In today’s world, the exercise of democracy and human rights relies on access to secure, uncensored participation in the digital space. As society continues to move into the digital realm, the fight to defend human rights and civic space is expanding into this new territory: technology and the internet hold the potential to democratize access to information and to opportunity, but at the same time carry the danger of being used as an instrument to further exacerbate unequal power dynamics. The COVID-19 pandemic has made this tension strikingly clear.

A legally recognized form of identification can fundamentally impact our ability to exercise our economic, social, and civil rights in their everyday life. Taking part in many routine tasks - such as accessing social service benefits, receiving medical care, opening a bank account, or even making a phone call - now rely on showing proof of a legal ID. Those without an ID can be barred from these services, as well as from fundamental democratic processes, like  voting, running for office, or participating in the political life of a community. 

Looking ahead into 2021, one of the things I’m excited to watch is the growing collaboration between the world of tech and the world of art and storytelling.

Well, 2020.

In November 2016, NDI convened government officials and citizen leaders for workshops in three cities in order to assess progress on strategic innovation plans, and discuss approaches to technology and open data that would improve citizen engagement and service delivery.

Last week, NDI hosted a panel discussion about the challenges in the pre- and post-Zambian election periods with human rights advocate Martin Luther King III and NDI’s senior leaders Richard Klein, Pat Merloe, Keith Jennings, and Traci Cook.

Editor’s Note: This is a guest blog from Victor Hugo Salcedo, a Senior Program Assistant at NDI. Victors works for the Latin America and Caribbean team at NDI, where he focuses on Central America, citizen security and innovation. He's often busy trying to learn how to code, riding bikes and leading community groups for latinos in Washington, DC.

On February 18th, NDI’s Citizen Participation Team and the Peace, Security and Democratic Resilience working group held an event featuring peace, security, democratic resilience, and the emerging trends in conflict programming. The panelist featured Jim Della-Giacoma, who is currently the Deputy Director of New York University’s Center on International Cooperation and also serves as the head of its Crisis Diplomacy and Peace Operations Program.