of the two terms towards each other: democracy is more and more meant to include development and development is more and more meant to include the realisation of the basic human rights, including,...
Aug
14
2007
14
2007
Speech
Jun
27
2007
27
2007
Speech
After a quick review of the changing context for democracy building, I will analyze the importance of public trust in electoral and parliamentary processes. I will then address some challenges that the erosion of trust poses to the democracy promotion. I will...
Jun
27
2007
27
2007
Speech
While civil society is almost always spoken highly of, one should not forget that it cannot replace political society. NGOs cannot replace political parties, or the electoral process, or parliaments.
Jun
12
2007
12
2007
Speech
Why has diversity become such a popular theme? It has always existed, both in human society and in a way, in each of us, as individuals and products of the most obvious, “primordial” diversity – the diversity between a woman and a man.
We use the term...
May
28
2007
28
2007
Speech
This background paper reviews the extant research and debates on the causes and consequences of democracy to provide guidance to the international donor community on the key conceptual and methodological issues surrounding democracy promotion and aid...
May
14
2007
14
2007
Speech
La transición a la democracia en América Latina muestra a lo largo de estos 29 años dos etapas principales. Una, durante los años 1980, década perdida en lo económico pero de gran avance en materia democrática. La otra, a lo largo de los años 90,...
May
02
2007
02
2007
Speech
Much of the money spent on electoral assistance over the past few years has helped electoral management bodies (EMBs) train polling staff and organize elections on time. Much less has been invested in EMBs as institutions, to support them in becoming less...