Dear members, friends, partners and supporters of the International Society for Human Rights,

I greet you all on today’s International Day of Democracy, which this year has the motto “Empowering the next generation” and which forms the thematic focus for this newsletter. The head of our ISHR section in Cameroon, Felix Agbor Nkongo, explains to us how important it is to promote and support the young generation and what this can look like in practical project work. In his contribution to our newsletter, the ISHR Ambassador, Jamada Kalinda confirms that a functioning democracy requires the guarantee of socio-economic human rights for the entire population. And how democracy is faring in Africa in a year that has sadly already been marked by two military coups is elaborated by our ISHR secretariat colleague Alex Martin Musiime.

In addition to these overarching thematic articles, which are well worth reading, this newsletter again provides a variety of country/region-specific updates and analyses. This month from: Bhutan, Iraq, Iran, Cameroon, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Asia and the Pacific. What becomes clear is: Many places in this world are “on fire” and sometimes it is challenging to keep an overview and to meet all challenges as adequately as possible. But through international solidarity, awareness raising and mutual support in our growing global network, as well as through cooperation with the strong and courageous human rights defenders in our national groups and sections, we can make a meaningful contribution.

Thank you for sharing in this important work. Thank you for supporting us. And thank you for spreading the word – democracy worldwide can only succeed as a joint project of many.

Many thanks and warm greetings,
Matthias Boehning

Matthias Boehning
Secretary General, ISHR