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This International Day of Democracy, as International IDEA releases its Global State of Democracy report, Democracy on the Move

International IDEA is alarmed by the deterioration of the security situation in Nepal and stresses the urgent need for the immediate restoration of law and order, with full respect for the safety of civilians and the protection of their fundamental rights.

A three-day media symposium on The Role of Journalism in Bhutanese Democracy was held from 11 to 13 August 2025 at Terma Linca Resort, Thimphu. It brought together the Members of the Parliament of Bhutan, parliamentary communication officials, senior journalists and media experts.

The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) throughout the world is raising critical questions about how the technology will impact all aspects of society—from media, art, economics and law. Within the intersection of AI and elections, however, sits a space to confront how the new tools already are, and will in the future, shape elections and democratic institutions.  

Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) was supposed to help end technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against women journalists, but, instead, it facilitates it. Passed by parliament in 2016, the PECA is Pakistan’s primary cybersecurity law, and a controversial one at that.

International IDEA, alongside our local partners SUNGO (Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations) and WIBDI (Women in Business Development Inc), are delighted to announce the signing of two successful grant applications as part of the EU-Funded Initiative on Empowerment of Civil Society in Democratic Samoa (IOE SAMOA). Representatives from the Samoa National Youth Council and the Samoa Business Hub signed the agreement at SUNGO’s headquarters in Vaitele Tai, on Friday 8 August.

International IDEA expresses grave concern over recent decisions taken by the military junta to dissolve the State Administration Council (SAC) and appoint a State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) as an interim government in Myanmar, paving the way for the junta’s illegitimate election plan.

On International Youth Day, International IDEA recognizes the efforts of young people in Myanmar to continue to resist the severe repression by the military junta and to support their dream of rebuilding a genuine federal democracy.

The Youth Democracy Academy (YDA) program in Bangladesh redefined democracy as a living practice, blending academic learning with real-world application. Upon completing the online course, YDA students are empowered to initiate youth-led action projects that promote democratic values within their communities.

In many parts of the world, Indigenous Peoples maintain a profound relationship with their lands—a connection that often has deeply political, social, cultural, spiritual, and religious dimensions. Yet all too often this relationship is undermined (or even disregarded) by legal and political systems that fail to recognize Indigenous rights.

In an increasingly crowded online sphere, mis and disinformation has the power to derail dialogue, erode social cohesion and sow distrust within real life communities. As communities across the region grapple with the increasingly online nature of political and social discourse, there is a growing need for organisations and individuals to be equipped with the skills required to identify, and counter, mis- and dis-information.

This case study explores Sri Lanka’s approach to protecting elections since the current iteration of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka was constituted in 2015. It focuses on responses to natural and human-made disasters and elements of operational planning and disaster preparedness that the ECSL has formalized in cooperation with the government and other agencies.

On 6 July 2025, the Parliament-Youth Engagement Forum was held at the Royal Thimphu College (RTC), bringing together around 57 participants. Among them were 29 Bhutanese youths from 10 schools across three districts. They were joined by parliamentarians, the Secretary General of the National Assembly, secretariat staff from the National Assembly and National Council secretariats, civil society representatives and media personnel.

Statement on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the International Institute for 
Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)

Released by the Council of Member States on 12 June 2025

Stockholm Conference on Electoral Integrity, 10–12 June 2025

Preamble

There is clear support for democracy in the Pacific Islands region, but also reasons to be concerned about its contemporary practice. The complexity of Pacific democracy is rarely captured in global datasets. This has significant consequences for the understanding of democratic practice in the Pacific and the completeness of the global understanding of democracy.

State capture is one reason why representative democracy may fail to serve the needs and interests of the people. Constitutional INSIGHTS No. 10 sets out the indicators of state capture and identifies ways that constitutions, citizens and international actors can protect against state capture and address it when it occurs.