President Biden at the Summit for Democracy

Summit for Democracy 2023

On March 29-30, 2023, the United States will co-host the second Summit for Democracy with the governments of Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, and Republic of Zambia.  The second Summit for Democracy will assemble world leaders in a virtual, plenary format, followed by gatherings in each of the co-hosted countries with representatives from government, civil society, and the private sector.

Building on the first Summit for Democracy held in December 2021, this gathering will highlight how democracies deliver for their citizens and are best equipped to address the world’s most pressing challenges.  At the first Summit in December 2021, approximately 100 governments made nearly 750 commitments to advance democracy, counter authoritarianism, and fight corruption.  The 2023 Summit will be an opportunity for world leaders to showcase progress made on their commitments to build more resilient democracies; announce new commitments and initiatives to build on that momentum; and underscore the effectiveness of collective action.

During the first Summit for Democracy, President Biden announced the establishment of the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, a landmark set of policy and foreign assistance initiatives that build upon the U.S. Government’s significant, ongoing work to bolster democracy and defend human rights globally.   

USAID will participate in the Summit for Democracy and highlight our work that strengthens democracy and supports democratic ambitions.

We will champion a vision of our world that is grounded in democratic values: transparent, responsive, and accountable governance; rule of law; and respect for human rights.  In this inflection point in history, the United States – with our partners and allies – is committed to leading the world toward a more peaceful, prosperous future for all.

No matter how challenging the problems we face, we know that democracy remains the best tool we have to unleash our human potential and deliver for all our people, and we will continue to champion it.

Highlights from the second Summit for Democracy

Resources:

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What We're Saying

What we are saying on social media about the Summit for Democracy

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Livestream

Watch live events from the Summit for Democracy
Official Events | USAID Side Events

Latest Updates

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Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman Delivers Remarks at the “Technology for Democracy Cohort” Event

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USAID will establish nine Advancing Digital Democracy programs in countries around the world in 2023 – creating new multi-stakeholder partnerships and strengthening existing ones – to support bold digital innovation that is safe, accountable, and respects human rights. These programs will build upon progress made in pilots launched last year.

Administrator Samantha Power Delivers Remarks at the Launch of the Media Viability Accelerator

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So first, before talking about what I think we can do and what the Media Viability Accelerator will do, which you've already alluded to – just to stay in the darkness a moment longer. You know, I think it's – we have the data to show the importance of independent media in actually just improving citizen welfare.

Administrator Samantha Power Delivers Remarks at the "Advancing Technology for Democracy" Event

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Thank you to Secretary Blinken for being such a powerful partner in the work to affirm democratic values through technology. And thank you to our panelists, who, in the face of rising digital repression, are showing us how technologies can build more democratic societies still.

Administrator Samantha Power at the “Media Freedom as a Cornerstone of Democracy” Event

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I think you know, one way to think about the importance of independent media is to reflect on moments when people are forced to live without it. And I was struck last year, Internews Ukraine, an NGO, produced a documentary that showed what happened when Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine cut off one community’s access to internet and to TV in Eastern Ukraine. And we’re all so besieged with information and social media and regular media, this was like a throwback because the community had no – almost no – access to any media for weeks. And there they were, at the center of the biggest story in the world – with no way of knowing how their fellow Ukrainians were inspiring the world with their resilience, how other nations were rallying behind Ukraine, including, of course, the Netherlands.

Counselor Clinton White Delivers Remarks at the “From Polarization to Unity: Strategic Approaches for Building Trust and Bridging Divides” Event

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People’s trust in each other and their institutions is fundamental to an effective democracy. Yet in recent decades, political polarization has intensified globally and has been a disruptive force in societies across the world, even in the U.S. These divisions are often caused by economic exclusion, the rise of identity politics, and the powerful influence of social media – and they can leave countries paralyzed by inaction and worse yet, vulnerable to violence.