Lisa Peterson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor states the following
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These are only a few examples of the progress that has been made. And we want to sustain the momentum. The United States is working with partners to ensure these efforts carry on well beyond the second Summit. We took steps to develop a more inclusive agenda through robust engagement with civil society and other stakeholders, because bringing more countries and partners into the fold is what the Summit for Democracy is all about.
We are drawing attention to the need for leaders to show real results for their citizens at all levels of government. Democracy is not easy, and while democracies do perform better, they do so over the longer run. Newer democracies face the substantial challenges of entrenched bureaucracies, legacies of colonialism, and citizens who are learning to exercise their voices in environments that do not always protect freedom of speech. And while liberal democracies tend to stay democratic, countries fighting to transition to freer and more open government and societies require support from within and externally. The United States and other Summit partners are committed to seeing democratic transitions stick. But citizens need to be able to actively shape the political decisions of their governments. You as civil society actors, representatives of nongovernment organizations, and government officials are crucial in these efforts.
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