Human rights, democracy and governance

We examine the promotion of political freedom in developing and transitional countries and the global challenges to human rights.  Civil resistance has been a frequent theme within this programme and have recently held meetings on popular movements challenging oppression.

In cooperation with UK government departments we are able to produce topical last minute meetings such as the Human rights in Libya dialogues held in London earlier this year. We have convened a global governance event in Finland and held an e-Government meeting with the British Embassy in Athens.

Key aims of meetings are to strengthen democratic governance, examine parliamentary democracy and respect for human rights and discuss the role of economic development.

Our partners

Sponsors and intellectual partners include the BBC World Service Trust, Finnish Institute of Financial Affairs and the Finnish Government, Hivos, HSBC, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Open Society Foundations, Singular Logic, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Virgin Atlantic, Vodafone, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Electoral Reform International Services.

View details of all partners

Recent meetings 

• Promoting religious freedom around the world
  
  
• Media, social media and democratic governance
  
  
• e-Government: better services, better democracy?
  
  
• The UN framework for business and human rights
• 
  

Podcasts

Recorded during each meeting, key specialists are gathered together to take part in a discussion which acts as a general overview of the issues being examined at the meeting. Aimed as an introduction to a topic, our podcasts are published on our website and Mixcloud.

Listen to podcasts on Human rights, democracy and governance