Full Coverage: Democracy

28.02.2003 A Pakistani writer says detailed policy and institutional mechanisms in today's world have ensured the implementation of human rights standards all over the world. Such policies have led to 'reduced repression' and regime changes in the world. Read more on the issue.

28.02.2003 An NGO has criticised the north Indian hill state of Uttranchal for reserving seats for men in local village governments. It has said the action amounts to discrimination against women and also violates the Indian constitution.

28.02.2003 With attention in the United States administration of President George W. Bush riveted on Iraq, concern is rising in Afghanistan that the challenges of stabilising Kabul will be largely forgotten.

28.02.2003 Journalists with Zimbabwe's private Daily News newspaper were this week barred from covering parliament and sitting in the public gallery because they failed to follow official accreditation checks, according to reports.

27.02.2003 Read the draft of the, Freedom of Information Bill 2003, prepared by Sri Lankan research and media organisations. The draft has been submitted to the government for consideration.

27.02.2003 While United States President George W. Bush insists that many countries are eager to join what he calls a "coalition of the willing" - committed to ousting Iraqi President Saddam Hussein - a new report finds that most coalition members have been "bullied, bribed or threatened" to fall into line.

27.02.2003 While U.S. President George W. Bush insists that many countries are eager to join what he calls a "coalition of the willing," committed to ousting Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, a more apt name may be "coalition of the coerced," according to a new report.

25.02.2003 A senior United Nations peacekeeping official has urgently stressed upon improving security in Afghanistan, where international agencies face hostile actions. A number of mine and grenade attacks in Kandahar and Kunduz and kidnapping threats in Kabul, Jalalabad and Kunar provinces have taken place recently.

21.02.2003 Venezuela's ongoing political crisis worsened yesterday after a court ordered the arrest of two opposition leaders, Carlos Fernández, president of the Fedecámaras business association, and Carlos Ortega, president of the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers.

19.02.2003 With seven million inhabitants occupying an area of just 26,338 square kilometers, Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa. This tiny landlocked country has experienced Africa's worst attempted genocide of the era and is still struggling to recover from the shock.

19.02.2003 Venezuela's government and opposition signed a joint declaration yesterday against political violence, the first tangible achievement since international mediation to resolve the crisis began three months ago.

19.02.2003 A bitter argument has flared among Commonwealth members over whether to bring President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe back into the organisation. Nigerian and South African leaders want Zimbabwe readmitted but Australia's prime minister, John Howard - with some support from Kenya and Botswana - is opposed. South African journalist Allister Sparks examines the latest row.

17.02.2003 Equal Voice/A voix égales, un groupe pan-canadien de militantes favorisant l'élection d'un plus grand nombre de femmes, demande l'aide du directeur général des élections pour éviter un débat mal éclairé concernant les coûts de la réforme du financement électoral.

17.02.2003 Prime Minister John Howard yesterday brushed aside hundreds of thousands of Australians who took to the streets over the weekend to rally for peace, refusing to budge on his support for an impending war against Iraq.

17.02.2003 Prime Minister John Howard yesterday thumbed his nose at the hundreds of thousands of Australians who took to the streets over the weekend to rally for peace, and refused to budge on his support for an impending war against Iraq.

13.02.2003 While the outlook is favourable for leading figures in Zimbabwe's opposition movement currently being tried on treason-related charges, a guilty verdict against the defendants would send out the wrong message about democracy in the country, says Shravanti Reddy.

13.02.2003 Rights advocates staking out early positions in advance of possible military action against the regime of Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein, are calling for democratic principles to be upheld in any post-conflict settlement for the multi-ethnic and religiously diverse country.

13.02.2003 Rights advocates staking out early positions in advance of possible military action against the regime of Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein, are calling for democratic principles to be upheld in any post-conflict settlement for the multi-ethnic and religiously diverse country.

12.02.2003 Today, at a hearing of the ad hoc MPs on Access Committee on Parliament Hill, a coalition of NGOs criticized flaws in a federal task force report on Access to Information laws, calling for deeper reforms to combat a "culture of secrecy that threatens our democracy."

10.02.2003 One of Afghanistan's strongest warlords who was once supported by the West is now uniting Taliban and Al-qaida rebels and launching attacks on aid workers and US forces. Warlord, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, has launched fierce attacks on US troops and built up a strong resistance against the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.