NEW REPORT ON COVID-19 AND DEMOCRACY CALLS FOR URGENT MEASURES BY GOVERNMENTS AND CIVIL SOCIETY

A new report, ‘Global Democracy and COVID-19: Upgrading International Support’, was published on 15 July and highlights how some governments are using the public health crisis to further curtail democratic activities and provides recommendations for policymakers and civil society to counteract the negative impacts of COVID-19 on democracy.

The report, endorsed by International IDEA and ten other pro-democracy institutions, is aligned with a recent Call to Defend Democracy. The letter, initiated by International IDEA, was signed by almost 100 organizations from all over the world, as well as nearly 500 prominent individuals from 119 countries, including 13 Nobel Laureates and 62 former Heads of State or Government.