Tunisia's political leaders have devoted substantial efforts over the past several months to overcome the country's political crisis. Following the selection of a new candidate for prime minister, The Carter Center urges the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) to prioritize the creation of a new election commission while debates on the constitution and an electoral law are ongoing. Learn more »
On Dec. 20, Madagascar held legislative elections and the second round of presidential elections. Following a protracted political crisis, these elections offer an opportunity that we are hopeful will reinstate a democratically-elected government, enable Madagascar to rejoin the community of nations, and provide a foundation through which to address the prolonged humanitarian crisis that has continued to escalate within recent years. Learn more »
The Carter Center published today a report of its observations of Nepal's counting process, concluding that the process was largely conducted according to procedures and that the Election Commission of Nepal has announced credible results to the Nov. 19 constituent assembly election. Other key findings of the report include: Learn more »
The Carter Center deployed a team of electoral experts to assess Egypt's constitution-building process, including the ongoing legal and political context. Learn more »
The Carter Center today released to the public a series of reports that provide a comprehensive analysis of Syrian paramilitary group structures and their evolution. The reports are part of the Center's Syria Conflict Mapping Project, which analyzes the unprecedented volume of online citizen-generated information about the conflict in an effort to better inform peace-building efforts. Learn more »
The Carter Center and the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, following up on the 2013 electoral process in Honduras, recognize the willingness and openness shown by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to address the concerns, questions, and complaints posed by various political actors and parties. Learn more »
At the invitation of the Honduran Supreme Electoral Tribunal, The Carter Center sent a high-level delegation to the country's Nov. 24 electoral process. The delegation was led by two members of the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, former Presidents Carlos Mesa of Bolivia and Martin Torrijos of Panama, and Dr. Jennifer McCoy, director of the Americas Program at The Carter Center. Learn more »
The Carter Center urges the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to ensure that all transactions and revenue flows of state-owned mining companies, particularly La Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines), are carried out in a transparent manner that safeguards the public interest. Learn more »
The Carter Center finds that Nepal's Nov. 19 constituent assembly election was conducted remarkably well, especially in the face of attempts by boycotting parties to disrupt the process through violence. The Election Commission of Nepal estimated the voter turnout at more than 70 percent. Learn more »
At the invitation of the Honduran Supreme Electoral Tribunal, The Carter Center will send a small high-level delegation to the Nov. 24 national elections in Honduras. The delegation will be led by two members of the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, former Presidents Carlos Mesa of Bolivia and Martin Torrijos of Panama, and will include Dr. Jennifer McCoy, director of the Americas program at The Carter Center, and Marcelo Varela-Erasheva, the program's associate director. Learn more »
The Sudan-South Sudan Dialogue Group visited the Tamazuj area in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State from November 7-9, 2013. The objective of the visit was to advance people-to-people dialogue and specifically to learn from the experiences of the Dinka Malual and their interactions with neighboring Misseriya and Rizeigat tribes. Learn more »
The Carter Center announced today that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai will co-lead the Carter Center's delegation to observe Nepal's Nov. 19 constituent assembly election. The Center's mission will include more than 50 observers representing 27 nations deployed throughout the country. Learn more »
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter joined Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) today to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), an independent, not-for-profit program dedicated to the elimination of blinding trachoma as a public health concern. Learn more »
During the 29th Annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy on Nov.7-8, 2013, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will join former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter to discuss how access to mental health care could improve with the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). Learn more »
In a report released today, The Carter Center offered a series of recommendations to Nepal's election commission, candidates and parties, and government to support the conduct of a credible constituent assembly election on Nov. 19. Learn more »
The Carter Center has launched an international election observation mission for Madagascar's national elections on Oct. 25 and Dec. 20, at the invitation of the country's National Independent Electoral Commission of the Transition (CENI-T). Learn more »
The Carter Center and Emory University are bringing together renowned American and Chinese leaders and scholars to discuss the future of the bilateral relationship between the United States and China at a public forum Nov. 11-12. Learn more »
In a report released today, The Carter Center applauds the Election Commission of Nepal's efforts to finalize a new voter roll for the constituent assembly elections on Nov. 19, 2013, while also identifying areas of concern such as potential voters who have not been registered. Learn more »
The Carter Center has launched an international election observation mission for Nepal's Nov. 19, 2013, constituent assembly election at the invitation of Interim Election Council Chair Khil Raj Regmi and the Election Commission of Nepal and the welcome of political parties. Learn more »
The use of chemical weapons on August 21 near Damascus is a grave breach of international law that has rightfully outraged the world community. The United States and some of its European allies are calling for military strikes on Syria, but apparently without support from NATO or the Arab League. Learn more »
The Carter Center's Mental Health Program in Liberia, in partnership with the Liberia Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, congratulates the newest, fifth class of 21 clinicians who are pioneering a new model for mental health services in Africa. With 100 local mental health clinicians trained since 2011, all 15 counties in Liberia now have access to at least two service providers. These clinicians largely work in primary care clinics and hospitals in remote, rural areas. Learn more »
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today congratulated President Juan Manuel Santos and the people of Colombia for becoming the first of six countries in the Americas to eliminate river blindness. The official ceremony was held today in Bogotá. River blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, is a parasitic disease that can cause intense itching, eyesight damage, and irreversible blindness. Learn more »
The Carter Center strongly condemns the assassination of Mohamed Brahmi, a National Constituent Assembly deputy and leader of the Popular Currant (Courant Populaire, El Tayyar El Chaabi). His assassination comes on the anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Tunisia and just six months after the targeted killing of opposition leader, Chokri Belaïd. Learn more »
It is critically important to bring Tunisia's new constitution in line with international human rights standards and Tunisia's obligations under international law, four human rights organizations said today. Learn more »
The Carter Center announced the recipients of the 2013-2014 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism today. Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, the 17th annual class of fellows includes six from the United States, two from Romania, and for the first time, two teams from Colombia. (See below for a full list of fellows and their project topics.) Learn more »
Representatives of the Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program will travel to Beirut and Damascus in late July for discussions on eventual political transition in Syria. Learn more »
The Carter Center announced today the recipients of the 2014-2015 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, the 18th annual class of fellows includes six from the United States and two fellowships from Colombia. (See below for a full list of fellows and their project topics.) Learn more »
The Carter Center announced today that it will no longer only control river blindness, but instead it will work with ministries of health to eliminate it in all 10 countries in Africa and Latin America in the areas where the Center fights the neglected disease. Learn more »
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson Rita Makarau on July 9 informed The Carter Center that our application to observe forthcoming national elections in Zimbabwe has been declined. While the Center regrets this news, it respects the commission's decision. Without accreditation, The Carter Center will not be able to conduct an international election observation mission. Learn more »
The Carter Center today released a preliminary report (PDF) on Venezuela's April 14, 2013, special presidential elections recommending electoral reforms to ensure greater campaign equity, increased efforts to improve the electoral climate for voters, and more information about the effectiveness of the biometric identification system and procedures to prevent usurpation of voter identity and multiple voting. Learn more »
A group of 60 human rights defenders, religious leaders, and scholars representing 15 countries gathered at The Carter Center today and called on all believers to work within their communities to seek positive solutions for violence against women and other gender-based violations of human rights. Learn more »
The Carter Center urges restraint and calm before, during, and after the demonstrations planned on and around June 30, 2013. Learn more »
The Carter Center congratulates Nasarawa and Plateau states for becoming the first Nigerian states to stop transmission of lymphatic filariasis (LF), a parasitic disease most commonly known for causing elephantiasis. The parasites that cause LF (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Brugia timori) are transmitted by mosquitoes and live in the lymphatic system of sufferers. Repeated infection can lead to severe swelling of a person's limbs and genitals, a condition called elephantiasis. Learn more »
The Carter Center, working to support a successful transition to democracy in Tunisia, has evaluated the country's working constitutional draft and assessed the extent to which it is consistent with obligations under public international law. Learn more »
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights are bringing together religious leaders, human rights advocates and practitioners, and academics to further the role of religion in advancing women's rights June 27-29 at The Carter Center. Participants are committed to making concrete gains in women's rights, working within the context of religion and traditional belief structures. Learn more »
As Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly prepares to debate the draft Political Immunization of the Revolution Law, The Carter Center urges assembly members to reconsider several provisions, especially proposed restrictions on fundamental political rights. Learn more »
The Carter Center is gravely concerned about the shrinking space for civil society in Egypt. The conviction this week of 43 Egyptian and foreign NGO workers who had been engaged in peaceful, democracy promotion activities is the most recent example. Also troubling, is the restrictive and onerous draft legislation to regulate civil society that is under discussion at the Shura Council currently. Learn more »
Bolivian President Evo Morales and former President Eduardo Rodriguez visited Plains, Georgia, today to meet with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and Carter Center staff about Bolivia's quest to obtain a mutually satisfactory means of access to the sea with Chile and Peru. Learn more »
During this time of tension and uncertainty, The Carter Center urges all Venezuelans to express their differences peacefully, respecting the legal order and the constitutional rights of all citizens. Learn more »
On the occasion of Palestinian Prisoners' Day, April 17, The Carter Center expresses concern for the treatment of 4,750 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, which contravenes international law and human rights norms. Learn more »
Former U.S. First Lady and Carter Center Co-Founder Rosalynn Carter and former Congressman Tony Coelho will join experts from the federal government and other mental health officials to discuss new research published in the American Journal of Public Health's first theme issue on stigma against people with mental illness on April 18, 2013, at 2 p.m. at The Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga. Learn more »
The Carter Center and the Universidad de La Sabana, a private accredited university in Colombia, announce the launch of Colombia's Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, which will award two annual fellowships to local journalists to investigate and produce a comprehensive project unveiling mental health issues in the nation. Learn more »
Aired on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
President Carter appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and explained how The Carter Center has nearly eradicated Guinea worm disease. President Carter also discussed latrine building in Ethiopia to prevent trachoma and answered a few questions about the news of the day. Learn more »
At the invitation of Venezuela's National Election Council, The Carter Center will send a small delegation to accompany the Venezuelan people during the April 14 presidential election. Learn more »
The Carter Center finds that in spite of serious shortcomings in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) management of technology and tabulation of final election results, the paper-based procedure for counting and tallying presented enough guarantees to preserve the expression of the will of Kenyan voters. Learn more »
The Carter Center has launched a series of nongovernmental dialogues between prominent leaders from Sudan and South Sudan to strengthen peace and create lasting understanding between the two countries. Learn more »
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will visit Nepal and Myanmar from March 29-April 6. Learn more »
The Carter Center's Mental Health Program in Liberia, in partnership with the Liberia Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, announces that efforts to improve access to mental health care in the post-conflict nation now reach all 15 counties in Liberia, with each county having access to at least one locally trained and credentialed mental health clinician. Only a few years prior, Liberia, a nation of 3.8 million people, had one psychiatrist to meet the needs of at least 300,000 Liberians suffering from mental illness each year. Learn more »
In a report released today, The Carter Center notes that identity-based political activity in Nepal has decreased since May 2012, providing space for much-needed civic dialogue on federalism and social inclusion. Learn more »
The Carter Center finds that Kenya's polls were well-conducted in a peaceful environment. Voter turnout appears to have been high. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has made important commitments to improve the transparency of the counting and tabulation of votes. Although partial provisional results are available, the full tabulation of results is ongoing. Learn more »
The Observer Missions of the African Union, the Carter Center, the Commonwealth, the European Union, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, East African Community, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa to the 2013 Kenya Elections headed by His Excellency Joaquim Chissano, His Excellency Rupiah Banda, His Excellency Festus Mogae, Mr. Alojz Peterle, Amb. Simbi Veke Mubako, Amb. Dr. Berhane Ghebray, Hon. Abdulrahman Kinana and Mr. Vincent Tohbi, respectively, have observed the voting and counting process across the country. Learn more »
Observer groups from the African Union, The Carter Center, the East African Community, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the Commonwealth, and the European Union call on Kenya's political parties and candidates to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct and to respect their commitment to nonviolent participation in the electoral process. Learn more »
In a report released today, The Carter Center commends the Election Commission of Nepal's latest mobile voter registration outreach drive, but lower registration rates of women and young citizens, data quality, and an uncertain national political context remain areas of concern that must be rectified to improve the voter roll before the next election is held. Learn more »
The Carter Center announced today that former Zambia President Rupiah Banda and Carter Center Vice President for Peace Programs Dr. John Stremlau will co-lead the Center's 60-person delegation representing 29 nations to observe Kenya's March 4 elections. Learn more »
Carter Center observers in Kenya have found the electoral campaign generally peaceful thus far, and the Center urges all Kenyans to commit themselves to nonviolent participation in the electoral process. Learn more »
While Jordan's 2013 parliamentary elections yielded important technical advances, the elections were marred by a system that limits equality of suffrage and by persistent concerns about vote buying, proxy registration, and other problems, according to a report issued today by The Carter Center, which sent a study mission to assess the elections held on Jan. 23, 2013. Learn more »
Applications from U.S. residents are now being accepted for six one-year journalism fellowships with the Carter Center's Mental Health Program. These fellowships aim to enhance public understanding of mental health issues and reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses through balanced and accurate reporting. Learn more »
At the invitation of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the welcome of political parties, The Carter Center has launched an international election observation mission for Kenya's March 4, 2013, elections. Learn more »
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter announced today that the international Guinea worm eradication campaign spearheaded by The Carter Center has reached its final stages with only 542 cases reported worldwide in 2012. These provisional case numbers, identified by ministries of health in the remaining four endemic nations and compiled by The Carter Center, show that cases of the parasitic disease were reduced by nearly half in 2012. Learn more »
The Carter Center today released its recommendations for Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections based on its observation missions for the 2011-2012 parliamentary and presidential elections. The Center suggests critical reforms in the following areas: voter education and information, women in the electoral process, electoral observation, internal and external communications, procedures and training, voter access and participation, electoral contestants (parties and candidates), and electoral legal framework. Learn more »
The Carter Center today released its recommendations for Egypt's upcoming parliamentary elections based on its observation missions for the 2011-2012 parliamentary and presidential elections. The Center suggests critical reforms in the following areas: voter education and information, women in the electoral process, electoral observation, internal and external communications, procedures and training, voter access and participation, electoral contestants (parties and candidates), and electoral legal framework. Learn more »
The Carter Center and the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network are pleased to announce the release of two new resources on voter identification processes and practices. The reports provide groundbreaking analysis of a range of critical electoral issues on voter identification, the right to vote, and related international standards and election administration practices. Learn more »
Please sign up below for important news about the work of The Carter Center and special event invitations.
