2020 has been a year of significant challenges for the world as the COVID-19 pandemic was recognized as a global enemy that the world was not ready to tackle. Each region of the world was gradually but steadily affected by this health crisis, with still to be determined economic, social and political effects, that will have severe implications on the quality of democracies worldwide, as well as on the achievement of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, and specifically on the broader SDGs framework.

The role of multilateral global and regional organizations and their ability to work with their Member States will be critical to countries as they address the global health crisis and economic development fallout. Already we are witnessing the grim economic and social forecast for many countries, impacting millions of livelihoods and placing additional stress on countries in development. It is at this moment when multilateral and multi-stakeholder organizations must work together to develop and provide coordinated solutions.

Moderator:

Massimo Tommasoli - Permanent Observer for International IDEA to the United Nations

Welcoming Remarks:

Kevin Casas-Zamora - Secretary-General, International IDEA

Panelists:

Armend Bekaj - Senior Programme Officer, Democracy Assessment and Policy Analysis Unit, Global Programmes, International IDEA

Patricia Galdamez - Senior Advisor to the Secretary-General, Community of Democracies

Francisco Guerrero - Secretary for the Strengthening of Democracy, Organization of American States (OAS)

Khabele Matlosa - Director for Political Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC)

Siew Mun Tang - Director of the Political & Security Directorate, ASEAN

Max Gilbert - Focal Point for the SDGs and Senior Advisor for External Relations, Council of Europe (CoE)

Roselyn Akombe - Chief of Policy for Regional Organizations and Guidance, United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)