The Potential Legacy of the Summit for Democracy Process - CSIS The Summit for Democracy | Democracy, Human Rights & Governance | U.S He then says Wagner is recruiting . Summit For Democracy | House Democracy Partnership (HDP) Key actions announced or highlighted at the second Summit for Democracy include: Countering the Misuse of Technology and Rise of Digital Authoritarianism. Its capable of self-correction and its capable of self-improvement. Our domestic agenda has been focused on delivering for the needs of the American people and strengthening our democratic institutions at home. Today, President Biden convened the first-ever Summit for Democracy, a forum for leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing democracies today. First Democracy Summit: Biden calls on leaders to end 'backward slide The United States launched the Summit for Democracy process in early 2021 to put new and high-level focus on the need to strengthen democratic institutions, protect human rights, and accelerate the fight against corruption both at home and abroad. Joint Statement Between Costa Rica, the Netherlands, the Republic of [1/4] Guatemalan veterans pray during a meeting with Presidential candidate Sandra Torres, of the National Unity of Hope (UNE) political party, ahead of the presidential run-off, in Guatemala City . Few participating governments are joining the summit with the enthusiasm of the United States, and few authoritarian regimes are likely to feel threatened by it (though Chinas surprisingly strong reaction to the first summit suggests it is at least paying attention). Not only is this the right thing to do, it is in the United States national security interest, because strong, rights-respecting democracies are more peaceful, prosperous, and stable. I believe this is a defining challenge of our age. All rights reserved. Automated systems are driving extraordinary benefits, from technology that helps farmers grow food more efficiently and computers that predict storm paths, to algorithms that can identify diseases in patients. (Participating leaders begin remarks.) . Additionally, democracies must continue looking ahead, so as to align emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), with respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms. President Biden hailed a "new era" for cooperation between the U.S., South Korea and Japan, as he hosted leaders of the two nations at Camp David Friday. Yoon, a conservative, and Kishida appear to have resolved the forced labour dispute and established a warm relationship that has included a joint visit to a memorial to Korean victims of the Hiroshima atomic bombing when the city hosted the G7 summit in May. Im looking forward to the connections well build to support our work moving forward. Freedom House reports, in 2020, that it marked the 15th consecutive year of global freedom in retreat. These include the following: USAID Announces Initiatives to Advance Democracy in Support of Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, USAID Welcomes New Advisory Committee Chair, Hosts Biannual Public Meeting, USAID Announces New Initiatives at the 2023 Summit for Democracy and Updates on Progress Made Since the 2021 Summit, USAID Hosts Launch of FTI Cohort Pledge and Call to Action and Announces New Initiatives to Boost Progress Against Corruption, Administrator Samantha Power Meets with Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso. Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. Putin reciprocated with a call for closer Moscow-Pyongyang ties. The first effort. Last December, more than 100 jurisdictions were represented at and participated in the first Summit for Democracy. Such actions can provide vital protection from harassment and attack. Democracies are coming together to reinforce that human rights are the bedrock of our national and international security and must be the north star guiding the design, regulation, and use of technologies. No doubt the Biden administration hopes to strengthen the coalition standing up for global norms by continuing to nurture its relationships with a group of countries that share similar democratic values. The White House To address this challenge, the Biden-Harris Administration is unveiling at the second Summit for Democracy a comprehensive package of actions meant to combat digital repression from multiple angles from leading by example with respect to use of commercial spyware and deepening international cooperation on this issue; to championing new principles to guide governments use of surveillance technology; to announcing a new efforts to integrate a human rights lens into export controls so as to prevent dual-use technologies and goods from falling into the hands of those that may misuse them. The summit is expected to pick up on many themes from the first summit held in 2021, with a special emphasis on free and fair elections, independent media, the role of youth, combating corruption, and the influence of technology on democracy. This gathering has been on my mind for a long time for a simple reason: In the face of sustained and alarming. We'll be in touch with the latest information on how President Biden and his administration are working for the American people, as well as ways you can get involved and help our country build back better. You know, when we gathered here in December of 2021, the sentiment in too many places around the world was that democracys best days were behind us. Were going forward from this summit. Leaders will take stock of commitments made in 2021 and announce new initiatives in these five areas, among others. You know, weve accomplished a great deal together, but we all know how much work lies ahead. Thats how its sold. [3] Contradictory to its themes, multiple un-democratic and authoritarian nations have attended, which has attracted criticism. Microsoft, together with other cloud service providers, has developed and released the Trusted Cloud Principles. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Summit for Democracy - Wikipedia Hampered the first time by Covid-19 and now by the logistics of gathering more than a hundred heads of state in person, leaders will meet again virtually, although this year there will be hybrid convenings in the capitals of the five cohosting countries, with some heads of state attending the second day in person. The Second Summit for Democracy Can Be a Stage for Democratic Revival USAID Announces Initiatives to Advance Democracy in Support of In fact, governmentsbe they U.S. democratic allies or authoritarian foilsare probably not the most important audience for the summit. Today, President Biden convened the first-ever Summit for Democracy, a forum for leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing democracies today. HOME - Summit for Democracy Emerging technologies, including AI and biotechnology, hold the power to fundamentally shape industries, economies, and entire societies. Watch the live stream: https://www.state.gov/summit-for-democracy/, The Summit for Democracy Livestream.December 9-10, 2021, All Hands on Deck: Innovating Together to Combat Transnational Corruption.December 7 at 10:00 a.m. EST. In the context of Russian aggression and pro-democracy protests in Iran, they may feel smallinadequate even. During the "Year of Action" following the first Summit for Democracy in December 2021, the United States and over 100 partner governments around the world have taken meaningful steps to build. Here in the United States, weve demonstrated that our democracy can still do big things and deliver important progress for working Americans. Next Post: Readout of Space Systems Cybersecurity Executive Forum Hosted by the Office of the National Cyber Director and the National Space Council, Readout of Space Systems Cybersecurity Executive Forum Hosted by the Office of the National Cyber Director and the National Space, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/28/the-status-of-women-is-the-status-of-democracy-advancing-womens-political-and-civic-participation-and-leadership-at-the-second-summit-for-democracy/?utm_source=link, Office of the United States Trade Representative, U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally. All rights reserved. Today, President Biden opened the first-ever Summit for Democracy, a forum for leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing democracies in the 21st century. As a core U.S. Government commitment toward achieving the Summits objectives, President Biden announced the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, a landmark new set of policy initiatives and foreign assistance programs that will significantly expand and update the U.S. governments work to bolster democracy and defend human rights globally. US officials are confident that its two main allies in the region share Washingtons view on most global issues, although a joint statement is expected to stop short of directly referring to China to reflect South Korean reservations about openly criticising Beijing. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. As part of this, earlier this week I signed an executive order here in the United States to restrict the U.S. governments use of commercial spyware that has been abused to target dissidents, activists, and journalists around the world, including in the United States. The right to vote, to have your vote counted, is the threshold of democracy and liberty everywhere in the world. These actions and investments also include the release of the Global Partnerships 2023 Roadmap and several other initiatives. Summit for Democracy 2023 The March 2023 Summit Official Events Official Interventions Additional Events Announcements Social Media Call to Action Civil Society-Led Events The Challenge to Democracies Official Events All times are listed in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) unless otherwise indicated. 'Democracy needs champions:' Biden kicks off first 'Summit for Womens participation in peace and security processesas peacekeepers, leaders, and members of the defense and security sectoris essential to global security, stability and democracy. Since the first Summit for Democracy in 2021, when Zambia joined other world leaders in pledging over 750 . 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW In February 2023, the President signed Executive Order 14091 on Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, which directs federal agencies to root out bias in the design and use of new technologies, such as AI and other automated systems, and to protect the public from algorithmic discrimination. The Summit for Democracy History and common sense tell us that liberty, opportunity, and justice thrive in a democracy, not in an autocracy. American democracy is an ongoing struggle to live up to our highest ideals and to heal our divisions; to recommit ourselves to the founding idea of our nation captured in our Declaration of Independence, not unlike many of your documents. Were going to launch new programs to help connect anti-corrup- anti-corruption activities across civil society, the media, academia, labor, and protect whistleblowers and help partners eliminate money laundering and safe havens. And these trends are being exacerbated by global challenges that are more complex than ever and which require shared efforts to address these concerns: By outside pressure from autocrats. Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden. The U.S. government is also calling on the private sector to combat authoritarian use of network-level filtering technology for repressive censorship by supporting and furthering censorship-resistant technologies and technical standards. To act. But freedom of expression and assembly, rule of law, and the opportunity for everyone to succeed economicallythese are the building blocks of strong and resilient democracies. In December 2021, President Biden convened the first Summit for Democracy, setting forth an agenda to revitalize and strengthen democracy around the world and to work together towards solutions for our greatest shared challenges. Aug 21, 2023 Yanis Varoufakis. China has denounced the summit, saying it opposes relevant countries forming various cliques and their practices of exacerbating confrontation and jeopardising other countries strategic security.. UK to host AI safety summit at start of November Therefore having human rights activists and other leaders on the formal summit agendaas the Summit for Democracy did in 2021 and is expected to do in 2023sends a vitally important message about how democracies are actually built and sustained. Democracies across the worldrich and established, developing and newly established onesare grappling with serious crises on many key parameters. I would like, now, to announce several new initiatives that the United States intends to undertake over the coming year as part of the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal that President Biden announced yesterday. Today, we are building on those efforts by: Advancing Womens Involvement in Peace and Security Efforts. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s). Marti Flacks is the Khosravi Chair in Principled Internationalism and director of the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. Commentary is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a private, tax-exempt institution focusing on international public policy issues. Today, President Biden convened the first-ever Summit for Democracy, a forum for leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing democracies today. I agree with you completely. To ensure that our democracies are strengthening by the voice are strengthened by the voice of all citizens, this Presidential Initiative includes programs to advance women and girls and civic engagement and political leadership, empowering the LGBTQL [sic] community plus community individuals to participate in democratic institutions, promote labor law reform, working or and worker organizations. It was the first such meeting between . Were bringing down the cost of essentials like prescription drugs and health insurance premiums. Angola Angola has taken steps to build an independent judiciary, creating three new region- three new regional courts of appeal, which are going to help process cases more quickly. Ellen Nakashima. Remarks by President Biden at the Summit for Democracy Virtual Plenary So, I thank you all very much. And my administration is going to keep fighting to pass two critical pieces of legislation that will shore up the very foundation of American democracy: the sacred right of every person to make their voice heard through free, fair, and secure elections. We need to enact what we call the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to prevent voting discrimination, provide baselines for assessing accessing the ballot box, and ensure the will of the voters is upheld, and so much more. Together with the US, India was instrumental in the creation of the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and the Community of Democracies to support democracy at international levels. The Administration is also advancing the implementation of the Presidents September 2022 Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy as the foundation to engage stakeholders at home and abroad on the importance of shaping ethical standards for the biotechnology of the future. The Summit will solicit innovative and bold commitments centered around three principal themes: USAID will participate in the Summit for Democracy and highlight our work that strengthens democracy and supports democratic ambitions. Google is launching a $2 million fund to support human rights defenders, and providing 100,000 security keys at no cost to individuals at higher risk of cyber attacks, such as journalists and human rights defenders. Japan and South Korea are core allies not just in the region, but around the world, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said this week, adding that Bidens summit would mark what we believe is a new era in trilateral cooperation. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, pushed back at those suggesting it was time for a negotiated settlement with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. This summit is a kick-off of a year in action for all of our countries to follow through on our commitments and to report back next year on the progress weve made. Please enable JavaScript to use this feature. Last month, I was proud to sign a bipartisan piece of legislation, a true act of consensus between Democrats and Republicans in our country: the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. You know, were covering a lot of ground in these sessions today on all ways democracy can is at at the heart of all that we hope to achieve and for our people: spurring economic growth; shared prosperity; unfolding justice and upholding it as well; strengthening our institutions; taking global challenges tackling them head on; advancing inclusion and equity for all our people. On December 9-10, 2021, President Biden hosted the first of two Summits for Democracy, a global gathering of 100 government leaders, hundreds of members of civil society, and the business community, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing democracies in the 21st century. The representative with the most number of votes gets the power. Summit for Democracy: First outcomes show promise Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. The Summit for Democracy as a process is an extraordinary opportunity to galvanize attention and mobilize international action; and the process associated with it is a critical platform for engagement on issues of democracy during the course of 2022 and beyond. A Proclamation on Amending Proclamation 10320, Death Of Robert J. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/09/fact-sheet-announcing-the-presidential-initiative-for-democratic-renewal/?utm_source=link, Office of the United States Trade Representative, Defending Free and Fair Elections and Political Processes. 2023 Summit for Democracy: Progress in the Year of Action Unpacking the Summit for Democracy Commitments - IDEA The White House This effort is one of many many my administration is leading in the digital space for strengthening tools for Internet freedom; to better protecting activists and journalists from cyber threats, harassment, abuse; and and shaping emergency [sic] emerging technologies like artificial intelligence so that they deliver and develop things that are in line with our values our values. To advance womens meaningful participation, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken the following actions: TheGlobal Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse (Global Partnership). [1] [2] The three themes are defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and advancing respect for human rights. At the first Summit of Democracy, I launched the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, committed more than $400 million to shore up transparent and accountable governance, support for media freedom, to fight for international fighting international corruption, stand with democracy and democratic reformers, promote technology that advances democracy, defend elections. And I want to thank those countries who are joining us this week in committing to regulate the use of commercial spyware. Please enable JavaScript to use this feature. 11:42 A.M. EDTPRESIDENT BIDEN: Hello, everyone. Croatia is implementing a multi-year anti-corruption plan to increase government transparency and better oversee public procurement. And I know Im now going to turn turn this over to the President of Slovakia. At a time when the West, particularly the US and rich European countries, have considerably ceded their global commitment to democratic values. Biden's Summit for Democracy should focus on rights, not - Brookings When U.S. presidents meet civil society leaders during trips abroad and Amnesty International members write letters en masse to political prisoners, they are not only raising global awareness of the activists and their work. Look, all we know, its not easy. You have JavaScript disabled. Research shows that the status of women and the stability of nations are inextricably linked, and that societies that foster gender discrimination and allow oppressive gender norms to flourish are more likely to be unstable. Biden: World 'Turning the Tide' After Backslide on Democracy As it turns out, they woulddespite some grumbling and a few holdouts, more than 100 heads of state participated in the first summit. Meta has committed to helping people communicate freely and securely, including through a new feature that allows users to connect to WhatsApp by proxy when their Internet connection is disrupted or blocked. Without it, in my view, nothing is possible. We have to stand for justice and the rule of law, for free speech, free assembly, a free press, freedom of religion, and for all the inherent human rights of every individual. Additionally, the Biden-Harris Administrations inaugural National Cybersecurity Strategy outlines a series of actions to advance our positive vision for cyberspace. A commitment from the first Summit for Democracy and launched at the 66th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the Global Partnership, which currently has 12 participating governments, brings together international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to prioritize, understand, prevent, and address the growing scourge of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, which disproportionately impacts women and LGBTQI+ political and public figures, leaders, journalists and activists. South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol gestures to Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida to take a seat, during their talks on the sidelines of the Nato Summit in July 2023. coerced into working in Japanese military brothels. These efforts will center on five areas of work crucial to the functioning of transparent, accountable governance: V. Defending Free and Fair Elections and Political Processes.