Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
July 29, 2015
On July 22, the 27-member Governing Council of the Community of Democracies (CD) unanimously endorsed the United States to serve as president of the CD for the 2015-2017 term. The United States welcomes the opportunity to lead this important organization, which was co-founded fifteen years ago by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as a vehicle for strengthening democratic norms and institutions around the world.
During its presidency, the United States will seek to strengthen the capacity of the CD to address critical governance issues, including supporting civil society, strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance and protecting human rights, and will work to expand the Community’s collaboration amongst member states to advance democracy and democratic values, as called for in the foundational Warsaw Declaration. The United States has canvassed other members of the Governing Council for their views on the state of the Community and priorities for the Community’s next two years and, in collaboration with the Secretary General, will incorporate these priorities in the Community’s next annual work-plan.
In a video message to the CD, President Obama expressed gratitude for the broad support for the U.S. presidency and announced that the United States will host the next Governing Council meeting in late September on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. More than 100 countries participate in the CD.