The Carter Center News and Information Center provides breaking Carter Center news and detailed background information on our work to advance peace and health worldwide. Biographical information on President and Mrs. Carter and program directors, published articles and reports, speeches, recent press releases, feature stories and media contact information are available here.
Recent News
3 January 2009
Carter Center Congratulates Ghana President-Elect John Evans Atta Mills
The Carter Center congratulates Ghana President-elect John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress following the Electoral Commission of Ghana's Jan. 3 announcement of final election results
31 December 2008Carter Center Deploys Observers to Ghana's Brong-Ahafo Region to Observe Tain Constituency's Elections
The Carter Center has deployed 10 election observers to Ghana's Brong-Ahafo region to observe Friday's voting in the Tain constituency.
31 December 2008Carter Center Urges Immediate End to Violence in Gaza
The Carter Center urges an immediate end to violence in and around Gaza. The government of Israel must cease actions that endanger the civilian population of densely populated Gaza, and the de facto authorities of Gaza must halt rocket attacks.
30 December 2008
Ghana Presidential Run-off Election Observation Mission Preliminary Statement
The Carter Center election observation mission has been in Ghana since May 2008 following an invitation from the Electoral Commission of Ghana. During the Dec. 7 first-round election, the Center deployed a 57-person observer team to more than 300 polling stations in 30 districts. A preliminary statement released on Dec. 9 details the Center's findings on the political environment and election-day activities.
30 December 2008
Carter Center Finds Ghana's Presidential Run-off Elections Credible and Peaceful
The Carter Center found that Ghana's voters participated in a transparent and relatively peaceful presidential run-off election on Dec. 28, 2008. Preliminary reports of the election, which was contested by John Evans Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress and former Foreign Minister Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the ruling New Patriotic Party, indicate that the administration of this election was well executed, illustrating the successful organization of the Electoral Commission and the determination of the Ghanaian public to ensure continued democratic consolidation.
26 December 2008
Carter Center Delegation Arrives in Ghana to Observe the Presidential Runoff Elections
Carter Center election observers returned to Ghana this week to observe election preparations and voting for the presidential runoff elections on Dec. 28. The returning short-term observers, who were deployed throughout Ghana for the Dec. 7 election, join the Center's long-term observers, who have been deployed since late-September. Observers will be briefed for two days then deployed to all 10 regions in the country.
22 December 2008
Carter Center Finds Côte d'Ivoire's Voter Identification and Registration Process Progressing Slowly
Carter Center observers in Cote d'Ivoire report slow progress in the ongoing population identification and voter registration due to significant logistical challenges and financial constraints as activities are expanded across the country.
22 December 2008
Harvard Article Spotlights the Carter Center's Work in Rural Liberia
At the invitation of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, The Carter Center is helping Liberia rebuild its legal infrastructure, which is a prerequisite for lasting peace and democratic progress. We work in partnership with leaders at the highest levels of government, as well as those in the most remote areas of Liberia, and act as a communication bridge between these groups.
19 December 2008
Privatizing Mental Health Hospitals: Two Views: Don't Rush to Hand Off Care of Patients in Need
This op-ed by Thomas Bornemann was published in the Dec. 19, 2008 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Georgia continues to experience the effects of a mental health system that is tragically broken. Georgia Department of Human Resources' (DHR) has responded with some new proposals, one of which is privatizing and downsizing state mental hospitals.
18 December 2008
Paris, Lebanon, and Syria Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter: Dec. 5-16, 2008
I flew to Paris with Jeffrey and met with other Elders at Le Bristol, an excellent hotel. Since Desmond Tutu and Graça Machel had to attend a funeral in S. Africa, Mary Robinson & I shared the chairmanship. We reviewed our previous experiences in Sudan (Darfur), Cyprus, and S. Africa (Zimbabwe), and my substitution for the Elders in the April Middle East trip.
11 December 2008
Carter Center Calls for Release of Zimbabwe Human Rights Activists
The Carter Center calls on local authorities and the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately release Jestina Mukoko, Broderick Takawira, and Pascal Gonzo – human rights activists and leaders of the Zimbabwe Peace Project.
10 December 2008
Obama's Human Rights Opportunity
This op-ed by Jimmy Carter was published in the Dec. 10, 2008 edition of the Washington Post. The advancement of human rights around the world was a cornerstone of foreign policy and U.S. leadership for decades, until the attacks on our country on Sept. 11, 2001.
9 December 2008
Ghana Election Observation Mission Preliminary Statement: Ghana's Voters Renew Commitment to Open and Competitive Elections
The Carter Center congratulates the Ghanaian people for their democratic participation in the Dec. 7 presidential and parliamentary elections, which were conducted in a peaceful, transparent, and dignified manner.
9 December 2008
Carter Center Delegation Observes Ghana's Peaceful, Historic Elections
More than 50 Carter Center observers witnessed Ghana's Dec. 7 elections, the results of which will determine the country's next president and parliament.
5 December 2008
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Visit Middle East
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will visit Lebanon and Syria next week.
5 December 2008
Guinea Worm Cases Hit All-Time Low: Carter Center, WHO, Gates Foundation, and U.K. Government Commit $55 Million Toward Ultimate Eradication Goal
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced today that cases of Guinea worm disease have reached an all-time low with fewer than 5,000 estimated cases remaining worldwide. To help eliminate the remaining cases, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) announced new commitments totaling US$55 million to support the historic Carter Center-led eradication campaign.
4 December 2008
GlaxoSmithKline and The Carter Center Reaffirm Commitment to Global Public Health With Expansion of LF Program
In a meeting today with former U.S. President and founder of The Carter Center, Jimmy Carter, as well as global health thought leaders from around the world, GlaxoSmithKline [LSE/NYSE: GSK] announced that it has made a $250,000 donation to The Carter Center to assist the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia with launching a program to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF).
3 December 2008
Human Rights Leaders Urge President-Elect Obama to Renew U.S. Commitments to Human Rights
An international group of human rights organizations and human rights defenders meeting at The Carter Center today issued an urgent appeal for President-elect Barack Obama to renew U.S. commitments to human rights principles and practices that have been abandoned since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks against the United States.
2 December 2008
Press Conference: Jimmy Carter and Carter Center Partners Announce Major New Progress Toward Guinea Worm Eradication
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Guinea worm disease eradication partners will address the critical juncture facing the international Guinea worm eradication campaign with a major announcement of new progress and funding on Dec. 5, 2008, at The Carter Center in Atlanta.
2 December 2008
Respond to Zimbabwe Crisis
This op-ed was published in the Dec. 2, 2008 edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
As president, I worked actively with African leaders and the British to change the apartheid regime of Rhodesia into a democratic Zimbabwe in 1980. Eight years later, The Carter Center established one of our first agriculture projects in Zimbabwe, at that time known as a breadbasket for the region and setting an example in economic stability, education and health care.
2 December 2008
Commentary: U.S. Must Lead World on Human Rights
This op-ed by Jimmy Carter was published on CNN.com on Dec. 2, 2008.
It has been heartening to witness the outpouring of worldwide enthusiasm over the election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States, a transformational moment for our country.
1 December 2008
Carter Center Delegation Arrives in Ghana Dec. 2 to Observe Sunday's Election
Carter Center election observation leaders and short-term observers will arrive in Ghana tomorrow to observe election preparations and voting on Dec. 7.
25 November 2008
South Africa and Zimbabwe Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Nov. 20-24, 2008
As president, I worked actively with African leaders and the British to change the apartheid regime of Rhodesia into a democratic Zimbabwe in 1980. Eight years later, The Carter Center established one of our first Global 2000 agriculture projects in Zimbabwe – so successful that we soon shifted our emphasis to more needy countries.
14 November 2008
Carter Center Statement on Nicaragua Elections (English and Spanish versions)
The Carter Center calls on all actors, leaders, and civil and state authorities to seek an expeditious, legitimate, and mutually respectful solution to the claims of electoral irregularities and doubts that have arisen about the administration of Nicaragua's municipal elections. Public accusations and violence are jeopardizing political stability and peace. The Carter Center reiterates its commitment to peace, justice, the rule of law, and democracy in the country.
12 November 2008
New Findings on Nation's Delivery of Children's Mental Health Care to be Released at Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy
New research by the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University reveals that state by state policies continue to hinder children's mental health delivery 25 years after the strong recommendation of a federal plan to address the issue. The complete findings of this research will debut at this year's 24th annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy on Nov. 20-21, 2008, at The Carter Center in Atlanta.
11 November 2008
Carter Center Hosts Human Rights Leaders to Propose New U.S. Human Rights Agenda
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay will host human rights leaders from around the world on Dec. 2-3 to develop recommendations for President-elect Barack Obama's human rights agenda for the United States.
10 November 2008
Final Report on Observing Nepal's 2008 Constituent Assembly Election (PDF)
Nepal's constituent assembly (CA) election is an important milestone on the country's path to permanent peace and prosperity. The Nepali people have demonstrated their dedication to ending the decade-long conflict and their interest in a new and inclusive leadership that will tackle the difficult issues involved in drafting a new constitution and restructuring the Nepali state, and will work to address the critical need for poverty alleviation and widespread development in Nepal.
7 November 2008
Carter Center Launches Election Observation Mission to Côte d'Ivoire
The Carter Center deployed three teams of observers to regions around Côte d'Ivoire this week to formally launch its international election observation mission. Observers will focus on ongoing voter registration and assess overall preparations for the presidential elections.
5 November 2008
U.S. Presidential Election - Statement From Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
I congratulate Senators Obama and Biden on running a campaign that inspired millions of Americans in the midst of difficult times
4 November 2008
Carter Center Hosts Chinese Delegation to Witness U.S. Elections in San Francisco, Washington, D.C.
A Chinese delegation hosted by The Carter Center is studying today's U.S. election in the San Francisco and Washington, D.C., areas to learn more about election procedures and reduce misperceptions by the Chinese of the American democratic system.
31 October 2008
Carter Center: Time Remains to Resolve Ghana's Pre-Electoral Problems
A Carter Center delegation that assessed Ghana's pre-electoral environment this week concluded that problems arising from the limited registration period, including the registration of minors and multiple registrations, have resulted in serious concerns leading to decreased confidence in the electoral process.
29 October 2008
Carter Center Hosts Chinese Delegation to Observe U.S. Elections
The Carter Center will host a Chinese delegation to observe U.S. elections in the San Francisco and Washington, D.C., areas on Nov. 4, 2008.
27 October 2008
Q&A with Hrair Balian, Director, Carter Center Conflict Resolution Program
A Q&A with Hrair Balian, director of the Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program, on the program's goals and current initiatives.
27 October 2008
Carter Center Delegation to Assess Pre-Electoral Climate in Ghana
A Carter Center delegation will visit Ghana from Oct. 27 –31 to assess the ongoing difficulties and irregularities with voter registration processes and other concerns ahead of the Dec. 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.
25 October 2008
Final Report on Ecuador's Approbatory Constitutional Referendum of September 28, 2008 (PDF)
The Carter Center led a small electoral observation mission for Ecuador's constitutional referendum on Sept. 28, 2008, to help promote a transparent and fair electoral process and accompany the country as it continues its political-institutional transformation. One of the major milestones in the process was the convening of the national constituent assembly (CA), which held session between November 2007 and July 2008.
25 October 2008
Informe Final sobre el Referéndum Constitucional Aprobatorio de Ecuador del 28 de septiembre de 2008 (PDF)
El Centro Carter llevó a cabo una misión de observación electoral del Referéndum Constitucional ecuatoriano del 28 de septiembre del 2008, con la finalidad de ayudar a promover un proceso electoral transparente y justo y acompañar el proceso de transformación política-institucional que atraviesa el país. Dicho proceso tuvo uno de sus hitos en la realización de una Asamblea Nacional Constituyente (ANC) que sesionó entre noviembre de 2007 y julio de 2008.
23 October 2008
Statement on the Status of Democracy in Nicaragua by the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter
We, the undersigned Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, committed to the promotion and defense of the values and principles in the Charter and attentive to democratic development in the Western hemisphere, express our deep concern for the recent events and acts in Nicaragua.
17 October 2008
Mental Health Parity: A Q&A with Carter Center Mental Health Program Founder, Rosalynn Carter
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter is known worldwide as a leader in the field of mental health. From serving on governmental commissions to advance mental health services during her husband's terms as Georgia governor and U.S. president to her current work leading Carter Center projects to improve mental health policies and reduce stigma, Mrs. Carter has worked tirelessly for more than 35 years to help those living with mental illnesses and their families. In light of the recent passage of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, Mrs. Carter sat down to discuss what has changed since she began her advocacy work and what still can be done for people living with mental illnesses.
13 October 2008
Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Cyprus: Oct. 7-10, 2008
Representing the Elders, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Lakhdar Brahimi, and I visited Cyprus, hoping that our expression of interest would encourage the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders in their effort to resolve the long-standing dispute over the division of the island. I was involved in this challenging diplomatic task even before becoming president in 1977.
10 October 2008
Statement by Former U.S. President and Nobel Laureate Jimmy Carter on the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize
Rosalynn and I congratulate Finland's former president, Martti Ahtisaari, on receiving
the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize.
8 October 2008
Ambitious Goal to End Blindness-Inducing Disease
Conventional wisdom says trachoma — the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide — can only be treated, not eliminated. But Teshome Gebre, The Carter Center's point man for trachoma control in Ethiopia, hopes to defy that wisdom. He is convinced that trachoma's blinding and debilitating effects can be stopped before the end of the next decade, the targeted goal for global trachoma elimination.
7 October 2008
Pan American Health Organization Passes Resolution to Interrupt Transmission of River Blindness in Latin America by 2012
In an effort to eliminate river blindness (onchocerciasis) from the Western Hemisphere, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an urgent call to interrupt the disease's transmission by 2012.
3 October 2008
Statement From Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter on Mental Health Parity Success
We have won a major victory today for millions of people who long have been discriminated against because they have a mental illness or substance use disorder. By passing mental health and addiction parity legislation, Congress has made an important statement that these diseases should be treated like any other physical illness.
30 September 2008
President Carter Q& A on Middle East
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter led a mission to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan April 13-21, 2008, as part of the Carter Center's ongoing effort to support peace, democracy, and human rights in the region. Accompanying him were former First Lady Rosalynn Carter; son Jeffrey Carter; former U.S. Congressman Stephen Solarz; Dr. Robert Pastor, senior Carter Center advisor; and Hrair Balian, director of the Center's Conflict Resolution Program.
30 September 2008
Carter Center Launches Effort to Spur Elimination of Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis in Haiti and the Dominican Republic
The Carter Center, in partnership with Haiti and the Dominican Republic, announced today a one-year initiative to try to accelerate elimination of malaria and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) from the island of Hispaniola, which the countries share.
29 September 2008
Ecuador Constitutional Referendum: Preliminary Statement by The Carter Center
The Carter Center congratulates the Ecuadorian people for their democratic participation in the Sept. 28 constitutional referendum, which expressed their civic and peaceful will in a transparent manner.
24 September 2008
A Clearer Picture of Trachoma in Southern Sudan: Bacterial Eye Disease Devastates Ayod County
The burden of trachoma in Ayod county, one of the most severe ever documented, is a crucial threat to public health in Jonglei state, Southern Sudan according to a recently conducted survey. These alarming results, published today in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, were uncovered through a collaborative survey between The Carter Center, University of Cambridge, and health officials from the government of Southern Sudan.
20 September 2008
Combating Stigma, Building Understanding: A Q&A with Carter Center Expert Rebecca Palpant
Rebecca Palpant is a national mental health advocate and the senior program associate for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. She is an active participant on advisory boards and within national work groups related to stigma and accurate portrayals of mental illnesses in the media. As she prepares to welcome the 2008-2009 fellowship class to The Carter Center for their introductory meeting, Palpant sat down to discuss the stigma surrounding mental illnesses and the Carter Center's effort to defeat misconceptions about mental health.
19 September 2008
Mental Health Legislation We Need
This letter was originally published in the Washington Post.
The Sept. 8 news story "Kennedy Plans a January Return," regarding Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), mentioned an effort to pass legislation granting parity in insurance coverage for those suffering from mental illnesses.
19 September 2008
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Calls for Clemency for Troy Davis
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter called today on the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles to reverse its decision to deny clemency to Troy Anthony Davis, convicted for an alleged murder of a Savannah police officer in 1991.
17 September 2008
Watch Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in Live "Conversations" Webcast Sept. 23
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will discuss their recent activities and take audience questions at the sold out opening of the annual Conversations at The Carter Center series on Sept. 23, 7-8:30 p.m. The event will be webcast live at www.cartercenter.org
15 September 2008
Statement on the First Annual International Day of Democracy
We are pleased to commemorate the first annual International Day of Democracy, established by U.N. General Assembly resolution as a unique opportunity for inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations "to focus attention on the promotion and consolidation of democracy at all levels and to reinforce international cooperation in this regard."
14 September 2008
The Carter Center Calls for a Definitive End to Violence in Bolivia (English and Spanish)
The Carter Center calls for an end to violence in Bolivia in light of the grave situation facing the country. The Center urges political and social leaders to sustain territorial integrity and national unity as the pillars for a peace that guarantees democracy, full respect for human rights, and a return to tranquility for all inhabitants.
11 September 2008
Op-Ed by Jimmy Carter: India Nuclear Deal Puts World at Risk
This op-ed was published in the Sept. 11, 2008 edition of the International Herald Tribune.
Knowing since 1974 of India's nuclear ambitions, other American presidents and I have maintained a consistent global policy: no sales of nuclear technology or uncontrolled fuel to any country that refuses to sign the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT. To imbed this concept as official national policy, I worked closely with bipartisan leaders in the U.S. Congress to pass the Non-Proliferation Act of 1978.
08 September 2008
The Carter Center to Observe Ecuador's Constitutional Referendum
The Carter Center will field an electoral observation mission during Ecuador's constitutional referendum to be held on Sept. 28, 2008, in response to an invitation by Ecuador's Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
1 September 2008
Killing the Worm
Published in GOOD Magazine, Issue 012, pages 106-115.
Disease eradication hasn't had a success since smallpox in 1979. Now, Guinea worm disease—in which a three-foot long worm burrows through its victim's body—is holding out in just a few African countries. The quest to wipe it out is slow and controversial, but the finish line is in sight.
26 August 2008
Carter Center Releases Findings From its Observation of Ghana's Voter Registration
Carter Center observers in Ghana found the voter registration process that took place July 31 – August 12 to be generally successful but hampered by several irregularities.
23 August 2008
Financial Times Feature: The Worm That Turned Back
Published in the Financial Times, Aug. 23, 2008, Weekend Edition, pages 15-18.
When Makoy Samuel Yibi Logora was growing up in a village in southern Sudan, no one there knew what caused Guinea worm. But they certainly understood its effects. The skin swells and becomes infected as a thin white parasitic worm takes several weeks to emerge slowly, agonisingly, through a huge blister.
15 August 2008
The Carter Center Partners with the African Union: A Q&A With David Pottie, Associate Director, Carter Center Democracy Program
A Q&A with David Pottie, Associate Director, Carter Center Democracy Program.
7 August 2008
Carter Center Works to Improve Bilateral Relationship Between Colombia and Ecuador
The Carter Center is working to improve the bilateral relationship between Colombia and Ecuador through a dialogue process between key citizens of both countries, which it organized in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program.
7 August 2008
New Video: "The Carter Center in Latin America" Highlights Promotion of Meaningful Democracy
The Carter Center works toward the collective protection and promotion of meaningful democracy in the Western Hemisphere. The Center strives to enhance the quality of democracy and its ability to improve the lives of individuals in three areas:
6 August 2008
New Carter Center Teacher Resources: Conflict Resolution
Six new lesson plans for middle school and high school teachers offer interactive methods for conflict resolution education. Drawing on age-specific activities for the classroom, the resources focus on ways students can engage in peacemaking and conflict resolution in their classrooms and communities.
30 July 2008
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter to Launch 2008-2009 Season of Conversations at The Carter Center
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will open the upcoming season of Conversations at The Carter Center on Sept. 23, 2008. The annual speaker series features panel discussions of current world topics and Carter Center work.
25 July 2008
Sadia Revisited: A Young Girl's Triumph Over Guinea Worm Disease
During 2007, Sadia Mesuna, 6, spent two months at a Guinea worm containment center in Ghana after an outbreak of the disease in her hometown of Savelugu, in the Northern Region. She was in agony as three Guinea worms emerged from her feet.
25 July 2008
Carter Center Launches Election Observation Mission to Ghana
The Carter Center launched an international election observation mission in Ghana this week with the deployment of four teams of observers to four regions around the country.
23 July 2008
Fraud Alert: E-Mail Scam Soliciting Funds on Behalf of The Carter Center
A fraudulent e-mail scam has been launched by an organization posing as The Carter Center, inviting participation in--and sponsorship of--a "12th International Congress of NGO/CBO" on the topic of HIV-AIDS and Climate Initiatives for the 21st Century.
23 July 2008
Report of Trip to the Arctic Region by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Observations on Global Climate Change: July 10-18, 2008
We flew with Ted Turner and Sally Ranney from the Americus airport to Goose Bay, Newfoundland, where we re-fueled and then went to the northernmost airport in the world at Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, at 78º N latitude. We first visited the newly constructed seed storage vault, where 500 seeds of as many agricultural crop species as possible will be stored indefinitely, replaced as the germination time expires.
18 July 2008
The Carter Center Awards 2008-2009 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
The Carter Center Mental Health Program has named the 10 recipients of its twelfth annual Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, including six from the United States, two from southern Africa, and two from Romania. Each domestic fellow will receive a $10,000 stipend to study and report on a particular issue within the mental health field for one year. International fellows will receive a comparable stipend.
14 July 2008
Democratic Republic of the Congo: The Carter Center Expresses New Concerns In Response to Announced Mining Contract Renegotiations
The Carter Center is deeply concerned by the recent announcement that the Democratic Republic of the Congo will begin renegotiating critical mining contracts in mid-July without policy or procedures to guide this process or indication of whether requisite expertise will be secured.
10 July 2008
A Leap in Mental Care for Children
This op-ed by Rosalynn Carter was published in the July 10, 2008 edition of the Boston Globe. In the 31 years since I chaired the first presidential commission on mental health, medical science has made significant strides in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental illnesses. Living in recovery from a mental illness is now not only possible, but expected. Even children and adolescents diagnosed with mental disorders go on to lead healthy, productive lives.
27 June 2008
Carter Center to Continue Ecuador-Colombia Reconciliation Efforts
The Carter Center will continue working for dialogue and the improvement of the relationship between the people of Colombia and Ecuador and remains ready to collaborate with both governments in the manner the presidents deem to be most appropriate and opportune.
23 June 2008
Guinea Worm Cases Drop to Fewer Than 10,000
The countdown to complete elimination of Guinea worm disease is ticking closer to zero. Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Togo now have joined the list of countries reporting an end to transmission of the disease. The Carter Center leads the international coalition fighting the disease.
23 June 2008
The Carter Center Appoints Atlanta Leaders to Board of Councilors
The Carter Center, a not-for-profit organization advancing peace and health worldwide, recently appointed 26 new members to the Board of Councilors, bringing its total membership to 184.
18 June 2008
Soccer as a Symbol of Brotherhood Between Colombia and Ecuador
At the initiative of a group of citizens belonging to the Binational Dialogue Group—composed of Colombians and Ecuadorians and supported by The Carter Center and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a series of messages geared specifically toward promoting camaraderie between the two countries will be released at their World Cup qualifying match today.
13 June 2008
Statement from Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Regarding Governor Perdue's Decision to Cut Necessary Funding for Children's Mental Health Services
I am shocked by the announced $8.4 million dollar cut in funds for mental health services for children in the state of Georgia, particularly considering the current crisis state mental health services face.
June 13, 2008
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Guantanamo
The Carter Center and I welcome the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Boumediene v. Bush, restoring the constitutional rights of habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees.
June 9, 2008
Schalit Family Receives Letter from Captive Son, Gilad
Representatives of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter delivered today a handwritten letter from Cpl. Gilad Schalit, held in Hamas captivity for two years, to his parents, Noam and Aviva.
6 June 2008
Ecuador and Colombia Presidents Accept President Carter's Proposal to Renew Diplomatic Relations at the Level of Chargé d'Affaires, Immediately and Without Preconditions (English and Spanish)
The founder of The Carter Center and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Jimmy Carter, together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have supported the work of a dialogue group composed of distinguished citizens from Ecuador and Colombia to improve relations between the two countries since September 2007.
30 May 2008
The Carter Center Congratulates Nepal's New Constituent Assembly
The Carter Center congratulates the people of Nepal, the government, and the political parties on the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly on May 28, 2008. This is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Nepali people and their political leadership to sustainable peace and multi-party democracy.
23 May 2008
Statement of Support for National and International Election Observation in Zimbabwe
The government of Zimbabwe has a democratic commitment to ensure the freedom of movement and association of domestic and international election observers during the upcoming second round of the country's presidential election.
16 May 2008
Statement From The Carter Center on Upcoming U.N. Human Rights Council Elections
The Carter Center calls on the General Assembly not to re-elect Sri Lanka to the Human Rights Council in the upcoming Council elections. Recently adopted reforms of the former Commission on Human Rights, including competitive elections, call for the conduct of a government to be a factor in whether it is selected for a seat on the Council.
15 May 2008
The Carter Center Condemns the Recent Rocket Attack on Ashkelon
The Carter Center condemns in the strongest terms the rocket attack launched from the Gaza Strip against Israeli civilians in Ashkelon yesterday. According to reports, the "Grad-type" rocket injured at least 14 civilians, including a mother and her three-year-old daughter, when it struck the Hutzot shopping center.
9 May 2008
5,000 Sign Petition Supporting Dialogue with Hamas
Jewish Voice for Peace and Just Foreign Policy have presented former U.S. President Jimmy Carter with a petition signed by 5,000 of their members supporting his meeting with Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal. The petition is being delivered to the three remaining Democratic and Republican presidential candidates this week.
8 May 2008
A Human Rights Crime in Gaza
This column by Jimmy Carter was distributed for publication by Project Syndicate.
The world is witnessing a terrible human rights crime in Gaza, where a million and a half human beings are being imprisoned with almost no access to the outside world by sea, air or land. An entire population is being brutally punished.
2 May 2008
Palestinians in Gaza Ask Jimmy Carter: Former U.S. President Answers Videotaped Questions
At the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, nongovernmental representatives from the human rights community and nongovernmental organizations gathered to hear President Carter's April 21, 2008, Jerusalem press conference and send him their questions via video.
1 May 2008
The Carter Center Embraces Next Quarter-Century
In practice, waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope are not easy tasks. Yet our mission at The Carter Center is to embrace these difficult responsibilities, accepting failure as a possible outcome. In our first 25 years, the Center showed that no matter how insurmountable challenges to global peace or health may seem, there is hope they can be overcome.
1 May 2008
In the News: Interviews with Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
Archived video, links to transcripts, of President Carter's recent media interviews.
28 April 2008
Pariah Diplomacy
Editorial by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, published in the April 28, 2008, edition of The New York Times.
A counterproductive Washington policy in recent years has been to boycott and punish political factions or governments that refuse to accept United States mandates. This policy makes difficult the possibility that such leaders might moderate their policies.
23 April 2008
Statement From The Carter Center on President Carter's Middle East Trip
President Carter has the greatest respect for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and believes her to be a truthful person. However, perhaps inadvertently, she is continuing to make a statement that is not true. No one in the State Department or any other department of the U.S. government ever asked him to refrain from his recent visit to the Middle East or even suggested that he not meet with Syrian President Assad or leaders of Hamas.
22 April 2008
Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan: April 13-22, 2008
Rosalynn, Jeff, and I arrived in Israel Sunday, 4/13/08, after a very exciting and successful election monitoring mission in Nepal (see prior trip report). Since Israel had declined to approve a previously planned visit by three of us Elders (Kofi Annan, Mary Robinson, and me), I expected a similar negative reaction when I substituted this trip on behalf of The Carter Center. Sure enough, all my requests to meet with ministers of the government were publicly rejected and, more seriously, three requests from our Secret Service detail to work with Israeli security were rejected.
22 April 2008
Solving the Shortage of Health Care Providers: Panelists to Discuss Ethiopia's Response to an Urgent Global Crisis
A critical shortage of health care workers plagues sub-Saharan Africa. Without access to health care provided by qualified professionals, people suffer daily from fully preventable maladies such as diarrhea, malnutrition, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. An expert panel will address a sold-out audience on the Carter Center's work to alleviate the problem in Ethiopia through its Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative, and prospects for applying the model elsewhere.
21 April 2008
Nepal Elections Mark New Political Beginning
Carter Center election observers witnessed a historic vote in Nepal on April 10 creating a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution for the country that will likely abolish the 240-year-old monarchy.
15 April 2008
Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Nepal: April 6-14, 2008
The Carter Center has been deeply involved in Nepal since 2003 in attempting to assist with ending a 10-year revolutionary war and find a peaceful resolution of differences among the political factions. I visited Nepal in June and November 2007 to help encourage an election for a constituent assembly to write a new constitution, and our team gathered these last few days to monitor the twice-postponed event.
15 April 2008
Declaration on Ecuador-Colombia Relations
Statement issued by The Carter Center clarifying press communiqués issued in recent days by the governments of Ecuador and Colombia.
15 de abril de 2008
Declaración sobre las Relaciones Ecuador – Colombia
En referencia a los comunicados de prensa publicados por los gobiernos de Ecuador y Colombia en días anteriores, en los cuales se menciona al Centro Carter, nos permitimos aclarar lo siguiente.
12 April 2008
Nepal Constituent Assembly Election - Preliminary Statement by The Carter Center
The Carter Center found that the majority of Nepali voters participated in a remarkable and relatively peaceful constituent assembly election on April 10, 2008.
10 April 2008
International Carter Center Delegation Observes Historic Nepal Elections
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter led the Carter Center's international election observation delegation to Nepal's historic constituent assembly elections, co-led by Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, former deputy prime minister of Thailand.
10 April 2008
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Lead Study Mission to Middle East
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will lead a study mission to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan April 13-21, 2008, as part of the Carter Center's ongoing effort to support peace, democracy, and human rights in the region.
8 April 2008
Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Accra, Ghana, and Abuja, Nigeria: March 30 - April 3, 2008
The primary purposes of our trip were to enhance the long-stalled eradication of Guinea worm in Ghana, to conduct our annual Guinea worm eradication meeting in Nigeria, and to induce the Nigerian government to acquire 9 million treated bed nets to combat malaria and lymphatic filaria. In addition, I wanted to have political discussions with Presidents Kufuor and Yar'Adua concerning their electoral processes.
3 April 2008
Declaración para Promover a Nivel Mundial el Derecho de Acceso a la Información Pública, publicada el día de hoy.
Los participantes en una conferencia global sobre el derecho de acceso a la información publicaron hoy día la "Declaración de Atlanta y el Plan de Acción" para promover el acceso a la información pública como un derecho humano fundamental.
3 April 2008
Declaración de Atlanta y Plan de Acción para el Avance del Derecho de Acceso a la Información (PDF)
Nosotros, más de 125 miembros de la comunidad global del acceso a información provenientes de 40 países distintos, representantes de gobiernos, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, agencias e instituciones financieras internacionales, agencias donantes y fundaciones, compañías del sector privado, medios de comunicación y académicos, nos reunimos en Atlanta, Georgia del 27 al 29 de febrero de 2008 con el auspicio del Centro Carter y asumimos la siguiente declaración y el siguiente plan de acción, a fin de promover la promulgación, la implementación, el cumplimiento, y el ejercicio del derecho de acceso a la información.
2 April 2008
Campaign to Eradicate Guinea Worm Disease Reports Lowest Case Levels to Date, President Carter Observes Recent Successes During Special Ceremony
The countdown to complete elimination of Guinea worm disease is ticking closer to zero. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter helped the global Guinea Worm Eradication Program celebrate a major milestone today by honoring four new countries that ended transmission of Guinea worm disease in 2007 at a special ceremony. Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo join 11 others in reporting an end to the parasitic infection.
2 April 2008
La campagne d'éradication de la dracunculose signale les niveaux de cas les plus faibles jamais atteints, Le Président Carter fait l'éloge des réussites récentes lors d'une cérémonie spéciale
Le compte à rebours s'approche de zéro : la dracunculose est sur le point d'être éliminée. L'ancien Président américain Jimmy Carter a aide le Programme mondial d'éradication de la dracunculose à faire un autre grand pas en avant. En effet, aujourd'hui quatre nouveaux pays qui ont mis fin à la transmission de la dracunculose en 2007 ont été à l'honneur lors d'une cérémonie spéciale. L'Ethiopie, la Côte d'Ivoire, le Burkina Faso et le Togo sont venus se joindre à 11 autres pays qui ont indiqué qu'ils avaient mis fin à l'infection parasitaire.
2 April 2008
Mali's President Touré, Southern Sudan Program Director Logora Honored With The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Award
Of the original eleven Guinea worm endemic Francophone countries in West Africa, only Niger and Mali remain, with both aiming to eliminate the disease by the end of the 2008.
2 April 2008
Prix Jimmy et Rosalynn Carter Décerné Au Président Touré du Mali, Directeur de Programme Makoy Samuel Yibi Logora
Des onze pays francophones de l'Afrique de l'Ouest où la dracunculose était endémique au départ, seuls restent le Niger et le Mali dont les deux visent à éliminer la maladie d'ici la fin de 2008.
1 April 2008
The Nepal Elections and The Carter Center: A Q&A With David Pottie, Associate Director, Carter Center Democracy Program
Q&A with David Pottie, Associate Director, Carter Center Democracy Program, on the April 10, 2008, constituent assembly elections in Nepal.
1 April 2008
Jimmy Carter to Lead Delegation to Observe Nepal's April 10 Elections
The Carter Center announced today that its founders, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will lead the Center's international election observation delegation to Nepal. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, former deputy prime minister of Thailand, will co-lead the delegation with the Carters. The Carter Center mission will also include more than 60 observers representing more than 20 different nations deployed throughout the country.
1 April 2008
President Carter Congratulates Ghana on Lower Case Numbers of Guinea Worm Disease, Warns Against Complacency
One year after witnessing the horrific Savelugu Guinea worm outbreak in northern Ghana, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter returned to Accra today to congratulate the national program for its recent effective efforts in reducing the incidence of Guinea worm disease.
27 March 2008
Remarks by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter: 2008 Skoll World Forum
Videotaped remarks delivered by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during the Skoll Awards Ceremony, held during the 2008 Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School.
26 March 2008
"Strengthening Lives:" The 2006-2007 Carter Center Annual Report (PDF).
Annual report of the Carter Center's peace and health work from Sept. 1, 2006 to Aug. 31, 2007.
26 March 2008
Declaration Calls for Advancement of Public Information Worldwide as Fundamental Human Right
Participants in a global conference on the right of access to public information released today the Atlanta Declaration and Plan of Action to advance access to information as a fundamental human right.
26 March 2008
Atlanta Declaration and Plan of Action for the Advancement of the Right of Access to Information (PDF)
Declaration and plan of action issued by more than 125 representatives of government, civil society, media, private sector, international financial institutions, donors, and academics from 40 countries who participated in the Feb.27-29, 2008, global conference on the right of access to public information held at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga.
25 March 2008
Life on the Edge: Carter Center Project Examines Development Challenges on Ecuador-Colombia Border
Buenaventura Morales has a kind face worn weary from life, and friendly eyes that hide the depression plaguing him since he fled his native Colombia after massacres to his village in 2004. His wife died along the way, and he said he feels unable to support his four children by himself; he can't find a job in this poor border region of Ecuador.
21 March 2008
The Carter Center Welcomes Publication of Congo Mining Report
The Carter Center welcomes the decision of the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to release the final report of the Inter-Ministerial Commission on the Revisitation of Mining Contracts and the decision to name a Task Force with political responsibility for the review.
18 March 2008
Carter Center Urges an End to Election-Related Violence in Nepal
The Carter Center's international election observation mission in Nepal has observed the pre-electoral environment in the country for the past 14 months.
17 March 2008
Political Reform in China: A Q&A with Yawei Liu, Director, Carter Center China Program
Q&A with Yawei Liu, Director, Carter Center China Program.
10 March 2008
Carter Center Urges International Community to Support Congo Mining Review Efforts
The Carter Center welcomes recent steps taken by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to advance the review of natural resource contracts negotiated during and immediately following its years of deadly conflict.
3 March 2008
Carter Center Names Former Mediator as New Conflict Resolution Program Director
Hrair Balian, an attorney with background in international conflict mediation and democratic governance for organizations including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, United Nations, and International Crisis Group, is the new director of the Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program.
21 February 2008
Freedom of Information to be Discussed at Two Live Webcasts, Including Former U.S. President Carter, Other Experts
The Carter Center will offer two live webcasts at www.cartercenter that will explore challenges facing the right to information in the United States and around the world.
21 February 2008
Conference to Address Advancements, Challenges to Worldwide Access to Public Information Laws
Access to public information matters to the average citizen: it is a human right with the power to make a difference in both individual lives and in the life of a community.
20 February 2008
Access to Information: A Fundamental Right
Q&A with Laura Neuman, J.D., Assistant Director, Americas Program and Access to Information Project manager.
17 February 2008
Carter Center Calls on Nepal's Government and All Parties to Focus on April 10 Elections
The Carter Center has heard from Nepalis nationwide that they want peace, prosperity, and a representative, transparent, and accountable government. Nepal's political leaders need to respond to these expectations by holding a credible election for the constituent assembly on April 10, 2008.
15 February 2008
The Carter Center Condemns Recent Violence in Israel and the Gaza Strip
The Carter Center condemns the recent Palestinian suicide bombings and rocket fire against Israel and calls on the Palestinian leadership in Gaza to take urgent and immediate measures to halt the spiraling cycle of violence.
12 February 2008
2008-2009 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism: Applications Being Accepted
Applications are now being accepted for six one-year journalism fellowships with the Carter Center Mental Health Program. Designed to enhance public understanding of mental health issues and combat stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses, the fellowships begin in September 2008. Applicants must be U.S. residents.
11 February 2008
Winter Weekend Auction Raises $1.2 Million for Carter Center Peace and Health Programs
A bench of hard maple wood handcrafted by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter sold for $300,000 at an auction in Port St. Lucie on Feb. 9 to benefit the nonprofit Carter Center's initiatives to advance peace and health worldwide. Items in the silent and live auctions combined raised $1.2 million for the Center.
11 February 2008
Carter Center Assists Liberia's Ministry of Justice in Strengthening Rule of Law
Involved with Liberia since 1991, when invited by West African leaders during the country's first civil war to assist in the peace process, The Carter Center observed Liberia's 1997 and 2005 elections and has worked there in many other ways over the years.
3 February 2008
A Clearer Picture on Voter ID
This Jimmy Carter and James Baker III op-ed was published in the Feb. 3, 2008, edition of The New York Times.
THIS is a major election year. Unfortunately, our two major political parties — Democratic and Republican — continue to disagree on some of the rules that apply to the administration of our elections.
30 January 2008
"Unity, After 160 Years" -- Address by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to the New Baptist Covenant Meeting, Atlanta, Ga.
Good evening; I come representing Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, and speak to you tonight as a Sunday School teacher, a deacon - and it seems my preeminent credential is the husband of the world's most famous deacon.
26 January 2008
The Carter Center Calls for Ceasefire and Dialogue in Gaza
After two years of almost complete isolation, the people of the Gaza Strip breached the iron wall along the border with Egypt, pouring over the border to seek basic supplies, receive needed health care, and some said, to "breathe a breath of freedom." Although Egypt seems poised to close the border again, most Gazans are giving Hamas credit for relieving their misery, even if the relief is temporary.
23 January 2008
Lions, Carter Center Celebrate 10 Millionth Dose of Zithromax, Health Gains Against Trachoma in Ethiopia
Today a group led by Lions Clubs International Foundation Chairperson Jimmy Ross witnessed a historic moment in trachoma control when the 10 millionth dose of azithromycin (Zithromax®) was dispensed to a person in Awi Zone. The antibiotic, donated by Pfizer Inc, is a main strategy in the fight against the blinding disease in poor, rural areas.
18 January 2008
President Carter Memorabilia Offered at Auction to Benefit Global Peace
and Health Work of The Carter Center
A bench of hard maple wood handcrafted by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and an array of rare presidential memorabilia will be auctioned Feb. 9, 2008, to help support the work of the not-for-profit Carter Center, advancing peace and health worldwide.
7 January 2008
Addressing the Caregiving Crisis
This Rosalynn Carter op-ed was published in the January 2008 issue of Preventing Chronic Disease.
This issue of Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) focuses on a set of concerns that is likely to challenge the public's creative spirit and resourcefulness for the next 30 years. Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical and mental health. What we are beginning to see is that success in any one of these areas raises new challenges and presents new problems for us to solve in the other areas.
4 January 2008
Carter Center, Partners, Celebrate 100 Millionth Mectizan® Treatment
The Carter Center's River Blindness Program, with its global partners, announced recently the 100 millionth treatment of Mectizan® since 1996. The drug, proven effective and safe in treatment and prevention of river blindness, also called onchocerciasis, is donated by Merck & Co., Inc.
26 December 2007
The Carter Center Urges Restoration of Judiciary in Advance of Pakistani Elections
The Carter Center calls on President Pervez Musharraf to restore immediately the independent judiciary he incapacitated during the recent state of emergency in Pakistan.
14 December 2007
Watch Archived Webcast: Heralding Freedom - The Gulag, American Civil Rights Movement, and Human Rights Today
Archived video webcast of Dec. 12, 2007, Conversations at The Carter Center with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter; former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young; Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA; Sergei Kovalev, Russian human rights activist and former Gulag prisoner; and Isaac Newton Farris Jr., nephew of the late Martin Luther King Jr., and president and CEO of The King Center in Atlanta.
12 December2007
Charles Brewer to Chair Carter Center Councilors
Charles Brewer, managing member of Las Catalinas Holding Company, has been appointed chair of the Carter Center's Board of Councilors for 2008. The board is comprised of 204 members, who serve as a leadership advisory group that promotes understanding of the Center's mission among opinion leaders and the broader community.
12 December 2007
25 Years of The Carter Center: Changing Agenda, Enduring Principles
The year 2007 marks the Carter Center's 25th anniversary. In the following article, former
U.S. President Jimmy Carter reflects on the Center's evolution and his hopes for waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope into the future.
10 December 2007
Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to China, Dec. 2-8, 2007
As has been our custom every few years since leaving the White House, Rosalynn and I wanted to go to China to discuss ongoing projects of The Carter Center, plan for future ones, and especially to meet the new leaders recently chosen in the 17th National People's Congress.
10 December 2007
Subsidies' Harvest Of Misery: Jimmy Carter Washington Post Op-Ed
Congress can still act decisively this year to right a wrong that is hurting both small American farmers and the poorest people on the planet. A long-overdue debate is taking place on reform of the 1933 farm bill, passed during the Great Depression to alleviate the suffering of America's family farmers.
10 December 2007
Venezuela Reins in, Doesn't Reject, Hugo Chávez
This Jennifer McCoy op-ed was published in the Dec. 10, 2007, edition of Newsday.
Voters in Venezuela have sent a clear message to their president: Slow down.
5 December 2007
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Headlines Panel Discussing Former Soviet Gulag Prison System
The Soviet Gulag prison system imprisoned millions of innocent people during its infamous history; a panel of human rights leaders will discuss its impact on Russia and the world today, as well as offer comparisons to the American Civil Rights Movement, at a sold out program Dec. 12 from 7-8:30 p.m. The event is part of the Conversations at The Carter Center speaker series and will be webcast live on www.cartercenter.org.
3 December 2007
Carter Center Statement on Venezuela Referendum
Venezuelan citizens responded on Dec. 2 in a peaceful and orderly way to the referendum convoked by the National Electoral Council (CNE) to approve or reject the proposal to reform the National Constitution, presented to the citizens by the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
2 December 2007
Creative thinking could resolve ANC's dilemma
This John Stremlau op-ed was published in the Dec. 2, 2007, edition of The Times (South Africa)
John Stremlau says Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma should consider putting the party - and the nation - ahead of their personal ambition.
30 November 2007
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Sends Congratulatory Message to Ecuador's New Constituent Assembly
In a message to Ecuador's newly inaugurated Constituent Assembly, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter urged the constituents to use human rights as a basis for drafting a new constitution and encouraged them to seek a harmonious solution on the definition and implementation of their role in transforming the state's institutions.
30 November 2007
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's Message for the Inauguration of Ecuador's New Constituent Assembly
Almost 30 years ago, when I assumed the presidency of my country and military dictatorships extended throughout Latin America, Ecuador inaugurated a wave of democratization that continues today. Human rights began to be restored as fundamental values, and slowly the countries of Latin America established democratic regimes.
30 November 2007
First Report: The Carter Center Review of DRC Mining Contracts - Update and Recommendations (PDF)
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most mineral-rich nations on earth, yet its citizens have seen little benefit from these resources due to corruption and faulty contracts between mining companies and the government.
The Carter Center worked in collaboration with Columbia Law School's Human Rights Clinic to complete a review of mining contracts in the DRC at the invitation of the Congolese government and in collaboration with Congolese civil society organizations. The following report details the problems found during the review and includes the Carter Center's recommendations for next steps to the international community, World Bank, mining companies, and Congolese government.
29 November 2007
Carter Center Helps Educate Liberians on Laws, Rights
Although the country's decades of violence are over, Liberia's women continue to face their own private wars: marital rape, domestic abuse, poverty. The Carter Center, at the invitation of Liberia's Ministry of Justice and in partnership with community-based organizations in the West African country, is helping close the violence gap through local education programs and governmental capacity building.
29 November 2007
Mental Illness Prevention: Interview with Thomas H. Bornemann, Ed.D., Director of the Carter Center Mental Health Program
The 23rd Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy, held Nov. 7-8, 2007 at The Carter Center, examined current mental health prevention interventions—and potential policy barriers for implementation--for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.
28 November 2007
Carter Center Expert Donald Hopkins Receives Prestigious Fries Prize for Guinea Worm Eradication Leadership
Poised to be the first parasitic disease eradicated in human history, Guinea worm disease now teeters on the verge of extinction. The 2007 Fries Prize for Improving Health was bestowed on Donald R. Hopkins, M.D., M.P.H., Carter Center vice president for health programs, for his sustained leadership in the global campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease (dracunculiasis), a debilitating parasitic infection contracted from drinking contaminated water.
27 November 2007
Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Nepal, Nov. 20-24, 2007
The Carter Center has had long-term observers in Nepal since last February, preparing for elections in June and then in November, both postponed.
27 November 2007
The Venezuelan´s Dilemma
This open letter to Venezuelan citizens was written and signed by recognized Latin American democrats and former leaders.
24 November 2007
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Nepal
The people of Nepal have embarked on a remarkable and historic transition. I am proud and grateful to witness parties formerly in conflict demonstrating their commitment to resolving their differences through peaceful means.
24 November 2007
Compromise Proposal for Nepal
After having met with as many political leaders and private citizens as possible, I find it obvious that serious obstacles remain to a successful resolution of the present debate that can lead to a Constituent Assembly and a national constitution.
20 November 2007
Global-X Videos Feature Human Rights Defenders
Social Edge, a program of the Skoll Foundation--a Carter Center partner--conducted "Global-X" interviews with participants in the 2007 Human Rights Defenders Forum held Sept. 6-7 at The Carter Center. Featured on the Social Edge and You Tube Web sites, the three- to seven-minute videos highlight leading social entrepreneurs as they tell stories that had a significant impact on their lives. They also describe how they see the world in 2017.
20 November 2007
The Carter Center Supports OSCE/ODIHR Decision Not to Observe Russian Elections
The Russian Federation's conditional invitation to the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe - Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) to observe its Dec. 2 elections to the State Duma placed unacceptable limitations both on the number of election observers permitted to monitor the polls and the duration of their observation activities.
20 November 2007
Colombia is First Country to Interrupt Transmission of River Blindness
Colombia has become the first country to interrupt transmission of onchocerciasis (also known as river blindness) on a countrywide basis, according to officials of the Onchocerciasis Elimination Program in the Americas (OEPA).
15 November 2007
Crisis in Pakistan - A Q&A With Carter Center Human Rights Director Karin Ryan
A Q&A with Karen Ryan, director of the Carter Center's Human Rights Program, on the imposition of martial law and suspension of the constitution in Pakistan by President Pervez Musharraf.
14 November 2007
Pakistan Elections Meaningless Without Restoration of Constitution, Rule of Law
The Carter Center deplores General Pervez Musharraf's announcement that January elections will be held under martial law. Elections are a necessary step to secure peace and sustainable democracy, but not with potential candidates under house arrest or expelled from Pakistan. No international observers would participate without the full restoration of the constitutional order, including the independent judiciary.
13 November 2007
Ethiopia Uses Grassroots Approach to Build Health Care Workforce, Shares Methods with Other Nations Online (With Links to Voice of America Feature Article and Audio Interviews)
Overview of Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative Health Training Materials Web Site, with links to Voice of America feature article, "Ethiopia Partners with Carter Center on Public Health Training Initiative" and audio interviews with EPHTI experts.
9 November 2007
The Carter Center Condemns Russian Federation Effort to Undermine Credible Election Observation
"I am disturbed by the unprecedented restrictions to credible international election observation contained in the Russian Federation's invitation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) election observation body," said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, founder of The Carter Center.
7 November 2007
Report on the Twenty-third Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy: The Time is Now: Creating a Public Policy Action Agenda (PDF)
The Time is Now: Creating a Public Policy Action Agenda on Preventing Mental Illnesses: Twenty-third Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy, November 7-8, 2007.
7 November 2007
Musharraf Demolishes Democracy Under the Guise of Fighting Terrorism; United States Must Tie Aid to Restoration of Freedoms
The Carter Center condemns recent actions by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to suspend the country's Constitution and proclaim a state of emergency. In the process, members of the independent judiciary, news media, and human rights defenders have been abused and imprisoned. Many activist lawyers demanding restoration of the Pakistani Constitution and rule of law have also been arrested.
5 November 2007
Carter Center Symposium to Address the Prevention of Mental Illnesses
Harnessing the power of prevention to stop the onset or progression of mental illnesses is long overdue. Failure to implement preventive measures on a national scale takes not only a human toll but also an economic and societal toll in terms of lost productivity and disability.
26 October 2007
A Green Revolution for Africa
This Norman E. Borlaug op-ed was published in the October 26, 2007, edition of The Wall Street Journal.
The so-called Green Revolution of Asia, which began in the 1960s and continued through the 1980s, spurred the greatest expansion of food production in world history. Global wheat and rice production doubled, and continued to grow.
24 October 2007
Carter Center Urges Israel To Maintain Energy Supplies in Gaza
The Carter Center urges the government of Israel to cease consideration of a proposal to cut energy supplies in Gaza. On Sept. 19, 2007, Israel threatened to declare the Gaza Strip a "hostile territory" and cut off provision of essential services such as electricity and fuel to the civilian population as retaliation for rocket attacks being launched from the territory.
19 October 2007
Documentary, "Jimmy Carter Man From Plains," Explores Former President's Post-White House Role
Man From Plains is an intimate, surprising encounter with President Jimmy Carter.
15 October 2007
Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to London, Khartoum, Juba, Darfur, Luneburg: Sept. 28 – Oct. 5, 2007
Jeff and I arrived in London, joined Bob Pastor and Lakhdar Brahimi, and met with former Prime Minister Tony Blair at the home of DCM Richard LeBaron. We then met with Baroness Shriti Vadera, Under-Secretary for International Development, especially for Sudan, and she is very eager to help. Prime Minister Gordon Brown called me from a meeting at Chequers to express his support and to request a future meeting.
12 October 2007
Statement from Former U.S. President and Nobel Laureate Jimmy Carter
Rosalynn and I are pleased to congratulate former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) led by Rajendra Pachauri on receiving the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
12 October 2007
Election Delayed, But Long-Term Observers Continue in Nepal
Nepal has undergone tremendous changes in the past year. A 2006 peace agreement ended a decade of fighting between government forces and the Maoists, and the country's king gave up all power other than his ceremonial status. Plans were set in motion to elect a constituent assembly, which would determine the country's future by writing a new constitution.
12 October 2007
Long-Term Election Observers Go the Distance in Nepal (slide show)
A Carter Center multimedia feature on the Carter Center's long-term election observers — the only international observation mission in Nepal — deployed throughout the country.
12 October 2007
Long-Term Election Observer Reflects on Being Part of Nepal "Roaming Team"
Jason Katz is a long-term observer (LTO) for the Carter Center's election observation mission in Nepal. Katz previously worked at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Washington, D.C., and served as an election monitor during both rounds of elections in Peru in 2001.
12 October 2007
Nepal Elections: By Foot, Car, and Plane, Observer Assesses Country's Readiness
Stefanie Gross is a long-term observer (LTO) for the Carter Center's election observation mission in Nepal. Originally from Germany, Stefanie completed her undergraduate degree in political studies and her postgraduate degree in conflict resolution in the United Kingdom before interning at The Carter Center in 2006.
9 October 2007
Carter Center Mental Health Program Observes World Mental Health Day
Mental illnesses affect people of all ages in all countries and societies, from the boy soldier in Sierra Leone traumatized by years of bloody civil war to the aging farmer in Oklahoma suffering from depression. These illnesses have a profound impact on the quality of life for individuals and families and stunt economic growth in societies around the world.
9 October 2007
In South Africa, a Journalist Finds Words for Unspeakable Tragedies
It was a recurring headline in South African newspapers: "Cop Murder-Suicide Claims Family." Dozens of sons, fathers, and husbands working in the South African Police Service had committed these crimes against their own families, but the stories of what motivated them were rarely told.
9 October 2007
Mental Health Fellow Breaks Down Stereotypes
Time and money to access voluminous public records are luxuries most reporters do not have to investigate negligence or malfeasance in the public sector.
9 October 2007
Journalism Fellowships Expand to Romania
Alex Ulmanu sometimes wonders if things could have been different.
"I had a colleague in university who was a brilliant, brilliant person and who committed suicide in her very early 20s. We learned afterward that she was suffering from schizophrenia," Ulmanu said.
6 October 2007
Carter Center Statement on the Nepal Election Delay
The Carter Center is profoundly disappointed with the announcement of a second postponement of Nepal's constituent assembly election.
3 October 2007
Nepal's Peace Process at Critical Juncture; Carter Center Appeals to all Nepali Political Actors to Work Together for Elections
Nepal's peace process is at a critical juncture following the Sept. 18 departure of the Maoists from the interim government and the rapid approach of key electoral deadlines.
2 October 2007
"Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope" Chronicles Post-Presidency, Carter Center's 25 Years
"Beyond the White House: Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, Building Hope," by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, was published Oct. 2, 2007, by Simon & Schuster. The book is available from the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum Shop.
1 October 2007
Report of the Eleventh Annual Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum: Georgia's Mental Health Gap Analysis: Building an Action Agenda (PDF)
Georgia's Mental Health Gap Analysis: Building an Action Agenda: Report of the Eleventh Annual Rosalynn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum, May 19, 2006.
1 October 2007
Carter Center Observes Democratic Consolidation in Ecuador
Yesterday, Sept. 30, the Ecuadorian people demonstrated their profound democratic vocation by voting peacefully for representatives to the constituent assembly.
28 September 2007
Ethiopia Builds Health Care Workforce Using a Grassroots Approach: Shares Methods with Other Nations Online
Battling the dangerous void left by the migration of its skilled health professionals to other countries, Ethiopia, a country challenged by the grim realities of killer diseases, has proven it can build a sustainable health workforce to meet its unique health situation.
28 September 2007
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Situation in Myanmar
The political crisis in Myanmar has reached alarming proportions this week. Peaceful demonstrations led by religious leaders who desire justice, freedom, and democracy have been met by brutal force from the military government, the extent of which is not yet known.
28 September 2007
Carter Center Pleased with Ecuador's Electoral Process, Urges Equality of Official Electoral Publicity
Since July 2007, The Carter Center has worked intensively to observe the electoral processes leading up to Ecuador's Constituent Assembly elections. This statement presents the continued findings of the Center's international election observation mission in Ecuador.
26 September 2007
Jimmy Carter Receives First Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award
This lecture was delivered by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during the awards ceremony at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. Sept. 26, 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of Albert Schweitzer's call for an end to nuclear weapons.
21 September 2007
Israeli Actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank: Prospects Dim for Middle East Peace
In a statement issued today: The Carter Center deplores the decision taken Wednesday by Israel to declare the Gaza Strip a hostile territory and its threat to cut off provision of essential services such as electricity and fuel to the civilian population.
20 September 2007
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center on the Death of Sir John Compton
Rosalynn and I are deeply saddened by the death of Sir John Compton, Prime Minister of St. Lucia. Sir John was known as "Father of the Nation" for leading St. Lucia into independence from Britain in 1978.
13 September 2007
Sold Out 'Conversations' Event to be Webcast Live - Submit Questions Online Now
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will discuss The Carter Center's 25 years of humanitarian work to open the 2007-2008 season of Conversations at The Carter Center Sept. 18, 2007, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST. The sold out event will be webcast live on www.cartercenter.org.
12 September 2007
Jimmy Carter Op-Ed: Nuclear Steps Undermine Peace
By abandoning many of the nuclear arms agreements negotiated in the last 50 years, the United States has been sending mixed signals to North Korea, Iran, and other states with the technical knowledge to create nuclear weapons.
12 September 2007
Carter Center to Observe Constituent Assembly Elections in Ecuador
In response to an invitation by the Supreme Electoral Court (Tribunal Supremo Electoral) of Ecuador, The Carter Center will field an electoral observation mission during the constituent assembly election to be held Sept. 30, 2007. The Carter Center also announces the opening of a field office in the city of Quito.
10 September 2007
Carter Center Statement on the Death of Jose Emanuel "Pepe" Mendez
President and Mrs. Carter and all at the Carter Center were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jose Emanuel "Pepe" Mendez, son of 1990 Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize Recipient Amilcar Mendez Urizar.
7 September 2007
Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum Final Statement Issues Challenges and Recommendations for Addressing Mass Atrocities
On Sept. 5, human rights defenders, including several from faith-based organizations, came from 20 countries to discuss the challenges they face in addressing mass atrocities and to develop recommendations for the international community.
22 August 2007
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter to Launch 2007-2008 Season of Conversations at The Carter Center
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will discuss 25 years of humanitarian work through The Carter Center to open the upcoming season of Conversations at The Carter Center on Sept. 18, 2007. The annual speaker series features panel discussions of current world topics and Carter Center work.
20 August 2007
The Carter Center Includes Romania in Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism Program
The Carter Center Mental Health Program has awarded two Romanian journalists with the eleventh annual Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. This will be the first year that journalists from the Eastern European country will participate in the program. The journalists will join a class of six other fellows from the United States and two from southern Africa.
10 August 2007
Carter Center Urges Nepal to Continue Progress for Nov. 22 Elections: Third Pre-Election Statement
This statement presents the observations and continued findings of the Carter Center's international election observation mission in Nepal. Since March 2007, The Center's 13 international long-term observers (LTOs) have visited all of Nepal's 75 districts, in many cases multiple times, reaching not only to district headquarters but also to the village level. The goal of the Center's mission is to demonstrate international support for and provide an independent assessment of the constituent assembly election process in order to help consolidate the gains of the ongoing peace process.
3 August 2007
Jimmy Carter: America Is Robbing Developing Nations Of Health Workers
The July 31 USA Today Forum article "U.S. savior: Foreign doctors" is very interesting but presents only one side of a tragic and selfish trend: the active recruitment of extremely scarce health workers from the poorer countries of the world. This is a crisis that The Carter Center faces every day in fighting malaria, lymphatic filariasis, Guinea worm, trachoma, river blindness, and schistosomiasis.
18 July 2007
Rosalynn Carter and Betty Ford Op-Ed: Pass the Wellstone Act; Mental-health Parity Needed
This op-ed was published in the July 18, 2007, edition of The Washington Times.
If you were diagnosed with a brain tumor, would you seek treatment or would you ignore it and hope it goes away? Would your answer differ according to whether your health insurance covered treatment? A diagnosis such as a brain tumor, or Parkinson's disease, is a serious matter. Just as serious are the diagnoses of mental illnesses and addictions. But depending on the location of the illness in your body, the decision to seek treatment may be harder to make.
18 July 2007
Two Palestines? What is Risked by a "West Bank first" Policy? Panel Discussion Now Available on Carter Center Web Site
Dialogue that engages all stakeholders in the Israeli and Palestinian peace process is critical to resolve the current crisis, according to three Middle East experts who convened at The Carter Center on Friday, July 13. The panel also addressed risks of the "West Bank first" policy, which is being promoted by the United States and a few European governments to address the Gaza takeover by Hamas in June.
17 July 2007
Carter Center Consultant Norman Borlaug Receives Congressional Gold Medal for Food Research
Norman Borlaug, Nobel peace laureate and senior consultant of the Carter Center's Agriculture Program, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal here July 17 for his work on high-yield, disease-resistant varieties of wheat credited with starting the "Green revolution" and alleviating starvation in India and Pakistan in the 1960s.
13 July 2007
Two Palestines? What is Risked by a "West Bank First" Policy? Q&A with Middle East Experts
In the following Q&A, panel members from "Two Palestines? What is Risked by a 'West Bank First' Policy?," held at The Carter Center in July 2007, answer audience questions that remained following the event.
13 July 2007
Carter Center Awards 2007-2008 Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
The Carter Center Mental Health Program has named eight recipients of its eleventh annual Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, including six from the United States and two from southern Africa.
11 July 2007
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Death of Lady Bird Johnson
Rosalynn and I are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Lady Bird Johnson. Her commitment to public service and caring spirit were unwavering.
10 July 2007
Two Palestines? What is Risked By a "West Bank First" Policy?
The collapse of the Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) last month following the takeover of Gaza by Hamas has left the Palestinian territories in crisis. Join former Advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and leader of the Geneva Peace Initiative Daniel Levy and former Minister of Information in the Palestinian NUG Mustapha Barghouthi as they discuss ways to solve the current crisis.
10 July 2007
Rosalynn Carter's Testimony: Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Education Equity Act - House Education and Labor Committee, Subcommittee on Health
Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you regarding legislation that will profoundly impact the lives of so many Americans.
3 July 2007
Timor-Leste Parliamentary Election Democratic and Peaceful Carter Center Preliminary Statement (English and Teturn)
The majority of Timor-Leste voters participated in an orderly and peaceful June 30 parliamentary election. The administration of these elections was very well executed, bearing testimony to the hard work of election officials and the determination of Timorese citizens to ensure their country remains on the democratic path chosen at independence.
22 June 2007
Carter Center Appoints Atlanta Leaders to Board of Councilors
The Carter Center, a not-for-profit organization working to promote health and peace worldwide, recently appointed 19 new members to the Board of Councilors, bringing its membership to 180.
21 June 2007
Carter Center to Observe Parliamentary Elections in Timor-Leste
The Carter Center will increase its international observation presence surrounding Timor-Leste's June 30 parliamentary elections by sending a larger delegation to join long-term observers, who have been deployed throughout the country since early June. A field office in Dili will remain open through July 2007.
21 June 2007
Peace with Justice in the Middle East
Remarks by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Center at the Mansfield College, Oxford, "Hands Lecture" on June 21, 2007.
19 June 2007
Human Rights Speech
Remarks by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, delivered June 19, 2007, in Dublin, Ireland.
16 June 2007
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Nepal
I'm happy to be back in Nepal and to be briefed by The Carter Center's long-term observers, political leaders, marginalized groups, and election officials here.
12 June 2007
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Discuss Malaria During Online Smithsonian Chat June 28
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will participate in a live online chat Thursday, June 28 at 11:15 a.m. EST to discuss malaria and the article "The Ethiopia Campaign - Jimmy Carter Takes on Malaria," featured in the June 2007 issue of Smithsonian magazine.
June 12, 2007
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Visit Nepal
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will visit Nepal June 13-16 to encourage Nepal's political leaders to continue on the path to peace as they prepare to hold constituent assembly elections later in 2007.
8 June 2007
The Carter Center International Election Observation Mission in Nepal: Second Pre-Election Statement
This statement presents the observations and continued findings of the Carter Center's
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