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. Learn more »
The Carter Center has deployed 10 election observers to Ghana's Brong-Ahafo region to observe Friday's voting in the Tain constituency. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
ACCRA...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. Learn more »
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. It appears that the scale of logistical challenges and their implications in terms of planning, organization, and financing might have been underestimated. Learn more »
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. Mukoko was abducted from her home in Norton, Harare in the early hours of Dec. 3. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
Former U.S President Jimmy Carter announces major financial contribution from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and DFID toward final eradication of Guinea worm disease. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will visit Lebanon and Syria next week. Learn more »
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Carter Center President and CEO John Hardman, M.D. (right), and Carter Center Global 2000 Program Director Craig Withers (left) announce a $55 million commitment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Kingdom Department for International Development toward final eradication of Guinea worm disease. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
Carter Center election observation leaders and short-term observers will arrive in Ghana tomorrow to observe election preparations and voting on Dec. 7. Learn more »
Atlanta...A quarter of a century has passed since a groundbreaking, 50-state study shone a piercing light on America's alarming disarray of mental health services for children and urged strong federal leadership on policies to support states' efforts. A follow-up study released today finds that states are still struggling to deliver effective care while a lack of federal leadership remains. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
Mental health services for children across the United States are spotty at best, due to a patchwork of state approaches in which the most effective services are not necessarily the ones funded, according to a new study by the National Center for Children in Poverty called "Unclaimed Children Revisited." The results of the study were unveiled at the 24th annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy in November 2008. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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 nongovernmental organizations "to focus attention on the promotion and consolidation of democracy at all levels and to reinforce international cooperation in this regard." Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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 (Tribunal Supremo Electoral). Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
Statement issued by The Carter Center clarifying press communiqués issued in recent days by the governments of Ecuador and Colombia. Learn more »
The Carter Center found that the majority of Nepali voters participated in a remarkable and relatively peaceful constituent assembly election on April 10, 2008. Preliminary reports indicate that the administration of this election was well executed, bearing testimony to the hard work of election officials and the determination of Nepal's people to ensure that their country continues on the path to sustainable peace and democracy. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. The successful accomplishments of these countries are due to the hard work of hundreds of in-country volunteers, health workers, government officials, and other partners. Learn more »
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. Ces victoires ont été remportées par les efforts ardus de centaines de volontaires, agents de santé, représentants officiels dans le pays et autres partenaires. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
The Carter Center's international election observation mission in Nepal has observed the pre-electoral environment in the country for the past 14 months. The Center is encouraged by the level of electoral preparations and campaigning presently taking place, as this represents a marked increase from the two previous election periods in June and November 2007. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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. Learn more »
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