WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE? Despite Russia’s ongoing invasion, several prominent international figures and commentators have suggested that Ukraine should proceed with the country’s scheduled elections, possibly as soon as spring 2024. Responding to these calls, our Ukraine country director, Peter Erben, and deputy country director, Gio Kobakhidze, write that it would be very challenging, and unusual, to hold elections under martial law. Ukraine would have to meet conditions that guarantee the security and democratic standards of free and fair elections. Read their analysis published by the Atlantic Council. Peter was also quoted in the New York Times, saying, “Ukraine’s commitment to democracy is not in question, and being forced to postpone elections due to war doesn’t change this.” In the Washington Post, our CEO and President Tony Banbury reinforced our commitment to advancing the democratic development of Ukraine, arguing that it would be a disservice to Ukraine’s democracy if elections are held before the country is ready. Our international senior adviser Harald Jepsen recently warned that elections held during the war could endanger citizens and exclude Ukrainian refugees. Read his thoughts in the Kyiv Independent. |
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DISABILITY ADVOCATES TAKE THE STAGE AT IFES AWARDS DINNER |
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Later this month, we will posthumously honor Judith Heumann, widely respected as the mother of the disability rights movement. At our Democracy Awards Dinner, disability rights leaders from around the world will gather to honor Heumann’s impact. Here are three of the leaders who carry Heumann’s legacy into the work they do today: From Pakistan, Abia Akram is the founder of the National Forum of Women with Disabilities and a leading figure within the disability rights movement in Asia and the Pacific. BBC named her as one of the top 100 women in 2021. She was the last guest to appear on Heumann’s podcast. From Guyana, Ganesh Singh is the director of the Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities. Under his leadership, the organization hosted Guyana’s inaugural National Youth with Disabilities Conference. He partners with IFES and other international and local organizations to create a more inclusive democracy. From Ukraine, Yuliia Sachuk is the co-founder and president of Fight for Right NGO, an organization of people with disabilities. In 2020, she was a candidate for the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and in 2022, BBC named her as one of the top 100 women. To learn more about Fight for Right’s work during the war in Ukraine, watch this video. To learn more about our dinner and how to become a sponsor, please visit our website. |
| | CALLING ALL ACADEMICS AND STUDENTS Applications for the 2023 cohorts of the Manatt and Hybl Fellowships are open! These programs offer paid research fellowships to graduate students and academics in key states in the Midwest and Mountain West to conduct research on elections and democracy globally. Fellows engage in regular research seminars, conferences, and networking events with international electoral experts and academics from around the world. Apply by October 30th. Learn more here. |
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