Early Carter Center observer reports indicate that Tunisia has successfully completed its first democratic election cycle under the new constitution with Dec. 21's final round of the presidential election. Learn more »
The Carter Center notes with concern the conviction of Republic of Korea incumbent lawmaker, Lee Seok-ki, a member of the National Assembly, by the Seoul High Court on a charge of insurrection conspiracy based on taped remarks he made to his political followers and for which he has been sentenced to nine years in prison. Learn more »
I am delighted with the wise and courageous decision of President Obama to improve relations with Cuba, and congratulate Alan Gross and his family on his freedom. Learn more »
The Carter Center has launched an international election observation mission for Tunisia's Dec. 21 presidential runoff, its third such effort in 2014. Learn more »
Tunisian citizens voted in a genuine and competitive election on Nov. 23, the country's first presidential elections under the new constitution. This presidential election further consolidates Tunisia's democratic transition following a long and sometimes contentious transition period. Learn more »
In recent weeks, as the Jan. 22 deadline to promulgate a new constitution approaches, Nepal's constitution-making process has become increasingly polarized. The Carter Center urges all parties to recommit to the spirit of consensus upon which the peace process and constituent assembly are founded and to find broadly acceptable compromises to bring constitution-making to a successful close. Learn more »
Under the accreditation of the Instance Supérieure Indépendante pour les Élections (ISIE) of Tunisia, The Carter Center has launched an international election observation mission for Tunisia's presidential election on Nov. 23. Learn more »
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Mexican businessman Carlos Slim announced today a partnership to assist the regional initiative working with six countries in the Americas to eliminate river blindness (onchocerciasis): Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela. The announcement comes as the Mexican government celebrates eliminating transmission of river blindness nationwide, joining Colombia, Ecuador, and Guatemala. Learn more »
O ex-presidente dos Estados Unidos Jimmy Carter e o empresário mexicano Carlos Slim anunciaram hoje uma parceria para ajudar a iniciativa regional com ações em seis países nas Américas para eliminar a cegueira dos rios (oncocercose): Brasil, Colômbia, Equador, Guatemala, México e Venezuela. O anúncio foi feito ao mesmo tempo em que o governo mexicano comemora a eliminação da transmissão da cegueira dos rios em todo o país, juntando-se a Colômbia, Equador e Guatemala. Learn more »
El ex Presidente de los EE.UU. Jimmy Carter y el empresario mexicano Ing. Carlos Slim anunciaron hoy una alianza para colaborar con la iniciativa regional para eliminar la ceguera de los ríos (oncocercosis) que incluye seis países en las Américas: Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, México y Venezuela. El anuncio viene en un momento en que el Gobierno mexicano celebra la eliminación de la transmisión de la ceguera de los ríos a nivel nacional, uniéndose a Colombia, Ecuador y Guatemala. Learn more »
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and The Carter Center today launched two publications that break new ground on reviewing and assessing legal frameworks for elections. Learn more »
Tunisia's historic legislative elections on Oct. 26 were carried out in a calm, orderly, and transparent manner throughout the country. In a preliminary statement released by The Carter Center today, election observers reported that many Tunisians waited patiently in long lines to exercise their right to vote in the first election carried out under the new Tunisian constitution adopted in January 2014. Learn more »
Following observation of the pre-election environment and election day itself, 54 observers from The Carter Center and the Electoral Institute of Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) remained deployed across the country to observe the immediate post-election period, including tabulation and certification of results at the district and provincial levels, as well as the complaints process. Learn more »
The Carter Center is joining forces with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance to launch two new election manuals Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the United Nations in New York. Learn more »
Under the accreditation of the Instance Supérieure Indépendante pour les Élections (ISIE) of Tunisia, The Carter Center has launched an international election observation mission for Tunisia's legislative election on Oct. 26. Former Yemen Prime Minister Abdel Karim Al-Eryani will lead the mission. Learn more »
The Carter Center and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) deployed a team of 87 observers representing 40 countries to observe Mozambique's Oct. 15, 2014, presidential, national assembly, and provincial elections at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Learn more »
The Carter Center announced today that it has closed its field office in Egypt after nearly three years and that it will not deploy an observation mission to assess Egypt's parliamentary elections anticipated later this year. This decision reflects The Carter Center's assessment that the political environment is deeply polarized and that political space has narrowed for Egyptian political parties, civil society, and the media. As a result, the upcoming elections are unlikely to advance a genuine democratic transition in Egypt. Both Egyptian civil society and international organizations face an increasingly restrictive environment that hinders their ability to conduct credible election observation. Learn more »
The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) and The Carter Center welcome today's confirmation by Mozambique's National Election Commission (CNE) that the entire electoral process, in all its phases, is subject to observation. Learn more »
The Carter Center has launched an international election observation mission for Mozambique's presidential, legislative, and provincial assembly elections on Oct. 15, at the invitation of the government of Mozambique. Learn more »
The Carter Center and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) congratulated Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and the people of Ecuador for their country becoming the second in the world to achieve elimination of onchocerciasis (river blindness), as verified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Learn more »
The challenges of eliminating devastating diseases are enormous, but successful strategies can bring about colossal social and economic benefits. Countdown to Zero, a new exhibition about scientific and social innovations that are ridding the world of ancient afflictions, will open at the American Museum of Natural History on Jan. 13, 2015. The exhibition, developed in collaboration with The Carter Center, focuses on several global efforts that have been able to contain, eliminate, or eradicate disease. Chief among these is the 30-year campaign that may soon eradicate Guinea worm disease, positioning it to become only the second human disease ever eradicated, after smallpox. Learn more »
The Carter Center commends the concerted efforts taken by electoral authorities, civil society organizations, and political parties to prepare for the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. Learn more »
We, the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, strongly condemn the death threats issued against 100 human rights defenders in Colombia by unscrupulous individuals on Sept. 9, the National Day of Human Rights in Colombia. These threats not only affect human rights defenders and their noble, arduous work, but also constitute a threat to the citizenry in general. Learn more »
At a small event today, The Carter Center formally marked the transfer of its Nepal observation research database to Social Science Baha, a Kathmandu-based nonprofit organization that promotes and enhances the study and research of social sciences in Nepal. Learn more »
The Carter Center commends the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) for responding to President Jimmy Carter's call to action to advance the rights of women and girls by adopting a declaration promoting respect and equality of women on Aug. 30, 2014, at its 51st Annual Convention in Detroit, Michigan. Learn more »
The Carter Center congratulates the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on becoming a full member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). This hard-won achievement is the result of unprecedented collaboration between Congolese government agencies, extractive companies, and civil society organizations to accurately report significant revenue flows in Congo's complex natural resource sector. Learn more »
A high-level delegation of chiefs and elders from Grand Gedeh County will visit Nimba County for a two-day peace and reconciliation meeting with chiefs and elders from Nimba County. The Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs Morris M. Dukuly Sr., has requested Chief Zanzan Karwor, chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders, to lead the meeting, which takes place in Toweh Town, Nimba County, from July 21-23, 2014. Learn more »
Gaza is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Two weeks of indiscriminate bombing and fighting in and around Gaza has left over 600 Palestinians dead, an estimated two-thirds of whom are civilians, including over 150 children. The Israeli death toll has reached 29, including two civilians. Learn more »
A high-level delegation of chiefs and elders from Grand Gedeh County will visit Nimba County for a two-day peace and reconciliation meeting with chiefs and elders from Nimba County. The Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs Morris M. Dukuly Sr. has requested Chief Zanzan Karwor, chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders, to lead the meeting, which takes place in Toweh Town, Nimba County, from July 21-23, 2014. Learn more »
The Carter Center has named Pewee Flomoku as the first Liberian chief of party for its office in Liberia, effective today. A veteran Liberian journalist, Flomoku will lead both general office operations and its Access to Justice Project. Learn more »
The Ministry of Gender and Development, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, and the Women's NGO Secretariat (WONGOSOL), working with the Access to Information Project of The Carter Center, will release the study "Women and the Right of Access to Information in Liberia." Learn more »
The Carter Center deployed on July 7 an international election observation mission for Tunisia's national elections on Oct. 26 and Nov. 23, 2014. Following its observation of the October 2011 National Constituent Assembly elections, The Carter Center monitored the constitution-making process and developments related to the establishment of institutional and legal frameworks for subsequent elections. Learn more »
Based on a recent field assessment, The Carter Center reports that while Nepal's second constituent assembly has made commendable progress to prepare a new constitution in a spirit of compromise, many Nepalis are concerned about the slow pace of the process to date, a perceived lack of engagement by senior political leaders on contentious issues, and the persistence of long-term risks to the credibility of the political process. Learn more »
As violence and instability continue to dominate the political scene in Libya, The Carter Center urges all stakeholders to cease hostilities, engage in comprehensive dialogue, and recommit to the democratic process. Learn more »
In view of the reelection of magistrates to the Nicaraguan Supreme Electoral Council (CSE) announced by media outlets last month, The Carter Center, which is committed to the welfare of the Nicaraguan people and to the legitimacy and vitality of democracy and human rights in Nicaragua, hereby publicly expresses its concern over this decision, which is a significant lost opportunity for this country to strengthen its battered electoral institutions. Learn more »
The Carter Center today released the final report of the study mission that was deployed to Venezuela for the April 14, 2013, presidential elections. The report provides an extensive study of both election day as well as the pre- and post-election periods, including the results of the post-electoral audit process of the electoral system and the challenges to election results presented by the opposition. Learn more »
The Carter Center is concerned about the restrictive political and legal context surrounding Egypt's electoral process, the lack of a genuinely competitive campaign environment, and the deep political polarization that threatens the country's transition as May 26-27 presidential elections quickly approach. Learn more »
During a ceremony held at the Carter Center's headquarters on May 15, 2014, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Lions Clubs International Foundation Chairperson Wayne Madden announced a US $8.8 million expansion of the Lions-Carter Center SightFirst Initiative to end suffering from major causes of preventable blindness in Ethiopia, Uganda, Mali, and Niger. Learn more »
In light of the historical interest of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Panama's democracy and well-being, The Carter Center and the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter closely followed the electoral process and sent a small, high-level delegation to the May 4 general elections. Learn more »
At the invitation of the Panamanian Electoral Tribunal, The Carter Center will send a small high-level delegation to the May 4 national elections in Panama. The delegation will be led by two members of the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, former Colombia President Andrés Pastrana and former foreign minister of Mexico Jorge Castañeda, and will include Dr. Jennifer McCoy, director of the Americas Program at The Carter Center; Marcelo Varela-Erasheva, the program's associate director; Ana Caridad, a program associate; and electoral expert Ricardo Valverde. Learn more »
The Carter Center deployed a team of electoral experts to assess the process surrounding upcoming presidential elections in Egypt, including the ongoing legal and political context. Learn more »
The Carter Center commends Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly for its efforts to advance electoral reform. The draft legislation under consideration in the assembly makes improvements in Tunisia's legal framework for voter registration and media and campaign finance regulation for the anticipated 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections. Learn more »
The Carter Center released today a statement tracing the evolution of key issues in the text of Tunisia's constitution and highlighting elements, including measures to protect citizens from discrimination, provide security of tenure for judges, and safeguard fundamental freedoms during a state of emergency, which should be strengthened. Tunisian authorities should take legislative action to address these concerns. Learn more »
El Centro Carter aplaude los esfuerzos para abrir un canal de comunicación entre el gobierno y los sectores de la oposición venezolana facilitados por el grupo de cancilleres de la Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (UNASUR) y el Vaticano. Learn more »
The Carter Center announces today the appointment of Ms. Kelly Callahan, M.P.H., as the director of the Center's Trachoma Control Program, effective April 14, 2014. Learn more »
Tune in to the media appearances to hear President Carter discuss his new book, "A Call To Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power." Learn more »
On March 27, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. EDT, Carter Center Senior Adviser for Human Rights Karin Ryan and The Young Turks Co-Host and Producer Ana Kasparian will host a Twitter chat on women's rights with human rights activists and the general public following the release of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's new book on these issues, "A Call to Action" (Simon & Schuster). Learn more »
The Carter Center encourages Egyptians to initiate an inclusive political dialogue and to consider future amendments to the constitution to strengthen the core principles of democratic governance and bring the constitution better into alignment with Egypt's international political and human rights obligations. Learn more »
The Carter Center's Mental Health Program in Liberia, in partnership with the Liberia Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, congratulates the newest, sixth class of 23 clinicians who will help continue to improve access to much needed mental health services in Liberia. These graduates join 100 previously trained and credentialed local mental health clinicians practicing in all 15 counties in Liberia, working largely in primary care clinics and hospitals. Learn more »
In a report released today, The Carter Center reports that public perception of local governance has improved over the past year. However, mismanagement of local-level budgets and the persistent role of political parties in influencing local development priorities remain, posing a significant challenge to local development and governance. Learn more »
The Carter Center's long-standing support for the people of Sudan will continue through activities to advance peace, democracy, and health. The Carter Center's Health Program office continues to operate as it undertakes health promotion and disease prevention projects. Learn more »
The Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health is distributing new national guidelines for coimplementation of interventions to eliminate malaria and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis). This combined nationwide strategy is the first of its kind in Africa and will allow the Federal and State Ministries of Health to efficiently protect all Nigerians from the two mosquito transmitted parasitic diseases. Learn more »
The Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter repudiate the events that occurred during and after the peaceful demonstrations by student organizations on Feb. 12, 2014, in Venezuela. The group laments the loss of life and the wounded, and expresses its strong condemnation of the detention of more than 100 students, some of whom reported violations of their physical integrity. Learn more »
Applications from U.S. residents are now being accepted for six one-year journalism fellowships with the Carter Center's Mental Health Program. These fellowships aim to enhance public understanding of mental health issues and reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses through balanced and accurate reporting. Learn more »
The Carter Center is conducting a small expert mission in Libya to assess the legal framework, key issues related to the administration and preparation of elections, and the overall political environment ahead of Feb. 20 elections for the Constitutional Drafting Assembly. These elections represent an important stage in the country's transition to democracy. Learn more »
The Carter Center encourages Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly and new electoral management body, the High Authority for the Elections (ISIE), to carefully consider next steps as they work toward democratic goals. Learn more »
The Carter Center congratulates Tunisian National Constituent Assembly members and the Tunisian people on the promulgation of its new constitution. Learn more »
In December 2013, The Carter Center and the Government of Sweden entered into a partnership through the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia to improve access to justice in Liberia. The Swedish support will amount to approximately 7.5 million USD over a three-year period. The agreement will support the Carter Center's efforts to make justice more accessible for underserved rural populations, including women and youth, and to strengthen community-based dispute resolution for customary leaders. Learn more »
At the invitation of the Electoral Tribunal of Panama, The Carter Center and the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter sent a delegation Jan. 14-18 to learn about the electoral conditions leading up to the May 4 national elections. Learn more »
Following today's announcement of final presidential election results, The Carter Center congratulates the people of Madagascar on reaching this key milestone and urges continued commitment to peace and reconciliation. Learn more »
The Carter Center announced today that 148 Guinea worm cases were reported worldwide in 2013. These provisional numbers, reported by ministries of health in the remaining four endemic nations and compiled by the Center, show that cases of the debilitating disease were reduced by 73 percent in 2013 compared to 542 cases in 2012. When the Center began leading the first international campaign to eradicate a parasitic disease, there were an estimated 3.5 million Guinea worm cases occurring annually in Africa and Asia.
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As Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly (NCA) prepares to discuss the chapter on the judicial powers in a new constitution, Al Bawsala, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and The Carter Center urge members to strengthen guarantees for judicial independence. Learn more »
The Carter Center congratulates the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly and incoming election commissioners on their election to the new Instance Supérieure Indépendante pour les Elections (ISIE). Learn more »
Rosalynn and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Robert Pastor. As my advisor for Latin American affairs on the National Security Council in the White House, he helped to reshape our country's relations with our Latin American neighbors and secure democracy and human rights throughout the region. Learn more »
On Jan. 14-15, Egyptians will go to the polls to vote on constitutional arrangements for the third time in less than three years. While The Carter Center supports the strong desire of Egyptians to move forward with a transition to an elected civilian government, the Center is deeply concerned about the polarized environment and the narrowed political space surrounding the upcoming referendum, as well as the lack of an inclusive process for drafting and publicly debating the draft constitution. Learn more »
Tunisia should bring its nearly completed draft constitution in line with international human rights standards and the country's obligations under international law, four human rights organizations said today. The National Constituent Assembly (NCA) will begin voting on the constitution article by article on Jan. 3, 2014. Learn more »
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