|
|
|
Grants >>
Middle East and North Africa Program Highlights
|
|
Through its core institutes and nearly 300 civil society organizations throughout the region, NED supported many extraordinary activities that took place during the year, including elections in Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan; and unprecedented efforts to foster electoral reform, transparency, and accountability in Egypt, Bahrain, and Lebanon. NDI and IRI provided critical technical training and support for election processes throughout the region through training of political parties, women candidates, and election monitoring groups in Iraq, Egypt and Afghanistan. The Endowment continued its support of civil society efforts to promote dialogue on the compatibility of Islam and democracy as well as women's rights and political empowerment platforms, and to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations to combat corruption, advocate for constitutional and legal reform, and pressure governments for accountability and transparency. Iraq witnessed its first democratic elections for a national assembly in nearly 50 years, with eight million Iraqis casting their vote in what was largely hailed as a free and fair process. Local and international media broadcast images of Iraqi families walking to polling stations amidst threats of violence and intimidation while proudly displaying their ink-stained fingers. In the face of continued insurgency and serious security concerns, Iraq drafted and ratified a permanent constitution and conducted elections for a permanent national assembly. NED maintained a strong presence in Iraq, working to directly support civil society in building a democratic Iraq. Grantees, such as the Iraqi Organization for Human Rights Coordination and the Kurdish Institute of Elections, played an important role in constitutional and election education and awareness campaigns that engaged Iraqi citizens in the political process. CIPE worked with political parties to formulate sound economic platforms, while NDI and IRI provided technical support and training to help local organizations coordinate an election monitoring network and get-out-the-vote activities. And the Solidarity Center supported the development of membership-based, democratic, representative Iraqi trade unions. Afghanistan's September parliamentary elections marked the successful completion of a critical phase in the political process set forth by the Bonn agreement. Notably, women from Kabul and other provinces successfully competed against men for seats in parliament. Three NED grantees, Welfare Association for the Development of Afghanistan, Cooperation Center for Afghanistan, and Afghans for Civil Society, played important roles in engaging women, minority groups, and indigenous Afghan institutions, such as maliks and shuras, in the political process. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak acknowledged longstanding domestic and international calls for reform and supported a constitutional amendment that allowed direct, multiparty presidential elections for the first time. NED grantees Ibn Khaldoun Center and the Human Rights Association for the Assistance of Prisoners led domestic electionmonitoring efforts - the first time such efforts were officially recognized by the Egyptian government. The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights, the Land Center for Human Rights, and Civic Monitor for Human Rights led activities to encourage women's political participation, rural inclusion in the political process, and training of monitors. NDI provided technical training to build the capacity of Egyptian civic organizations to monitor the electoral process and communicate their findings. Thousands of Lebanese took to the streets after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, placing three decades of continuous Syrian occupation at the center of a heated international debate that culminated in Syrian withdrawal. Parliamentary elections were held in June, but the resulting tense political climate has been characterized by the return of sectarian divides and growing public dissatisfaction with the current election process. NED grantee the Lebanese Foundation for the Permanent Civil Peace promoted the role of civil society in improving government accountability through its work on the Lebanese Legislation Monitor. Hailed as free and fair by myriad international and domestic observers, Palestinian presidential elections were held in January following the death of long time leader Yasser Arafat. Municipal elections were also held for the first time in most of the Palestinian territories. NED supported the electoral processes through Palestinian NGOs such as the Civitas Institute, which led voter education and election monitoring training and organized town hall meetings for citizens and newly elected representatives to discuss community needs. NED also supported the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy to develop leadership skills of young politicians, and the Solidarity Center worked with the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions to develop a legislative agenda on labor issues and to conduct candidate forums. Jordan's King Abdullah began the year with a decentralization plan to transfer political and fiscal authority from parliament and central ministries to directly elected local councils. King Abdullah also commissioned an ad hoc committee to draft a comprehensive "National Agenda" for economic, social, and political reform. NED grantees the Jordanian Women's Union and Sisterhood is Global Institute played a leading role in providing the committee with a civil society perspective on women's issues. In North Africa, constitutional reform and women's rights remained major national issues, and NED grantees maintained pressure for reform and women's rights awareness. In Morocco, the Endowment supported women's groups to ensure effective implementation of the new family code as well as a women's participation and leadership program that targets rural populations. NED continued to support the Prologues Association, a group of intellectuals and activists that mobilizes political, academic, and social actors to address constitutional reform and collectively set the agenda for a national public debate. In Algeria, NED grantee the Collective of the Families of the Disappeared helped shape the debate around the government-sponsored amnesty to Islamists and military officials involved in the country's civil war. In countries where political space is especially constrained, such as Iran, Libya and Saudi Arabia, the Endowment supported initiatives to link democracy activists with regional programs and provided support to exiled groups. In Libya, NED continued to support the Libya Human and Political Development Forum, which engages Libyan activists inside and outside the country in the debate on political and legal reforms. Debate over the role and engagement of Islamist movements continues to impact the region's political landscape, including elections, women's rights, and general democratic reform. The Endowment increased its support to regional programs that addressed these issues, such as the International Forum for Islamic Dialogue and the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promote dialogue between liberal Muslim democrats and other democrats on Islam and democracy. NED also assisted efforts to promote a modern interpretation of Islam and highlight the compatibility of Islamic values with universal values of human rights and democracy. NED also supported the work of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, which organized the isolated efforts of moderate Muslim women jurists into a viable network, capable of producing change. * Indicates Department of State Funding Beyond NED's Annual Appropriation |
|
| |
