NDI is committed to defending democracy and it’s values, such as the Summit for Democracy values of fighting corruption, countering authoritarianism and promoting human rights. In the face of Putin’s invasion, NDI’s Ukraine program will:
Fight Disinformation:
The Kremlin is running a massive disinformation campaign both in Russia and around the world. We have learned over the years that Putin often uses Ukraine as a testing ground for the techniques he later rolls out on a more global scale. Our Democracy and Technology (DemTech) programming provides cybersecurity training and tools to protect websites and the overall digital security of vulnerable civic groups and activists.
Bolster Marginalized Communities:
There is an urgent need, and scant resources, for supporting such marginalized groups as the LGBTQI+ and Roma communities in Ukraine. During this crisis they are uniquely vulnerable, and are reported to be on Kremlin “kill” lists. Our ongoing programmatic work with these groups enables NDI to provide an extraordinary level of support that is unique in the civil advocacy arena.
Support Women’s Civic Advocacy:
We are leveraging our long-standing global campaign to promote women’s political leadership to meet this moment. NDI’s Changing the Face of Politics campaign in Ukraine has had an outstanding track record. In 2019, NDI worked directly with political parties and civic groups to train thousands of women candidates for local office. Of those trained, 687 ran for office and 225 were elected. We are now working closely with these same Ukrainian partners and their networks today to document and publicize human rights abuses, and track where humanitarian support is most urgently needed. NDI will also assist Ukrainian women through the formation of gender-focused caucuses in local councils.
Support Young People’s Voices:
In Ukraine, we help bridge the gap between youth and politics by supporting youth political party wings and youth-focused civil society groups. Before the war, NDI had worked with 25 youth-led groups who assessed how their local governments were, or were not, prioritizing their needs through municipal budgets.
Aid Border Countries:
We are on the front-lines of providing democracy assistance to neighboring countries as they deal with the impact of refugees flooding their borders. Across the region, we are raising the level of our work to counter disinformation, strengthen legislatures, foster dialogue, and promote the political leadership of women and youth as fresh voices of resilience and resistance.
