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New York Democracy Forum >> 2007 Lecture Series
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The New York Democracy Forum is a joint venture of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the Foreign Policy Association (FPA). Since the advance of democracy is one of the fundamental struggles of our time, NED and FPA believe it is critical that the world's leading commercial center engage with those who are part of that struggle. Launched on March 9, 2005 with the first annual Democracy Dinner, and followed by a monthly lecture series held at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, and during the fall at McGraw-Hill Auditorium, the aim of the New York Democracy Forum is to bring key figures in the democracy movement, individuals who are leading the way in the advance of democratic values and institutions around the world, to New York audiences. In addition to garnering support for the worldwide democracy movement from New York's civic, educational and financial leaders, the New York Democracy Forum creates opportunities for engaging with some of the world's current and future leaders. In addition, the Forum helps to raise public awareness of the work of NED and FPA.
Democracy Dinner honoring President Bachelet
Democracy Dinner: September 24, 2007 Natasa Kandic discusses the film "Scorpions"
Film screening and Discussion: June 12, 2007 Alejandro Toledo on "Democracy or Populism: Responding to the Crisis in Latin America" Born in a small Andean village, former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo financed his undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco with a soccer scholarship and by pumping gas. Toledo went on to earn three advanced degrees at Stanford University, including a Master in Economics and a Ph.D. in Education. Toledo's professional career focused on economic development, with positions at the United Nations, the World Bank, and Harvard's Institute for International Development. Following an initial defeat, he won the Presidential election in 2001 after allegations of electoral fraud and political scandal forced President Fujimori to call new elections. As President, Toledo oversaw a transition back to stability in Peru, pursuing policies marrying free markets and social justice. Following his presidential term in 2006, he returned to the United States to spend a year at Stanford University, where he is writing and lecturing on democracy and economic development. Lecture: Apr. 18, 2007 Christopher Cox speaks on democracy and free markets Christopher Cox, chairman of the SEC and a member of the NED Board of Directors, addressed the New York Democracy Forum on the topic of democracy and free markets. The event also featured the presentation of NED's Democracy Service Media to Emmanuel Kampouris. Lecture: Mar 14, 2007
As Russian parliamentary and presidential elections approach in 2007 - 2008, the Kremlin-backed United Russia party has passed a series of laws curtailing media freedom; restricting nongovernmental organizations, religious communities, and other civil society groups; and restricting freedom of assembly and the use of popular referenda. The democratic parties, SPS and Yabloko, have been almost entirely marginalized. Existing nongovernmental organizations have, however, been loath to give up their independence, and new organizations like The Other Russia and a thriving youth movement have arisen. Garry Kasparov, who abdicated his #1 chess ranking in 2005 to devote his intellect and energy to Russian democracy and was a principal organizer of The Other Russia's inaugural meeting in July 2006, will discuss the role of these and other pro-democracy forces in the coming 2007-2008 election cycle. Lecture: Feb. 12, 2007 |
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The New York Democracy Forum Dinner was held on September 24 in honor of Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile. Bachelet is the first female president of Chile and previously served as Chile's Defense Minister and Health Minister under President Ricardo Lagos. She is also a trained pediatrician and public health specialist with degrees in military science. Bachelet addressed the New York Democracy Forum on Chile's transition to democracy over the past 20 years and the challenges Chile faces today. Bachelet was introduced by Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Natasa Kandic, a tireless activist for human rights and director of the Humanitarian Law Center (HLC), was present on June 12 to discuss "Scorpions," a film produced by the HLC documenting Serbian war crimes. The film sheds light on atrocities committed during the Bosnian war by the Scorpions, a notorious Serbian military unit. Kandic herself tracked down shocking footage of the Scorpions executing six Bosniak civilians in Trnovo in 1995 and submitted this footage to Serbia's war crimes prosecutor. On April 10, 2007, four of the murderers on the tape were convicted of war crimes and sentenced to a collective 58 years in prison. That same day, the HLC released the film "Scorpions," which juxtaposes the Scorpions footage from 1995 with present day interviews with original members of the unit.
Kickoff dinner
read the transcript.