Carter Center Press Releases

May 13, 2013
Media Advisory: Carter Center Regional Briefing
As part of a 30th anniversary celebration, The Carter Center will host a regional briefing in Austin, Texas, on June 6 from 6-8:30 p.m., to raise awareness of its efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health in more than 70 nations worldwide.

April 18, 2013
The Carter Center Calls for Mutual Recognition and Dialogue in Venezuela (En español)
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.

April 17, 2013
Carter Center Expresses Concern Over Palestinian Prisoners
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.

April 15, 2013
Rosalynn Carter, Former Congressman Tony Coelho to Host Expert Discussion on Building Community Support for People With Mental Illness
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.

April 11, 2013
The Carter Center and Universidad de La Sabana Launch Colombia's Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism (En español)
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. 

April 8, 2013
Carter Center To Send Delegation to April 14 Venezuelan Presidential Election (En español)
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.

April 8, 2013
Statement From Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Death of Margaret Thatcher
Rosalynn and I are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Margaret Thatcher. A principled leader, she was a strong ally for peace and human rights during my presidency.

April 4, 2013
The Carter Center Finds Kenya Election Results Reflect Will of Voters
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.

March 28, 2013
Carter Center Launches Dialogue Initiative Between Sudan and South Sudan
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.

March 22, 2013
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Visit Nepal and Myanmar (कृपया नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस्)
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will visit Nepal and Myanmar from March 29-April 6.

March 20, 2013
Inter-American Human Rights System (PDF) (En español)
On the occasion of the Forty-Fourth Special Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), which will take place on March 22, 2013, with the objective of approving the recommendations presented by the Permanent Council for the strengthening of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the Inter-American Human Rights System, the below signatories express our recognition and support for the protection of human rights within the Inter-American system and the IACHR, as one of the main collective achievements of the countries in the hemisphere and for the valuable work that, since its creation in 1959, it has carried out and continues to carry out for the promotion, defense, and protection of human rights in the hemisphere.

March 15, 2013
Local, Carter Center-Trained Mental Health Clinicians Now Reach All 15 Counties in Liberia
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.

March 13, 2013
The Carter Center's Long-Term Observation In Nepal Indicates That Identity-Based Political Activity Has Decreased (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
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. The long-term observation focused on the growing tendency toward identity-based political movements in Nepal since 2006, particularly movements focused on federalism, and those which increased around the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in May 2012.

March 6, 2013
Carter Center Congratulates Kenyan Voters on Peaceful Election, Urges Patience While Results Processed
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.

March 5, 2013
Observer Groups Praise Kenya Polls, Urge Transparency and Peace
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.

March 5, 2013
Statement From Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Death of Hugo Chavez (En español)
Rosalynn and I extend our condolences to the family of Hugo Chávez Frías.  We met Hugo Chávez when he was campaigning for president in 1998 and The Carter Center was invited to observe elections for the first time in Venezuela. We returned often, for the 2000 elections, and then to facilitate dialogue during the political conflict of 2002-2004. We came to know a man who expressed a vision to bring profound changes to his country to benefit especially those people who had felt neglected and marginalized.

March 3, 2013
Observer Groups Call for Peaceful Polls, Urge Kenyans to Await Results
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.

Feb. 28, 2013
The Carter Center Commends Nepal Election Commission's Voter Registration Outreach Efforts, Also Hightlights Areas of Concern (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
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.

Feb. 27, 2013
Former Zambia President Rupiah Banda to Lead Carter Center Delegation for Kenya's Election
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.

Feb. 25, 2013
Winter Weekend Auction Raises $1.6 Million for Carter Center Peace and Health Programs
The Carter Center's annual Winter Weekend auction, held Feb. 22-23, 2013, in San Diego, Calif., raised approximately $1.6 million, one of the highest amounts ever raised, to benefit the not-for-profit Center's initiatives to advance peace and health worldwide.

Feb. 21, 2013
Carter Center Pleased with Kenya Election Preparations, Urges Politicians and Citizens to Commit to Credible and Peaceful Elections
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.

Feb. 19, 2013
Statement From The Carter Center on Warren Lee Hill
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter renewed their appeal today to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute the death sentence of Warren Lee Hill, who is scheduled to be executed later today. Mr. Hill's intellectual disability meets the criteria of "mental retardation" as grounds for exemption from the death penalty under a Georgia law put in place well before the U.S. Supreme Court found the execution of the "mentally retarded" as a violation of the Eighth Amendment.

Feb. 14, 2013
The Carter Center Releases Study Mission Report on Jordan's 2013 Parliamentary Elections (عربي)
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.

Feb. 11, 2013
Walter Driver Jr. Appointed Chair of the Carter Center's Board of Councilors
Walter Driver Jr., chairman, Southeast, of Goldman Sachs & Co., has been appointed chair of the Carter Center's Board of Councilors for 2013. The board is comprised of 234 members, who serve as a leadership advisory group that promotes understanding among opinion leaders and the broader community of The Carter Center and its activities.

Feb. 8, 2013
Carter Center Statement on the Assassination of Chokri Belaid (En français) (عربي)
The Carter Center strongly condemns the assassination of Mr. Chokri Belaid, a leader of the Popular Front coalition, in what appears to be a politically motivated act.

Feb.1, 2013
Applications Being Accepted for the 2013-2014 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
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.

Jan. 31, 2013
Auction of Original Jimmy Carter Art and Woodwork To Benefit Carter Center
Original artwork and woodwork by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, private visits with famous musicians, and presidential memorabilia are among more than 150 items up for public auction in San Diego, Calif., on Feb. 23, 2013, during the Carter Center's annual Winter Weekend event. The auction is a critical source of support for the not-for-profit Center's international work advancing peace and health.

Jan. 18, 2013
Carter Center Announces Election Observation Mission to Kenya
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.

Jan. 17, 2013
Jimmy Carter Announces Guinea Worm Cases Hit Record Low, Setting Stage for Eradication of Second Human Disease in History
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.

Jan. 14, 2013
Groundbreaking Reports on Voter ID Issued
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.  The Carter Center report includes a comparative analysis of voter identification processes in Africa and Latin America, while the ACE report focuses on the delicate balance between preventing fraud and protecting the right to vote.

Jan. 14, 2013
Carter Center Releases Recommendations for Egypt's Upcoming House of Representatives Elections (عربي)
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.

Jan. 14, 2013
Carter Center Announces Study Mission for Jordan Parliamentary Elections (عربي)
The Carter Center has deployed a small team of analysts to conduct a study mission of Jordan's Jan. 23 parliamentary elections. The Center was invited by Jordan's Independent Election Commission to observe the elections.