Recent News and Activities

The House Democracy Partnership conducted a regional program in Skopje, North Macedonia in June to bring together research services staff from Albania, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and North Macedonia to share experiences and learn from international experts. The meeting also featured staff from the U.S. Congressional Research Service, researchers from the German Bundestag and a researcher from the Czech research services. The workshop allowed participants to exchange knowledge on challenges and share lessons and success stories.

From April 21-26, 2024, the House Democracy Partnership was in Guatemala City, Guatemala to implement a new member orientation program with the staff and deputies of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. This exchange covered foundational areas such as legislative drafting, rules and procedures, committee structures, constituent engagement, and executive oversight, which are critical for new members of a legislature to understand to effectively carry out their mandate.

From April 22-24, 2024, the House Democracy Partnership and the George C. Marshall Center held a two-day seminar on the role of parliaments during conflict and post-conflict situations with more than 15 parliamentarians from five countries, including Moldova, Georgia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania. The program’s sessions examined civil-military relations, parliamentary oversight capabilities, and the role of parliament in human security.

From April 15-17, 2024, the House Democracy Partnership engaged with the Legislature of Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia, focused on supporting citizen participation in the budget process. The program engaged with several high-level representatives, including Senate and House leadership and leadership of several committees, as well as with the Legislative Budget Office, the Public Accounts Committee, and other staff members, to highlight participation in the budget office and the roles that members and legislative staff hold.

The House Democracy Partnership and the Women's Foreign Policy Group hosted Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congresswoman Carol Miller, and Yaqiu Wang, director of research on China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Freedom House for a panel on "Women in China: Regressive Gender Governance in Authoritarian States."

On March 12, HDP’s Executive Director Derek Luyten moderated an esteemed panel with ParlAmericas on parliamentary diplomacy as a tool for strengthening regional democracies. More than 20 Members of Parliament representing 20 countries from across the Western Hemisphere were meeting at the Organization of American States in Washington, DC.

From February 23-28, 2024, HDP organized a congressional delegation visit to Panama, Colombia, and Peru to meet with Members of Parliament and key democratic stakeholders in the region. Too often, Central and South America are overlooked in U.S. strategic plans, but we must be present and engaged with our neighbors to underscore the importance of democracy and the rule of law.