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Black Tie International:
The United
Nations Democracy Fund
The Doers Of Democracy |
The United Nations Democracy
Fund
The Doers Of Democracy
An
Exhibition of Photography from
UNDEF projects in the Field
Photos by: Blacktiemagazine/GMK
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Susan Schemacher, Mimi H. Justice, Ronald Rich, Andy Shromph,
Annika Savill, James 'Chip' Cortell. |
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Jerry P. Leamon, Susan Schemacher, Ronald Rich |
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Dimitry P. Titov, Annika Savill, Barbera Pleet, Andrew
Gilmour |
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Krishnan & Steve Jaymanthi, Anthony Alexandrou |
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James 'Chip' Cottrell |
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Kara Kaszynski |
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Mimi H. Justice |
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Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Michael W. Doyle |
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Andrew Marshall, Maia Samuel |
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Nicholas Hayson, Annika Savill |
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Todd Lenart, Pamela Robillard, Tara Tedesco |
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Andy Shromph, Jan Arnesen |
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Harvey Dupiton |
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THE DOERS OF
DEMOCRACY”
PHOTO EXHIBITION
OPENS AT UNITED NATIONS
At this critical time for
democratization efforts in several parts of the world, the
United Nations Democracy Fund, UNDEF, opened an exhibition
of photographs illustrating its work in the UN Visitors’
Lobby. The images in the exhibition illustrate selected
democracy projects in the field, funded by UNDEF and
implemented by civil society organizations in Africa, the
Arab region, Asia, Latin America and Europe. The photographs
come from 30 countries and are taken by the UNDEF project
grantees themselves. Accompanying the images are brief
stories describing the grantees’ work to address challenges
in the democratic development of their countries.
The
exhibition was opened by Mr. Oscar
Fernandez-Taranco,
United Nations Assistant
Secretary-General for Political Affairs, who
delivered a message from the Secretary-General, and by the
Chair of the UNDEF Advisory Board, Michael Doyle, Professor
of International Affairs, Law and Political Science at
Columbia University and former
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Planning in the
Office of the Secretary-General.
One of the
youngest entities in the UN system, UNDEF is the only UN
body that has the word “democracy” in its name.
Its main
purpose is to support democracy by empowering civil society,
and thus it plays a new and unique role in complementing the
UN's traditional work with Governments. In this way, UNDEF
targets the demand side of democracy, rather than the supply
side.
Since then UN
Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan created UNDEF in 2005, UNDEF
has funded more than 300 projects in some 150 countries, including
many in the Arab world. Most of them are implemented by
local civil society groups, or NGOs. UNDEF projects exist in
challenging environments – from post-conflict countries to
societies in transition and developing democracies.
The exhibition was
presented in collaboration with Deloitte ,
who provide pro bono observation of UNDEF projects around
the world.
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www.un.org/democracyfund
The United
Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) was established by
United Nations Secretary-General
Kofi Annan in July 2005 at the
African Union Summit in
Syrte, Libya, as a United Nations General Trust Fund
under his authority. Its primary purpose is to support
democratization throughout the world. UNDEF finances
projects that build and strengthen democratic
institutions, promote
human rights, and ensure the participation of all
groups in democratic processes.
The Fund
provides assistance to governmental, non-governmental,
national, regional, and international organizations,
including relevant United Nations departments, offices,
funds, programmes and agencies. The Fund complements
current UN efforts to strengthen and expand democracy
worldwide.
The projects do
not promote any single model of democracy. As the Heads
of State reiterated in the 2005 Summit Outcome Document,
democracy does not belong to a single country or region.
They stressed that “democracy is a
universal value based on the freely expressed will
of people to determine their own political, economic,
social and cultural system and their full participation
in all aspects of their lives.”
The purpose of the Fund
is to build capacities for democratic governance,
especially at the country level. This can only be done
effectively in a supportive institutional environment.
Under no circumstances will activities funded by the
UNDEF be “imposed” on a country. The approach will
necessarily be one of collaboration and support.
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