On December 9-10, 2021, President Biden will host a virtual summit for leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector. The summit will focus on challenges and opportunities facing democracies and will provide a platform for leaders to announce both individual and collective commitments, reforms, and initiatives to defend democracy and human rights at home and abroad.
This is reported on the website of the U.S. State Department.
"During the summit, which will be held online, the heads of state and government of like-minded countries, leaders of civil society and the private sector will discuss ways to develop effective practical measures to strengthen democracy," the message reads.
In advance of the first summit, the U.S. is consulting with experts from government, multilateral organizations, philanthropies, civil society, and the private sector to solicit bold, practicable ideas around three key themes:
- Protection against authoritarianism;
- Fighting corruption;
- Promotion of respect for human rights.
Leaders will be encouraged to announce specific actions and commitments to meaningful internal reforms and international initiatives that advance the Summit’s goals.
These pledges will include domestic and international initiatives that counter authoritarianism, combat corruption, and promote respect for human rights.
Civil society will be represented on panels and in townhalls as a part of the official program. Their inclusion is based on a variety of factors including geographic representation, political context, and subject matter expertise.
As President Biden stated on the International Day of Democracy, “No democracy is perfect, and no democracy is ever final. Every gain made, every barrier broken, is the result of determined, unceasing work.”
The U.S. has invited all EU member states except Hungary. Turkey was not invited either. Among the countries of the former USSR, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were invited only. At the same time, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan are not invited to the summit. Importantly, Taiwan was included in the list of invitees.