This week hundreds of pro-democracy supporters will gather in Krakow, Poland, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the inauguration of the Community of Democracies; a coalition of democratic countries from around the world whose goal is to promote global democratic development, rules, norms and institutions.

As part of this event, the CoD has placed emphasis on several thematic themes; one being the role of women in democracy. However, before preparations for this event had even began, the CoD had already made clear its intentions to place an emphasis on the rights of women, and Lithuania should be heartily congratulated for propelling this topic to the forefront when assuming its presidency of the organization in 2009.

Read more: Expectations Before the Conference

The conflict that started on 10th June in south of Kyrgyzstan shocked the interim government and international community. Many scholars predicted that ethnic conflict might happen, however no one expected such sudden beginning of the ethnic tensions. That is why, the Interim Government couldn’t react quickly and the gap was immediately filled by civil society. I, on behalf of the Human Rights Center “Citizens against Corruption” flew to Osh and since 13 June, jointly with initiative group of civil society have been there to monitor the situation, work with partners in the region and provide objective information, jointly with elders and respected people to work on conflict-resolution and peace establishment.

Read more: Activist for Democracy: the role of human rights activist during armed conflict in south of Kyrgyzstan

The tenth anniversary of the founding of the Community of Democracies comes at time of global recession politically as well as economically.  When the Warsaw Declaration was signed in 2000, democracy and freedom had been expanding steadily for more than two decades, and many expected this progress to continue.  However, over the last decade, the level of democracy has stagnated globally and has recently experienced some decline.  There are now four fewer democracies (116) than Freedom House counted in the year 2000.  Of the roughly 30 reversals of democracy since the “third wave” began in 1974, about three-fifths have occurred since 1999 (and four in the last year). Levels of freedom have also been on the decline.  During the last three years (according to Freedom House) declines in freedom have significantly outpaced improvements.   Nearly four times as many countries declined as improved in freedom in 2007, and more than twice as many in 2008 and 2009.

Read more: First Blog for High-Level Democracy Meeting in Krakow, July 1-3, 2010

Por esos azares de la vida me encontré las “Cartas desde Birmania” de Aung San Suu Kyi en una librería habanera. No las hallé en uno de esos sitios –regentados por algún particular- que comercializa libros de usos, sino en un local estatal que vende coloridas ediciones en moneda convertible. El pequeño ejemplar con la foto de ella en la portada, estaba mezclado entre los manuales de autoayuda y los volúmenes con recetas de cocina. Miré a ambos lados de los anaqueles para comprobar si alguien había puesto aquel libro allí justo para mí, pero las empleadas dormitaban en el sopor del mediodía y una de ellas se sacudía las moscas de la cara sin prestarme ninguna atención. Compré la valiosa compilación de textos escritos por esta disidente entre 1995 y 1996, aún bajo el efecto de la sorpresa que me producía el haberlos encontrado en mi país, donde habitamos –como ella- bajo un régimen militar y en medio de una fuerte censura a la palabra.

Read more: El horror desde la dulzura