Dozens of the ADF members, along with over 400 democracy and human rights activists and practitioners from around the world, participated in the World Movement for Democracy's Fifth Assembly in Kyiv, Ukraine, on 6-9 April, 2008. The Fifth Assembly, under the theme, "Making Democracy Work: From Principles to Performance," featured various plenary sessions, panel discussions, and over 40 workshops, addressing the need to build well-functioning democratic institutions, such as independent judiciaries, effective political parties and legislatures, local government structures, and channels for the free flow of information, as well as the need to implement policies to address the "social agenda" (such as securing labor rights and alleviating poverty and inequality). During the Opening Session, Mr. Maina Kiai of Kenya, a member of the ADF Management Committee, gave one of the keynote addresses. More information about the Assembly and texts of various speeches are avaialbel at http://www.wmd.org/.

At the Assembly, the ADF organized a workshop focusing on issues concerning the Africa region, specificially the issues of the restrictive environment for civil society, the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance, and the current situation in Zimbabwe.

Hannah Foster, Chairperson of the African Democracy Forum (ADF), a network of democrats in Africa, noted that despite the Africa Union having adopted many principled Charters and protocols on safeguarding freedom on the continent, most of these have not formed part of African civic society's advocacy tools. Most of these instruments have not been ratified by African governments, and efforts will need to be put in by civil society and democracy activists to have them ratified and domesticated by African governments. Drawing on AU instruments in democracy advocacy in African countries morally legitimates democratic demands which are often dismissed by distracters as being Western induced.

The Charter on the Rights of Women, for example, could be a useful tool for those working on advancing equality and freedom of women in societies that have to deal with patriarchic oppression. The AU Constitutive Act is more expansive on the aspiration to establish democracies that guarantee civil and political rights and should be a key reference tool for all those engaged in democracy advocacy in Africa.

Paul Graham, Executive Director of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) discussed the AU Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance adopted in January 2007.  The text of the Charter was developed during the romantic era of the 1990s, when much of Africa was experiencing a renewed wave of democratization as a way to encourage democratic competition in the political process. Amongst the objectives of the Charter are:

• the promotion by State parties of universal democratic values and principles;
• the promotion of, and adherence to, rule of law and supremacy of the Constitutional order; and,
• the promotion of free and fair elections to institutionalizing legitimate authority of representative government.

The Charter places sanctions on the unconstitutional overthrow of governments and on the refusal of an incumbent from handing over power to a legitimately elected successor. The Charter offers the clearest statement on the AU's commitment to democratic governance, rule of law and free and fair elections, and had it been ratified and in function, democracy movements in countries such as Zimbabwe would have a ready remedy at the AU level for redress.

The Charter has so far been signed by 17 countries, but none has ratified it. For it to take effect, it needs ratification by 15 countries. After this, the next challenge becomes domestication of the Charter. It is worth noting that some countries have in their Constitutions the automatic domestication of international instruments. Such countries include Namibia, Ghana and South Africa. Unfortunately, up to this day, critical countries such as South Africa and Nigeria have not yet signed the Charter.

The ADF and its members agreed to campaign and promote the signing and ratification of the Charter. Such a campaign can learn from that coordinated under the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Campaign when it campaigned for the ratification of the AU Charter on Women's Rights. It was proposed that the ADF write to all African foreign ministries to check the countries positions regarding the Charter.

An overview of the report, Defending Civil Society Principles was presented by Hassan Shire Sheikh, Executive Director of East and Horn of Africa Regional Human Rights Defenders Network. The report highlights threats to democracy activists, identifying journalists as being amongst the most affected.

Penda Mbow from the University of Cheick Anta Diop in Senegal responded to the report highlighting that its definition of civic society was too limited to NGOs and not appreciating the many forms of civic spaces, especially non-formal grouping. Broadening of the definition of civic society would help in so it cannot be misinterpreted. Of the critical challenges, Mbow suggested greater international support for democracy activists and groups operating in closed/repressive societies, whilst also defending the gains in countries which are currently enjoying relative peace and democracy.

African civic society is not only facing threats from governments, but from civic society itself. Its failure to be creative in response to newer challenges, its disconnectedness from the masses of people, renders it less effective and being regarded as either a tool of foreign influence or too elitist. Competition amongst civic society groups undermines the ability to benefit from drawing synergies that could be helpful. Funding should not undermine independence and autonomy of NGOs and civic groups, and there is need to work on promoting local material support for democracy work. The private sector in Africa should invest in democracy building work.

Zimbabwean activists had an opportunity to present a report on the situation in Zimbabwe, and identify what role the ADF and other activists could play. Despite elections having been concluded on March 29^th, the Zimbabwean government is yet to announce the results of the Presidential elections. A clampdown has since started, targeting oppositional supporters and activists, civic activists and journalists. Rural areas are being cordoned off by paramilitary groups sympathetic to the incumbent government. The staff person of the NDI is amongst those incarcerated. The ADF and workshop participants agreed to issue an urgent statement encouraging the Zimbabwean authorities to release the results and halt the repression.

It was strongly suggested that the ADF be more active in supporting democracy in troubled countries, such as Sudan and Zimbabwe. Participants also recommended that the ADF lead and coordinate the advocacy for regional and AU instruments on democracy, rule of law and good governance. Effective information sharing will be a priority to ensure that the ADF and WMD participants are well informed about each other's events and activities.