Member News
Representatives of human rights groups, international parliamentary bodies and the media met in parliament today to discuss the work of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).
WFD focuses on strengthening parliaments and political parties in priority countries in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Today Mr Speaker hosted a reception in his state apartments for organisations working in the fields of democracy, human rights and good governance, as well as MPs and peers.
The event allowed WFD to promote its work across the world and explore possible partnerships.
Labour MP Gisela Stuart, editor of The House Magazine, told ePolitix.com that WFD was born out after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It supported the emerging democracies in eastern Europe in building effective government by forming partnerships along ideological grounds with politicians.
"Democracy is a battle of ideas, not process," she said.
"The triumph of democracy is the removal of a government by the ballot box."
Meg Munn, chair of WFD, praised its work in Kurdistan, while Mr Speaker said that its work spreads good practice and accountability across the world.
All three main UK political parties have developed, with their WFD funding, comprehensive programmes of joint activity with their sister parties.
The smaller parties represented in Westminster also participate in the foundation's work in similar ways.
The parties establish contact with, offer assistance to, and work with individual political parties or movements with which they have a political affinity.
Expertise is shared on a wide range of political areas specifically designed for each party.
These include pre-election preparation, party development, communication and campaigning strategy, policy development, media skills and grassroots political work.
Amnesty International, the British Council, Human Rights Watch, the Electoral Commission, the Hansard Society, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association were among the groups represented at today's event.
WFD is sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and accountable to parliament for its expenditure.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd