Carter Center Press Releases

Dec. 13, 2012
Carter Center Statement on Egypt Constitutional Referendum (عربي)
The Carter Center announced today it will not deploy a delegation of witnesses to observe the constitutional referendum process, scheduled to start Dec. 15, 2012. The late release of regulations for accreditation of witnesses precludes the Center from conducting a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the  referendum process, consistent with its methodology for professional observation of elections.

Dec. 10, 2012
Uganda Ministry of Health Press Statement: Uganda Interrupts the Transmission of River Blindness in Three More Areas (Part of Nationwide Elimination Targets)
Uganda has successfully interrupted the transmission of Onchocerciasis (river blindness) in three more foci in four districts: Kibaale (Mpamba-Nkusi focus), Maracha (Maracha-Terego focus) and, Mitooma and Bushenyi (Imaramagambo focus).

Nov. 24, 2012
Sierra Leone 2012 General Elections: Carter Center Welcomes Announcement of Presidential Results, Calls on Parties and Candidates to Respect the Will of the People
On Nov. 23, Dr. Christiana Thorpe, chairperson of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), certified the final results of the presidential election, which indicated that President Ernest Bai Koroma of the All People's Congress (APC) was re-elected with 58.7 percent of the valid votes, ahead of his main challenger, Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), who garnered 37.4 percent of valid ballots cast. Over 87 percent of registered voters turned out to vote.

Nov. 19, 2012
Sierra Leone 2012 General Elections: Carter Center Reports Transparent and Orderly Process, Urges Sierra Leoneans to Await Results
The Nov. 17, 2012, elections are the first self-administered elections to be conducted in Sierra Leone since the end of the civil war, representing an important test for the country's democratic consolidation. Carter Center observers reported that voting and counting processes were peaceful, orderly, transparent, and in general accordance with Sierra Leone's legal framework and obligations for democratic elections.

Nov. 15, 2012
Carter Center Releases Findings of Study Mission to Venezuela Presidential Election (En español)
A report on the 2012 Venezuelan presidential election issued today by The Carter Center notes increased citizen confidence in the voter system compared to past contests,  while suggesting  improvements to  further strengthen the overall electoral system.

Nov. 14, 2012
Carter Center Calls for End to Gaza Violence
The Carter Center condemns rocket fire from Gaza against Israeli communities, the assassination of Ahmed Jabari, head of the Hamas military wing, and other targeted attacks in Gaza.

Nov. 1, 2012
Carter Center Pre-election Statement Reports Generally Peaceful Campaign in Sierra Leone and Urges Voter Education and Other Steps to Enhance Electoral Preparations
Sierra Leone's upcoming presidential, parliamentary, and local council elections represent a critical test for the country's emerging democratic institutions 10 years after the end of the civil war. Carter Center observers report that the campaign period has been generally peaceful, allowing political parties to assemble freely and to convey their message to potential voters.

Nov. 1, 2012
The Carter Center Urges the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly to Adopt Guarantees for Transparent and Independent Electoral Management Body (En français) (عربي)
The Carter Center commends the General Legislation Committee (GLC) of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) for its consultative approach regarding the draft law to establish an Election Management Body (EMB). By involving external stakeholders, the GLC has taken important steps to promote public participation. However, despite these efforts, the draft law to be considered by the NCA next week still lacks sufficient measures to ensure the transparency and independence of the EMB.

Oct. 31, 2012
Carter Center Supports Calls to Investigate Human Rights Violations
The Carter Center commends the 15 Christian leaders who recently urged Congress to investigate human rights violations by Israelis against Palestinians that are obviously in violation of U.S. law.

Oct. 21, 2012
Palestine Electoral Study Mission Urges Political Reconciliation
The Oct. 20, 2012 municipal polls, the first to be held in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) since 2006, took place under significant pressures, including the conduct of elections while under Israeli occupation, the political impasse between the two leading Palestinian political movements, and the continued erosion of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms by political actors in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Oct. 21, 2012
Statement From Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Death of George McGovern
Rosalynn and I were saddened to learn of the death of George McGovern. He was a wise and courageous leader who adhered to his enlightened principles. We extend our condolences to his family.

Oct. 18, 2012
Carter Center Launches Study Mission to West Bank Municipal Elections
The Carter Center deployed a study mission to the West Bank this week to assess the overall political and electoral conditions surrounding the Oct. 20, 2012, municipal elections. The Center was invited and is accredited by the Central Election Commission (CEC) as guest observers.

Oct. 18, 2012
Rosalynn Carter and New Georgia Mental Health Commissioner Frank Berry to Co-Host Town Hall on Access to Mental Health Services in Georgia
At a critical juncture in Georgia's efforts to restructure community access to quality mental health services, former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Frank Berry, the new commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), will co-host a public town hall meeting in Mrs. Carter's home region on Oct. 24 at Georgia South Technical College in Americus.

Oct. 5, 2012
Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter: Open Letter to the Citizens of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on Occasion of the Oct. 7, 2012, Elections (En espańol)
We the undersigned members of the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, committed to the promotion and defense of democratic values, have been following carefully the current electoral process in Venezuela.

Oct. 5, 2012
Carter Center Study Mission to Venezuela Elections Releases Pre-Electoral Report (En español)
The Carter Center's independent study mission to Venezuela today released a pre-electoral report, which assesses the preparations for key elements of the process including voter registration, campaign conditions, voting conditions, integrity of the vote count, and the dispute resolution process.

Oct. 1, 2012
Carter Center Announces International Delegation for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in Sierra Leone
The Carter Center today deployed eight long-term observers to launch an international election observation mission for Sierra Leone's general elections on Nov. 17, 2012, at the invitation of Sierra Leone's National Elections Commission (NEC).

Sept. 26, 2012
The Carter Center Recognizes Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly Progress; Calls for Increased Public Participation, Outreach, and Transparency (En français) (عربي)
In a report released today, The Carter Center commends Tunisia's National Constituent Assembly (NCA) on its progress in introducing a constitutional draft. Moving forward, the Center urges the NCA drafting commissions to ensure that the future constitution upholds Tunisia's international treaty obligations on human rights and fundamental freedoms. A renewed commitment to transparency and participation also is important to address significant questions remaining in the final text.

Aug. 29, 2012
Carter Center Calls for Accountability After Corrie Verdict
On Aug. 28, the district court in Haifa, Israel, ruled that the State of Israel was not responsible for the 2003 killing of Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old U.S. peace activist who was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer as she attempted to nonviolently prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. Israel's policy of home demolitions has been widely criticized by human rights organizations as a form of collective punishment. It violates Israel's obligations under the Geneva Conventions. The Corrie family had requested $1 in symbolic damages and legal expenses.

Aug. 21, 2012
Statement from Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Death of Meles Zenawi
I was saddened to learn of the death of Ethiopia Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.  For two decades, he was a committed supporter of Carter Center work to help improve well-being at the community level in Ethiopia, work that helped to increase crop production and prevent the spread of horrific diseases, such as Guinea worm, river blindness, trachoma, malaria, and lymphatic filariasis.

Aug. 20, 2012
Carter Center Response to Venezuelan Election Council Invitation Regarding the Oct. 7 Elections (En español y en inglés)
The Carter Center has declined an invitation from the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) to accompany the Oct. 7 presidential elections. The concept of accompaniment differs from observation in that the purpose of accompaniment is to invite foreign individuals to witness the day of the election with a largely symbolic political presence, while the purpose of observation is to invite international organizations to comprehensively assess an electoral process to enhance the integrity of the voting process, contribute to voter confidence, and inform the international community and domestic stakeholders.

Aug. 17, 2012
Carter Center Congratulates Liberia on Dramatic Increase in Mental Health Care Access Across Nation
The Carter Center's Mental Health Liberia Program, in partnership with the Liberia Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, announces that efforts to build a sustainable mental health care system have reached an important milestone with 14 out of 15 counties in Liberia now having access to at least one locally trained and credentialed mental health clinician. Only three years prior, Liberia had one psychiatrist in the entire country.

Aug. 13, 2012
Statement from The Carter Center on the Death of Harry Barnes
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, along with Carter Center staff, mourn the death of Ambassador Harry G. Barnes Jr. , who passed away on Aug. 9, 2012.  Before serving the Center as director of the Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Programs from 1994-2000, Barnes served as U. S. Ambassador to India, Romania, and Chile and was the director of the U.S. Foreign Service.

Aug. 2, 2012
Carter Center Urges Tunisia to Guarantee Independence of Election Management Body (En français)
(عربي)
The Carter Center supports efforts undertaken by the Tunisian government to create a permanent election management body (EMB), and urges the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) to enhance key aspects of the draft law recently submitted for its consideration to guarantee the legitimacy, independence, and transparent functioning of the future EMB.

July 26, 2012
Carter Center Urges Election Commission of Nepal to Continue Efforts to Increase Turnout, Improve Data Quality on New Voter Register (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
In a report released today, Carter Center observers found that the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) continues to make progress toward finalizing a new voter register but faces challenges related to registration turnout, access to eligibility documents such as citizenship certificates, and data quality.

July 25, 2012
Statement by Jimmy Carter on the Death of Ghana President H.E. John Evans Atta Mills
Rosalynn and I extend our deepest sympathies to the citizens of Ghana and wife and family of President H. E. John Evans Atta Mills following his death.

July 25, 2012
Carter Center Statement on the Death of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas (En español)
The Carter Center shares its profound sadness for the untimely death of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, recognized advocate of human rights for all the citizens of his beloved Cuba, whom we met during former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's visits to the island.

July 18, 2012
The Carter Center Finds Libya's Tabulation Process Credible (عربي)
The Carter Center welcomes the announcement of preliminary election results by Libya's High National Elections Commission (HNEC) on July 17, 2012, and congratulates HNEC staff for their diligence in completing the tabulation process in a timely manner and for their efforts to ensure that all voters had an opportunity to participate in the elections.

July 13, 2012
The Carter Center Awards 2012-2013 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism
The Carter Center announced the recipients of the 2012-2013 Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism today. Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, the 16th annual class of fellows includes six from the United States and two from Romania.

July 10, 2012
The Carter Center Encourages Tunisians to Promptly Ensure Broad Consultations and Passage of Law Creating Permanent Independent Election Commission (En français) (عربي)
While acknowledging initiatives undertaken by the government and several civil society organizations, The Carter Center calls on Tunisian authorities to launch a broad and transparent consultation process, including all relevant stakeholders, to build consensus on the key features of an independent body entrusted with future elections in Tunisia.

July 9, 2012
Carter Center Congratulates Libyans for Holding Historic Elections (عربي)
The July 7 elections provided Libyans an historic opportunity to vote in meaningful national polls for the first time in almost six decades. The Carter Center was honored to be invited to observe the elections, and congratulates the Libyan people, the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), and the National Transitional Council (NTC) for their dedication and efforts to support Libya's democratic transition.

June 27, 2012
Carter Center Launches Limited Election Observation Mission to Libya (عربي)
Following an invitation from the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), The Carter Center launched a limited international election observation mission to Libya on Monday, deploying several teams of observers to monitor and report on the upcoming National General Congress elections.

June 21, 2012
Carter Center Statement on Egypt Elections
Contrary to certain reports in the media, The Carter Center would like to reiterate one of its findings with respect to the second round of the Egyptian presidential election.

June 19, 2012
The Carter Center Releases Preliminary Statement on Second Round of Egypt's Presidential Election (عربي)
The Carter Center's election witnessing mission in Egypt issued preliminary findings today for the second round of Egypt's presidential elections. The Center noted that the Egyptian people again have demonstrated their deep commitment to the electoral process. However, The Carter Center expressed grave concern about the broader political and constitutional context, which calls into question the meaning and purpose of the elections.

June 11, 2012
Carter Center Appoints New Members to Board of Councilors
The Carter Center, a not-for-profit organization advancing peace and health worldwide, recently appointed 21 new members to the Board of Councilors, bringing its total membership to 241.

June 11, 2012
Carter Center Announces Delegation to Witness Runoff Election in Egypt (عربي)
The Carter Center announced today that it will deploy a limited mission to witness parts of the June 16- 17, 2012, runoff election for Egypt's president. The Center will deploy 90 witnesses from 36 countries to follow polling, counting, and those parts of the tabulation processes to which the Center has access. Twenty-six of the witnesses are already deployed to assess the short campaign period between the first and second round of polling.

June 4, 2012
Carter Center and Ministry of Internal Affairs Renew Agreement to Strengthen Community Dispute Resolution in Rural Liberia
The Carter Center and the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), have extended their Memorandum of Understanding to continue collaboration to promote and strengthen good governance and the rule of law.

June 3, 2012
Carter Center Health Programs Vice President Dr. Donald R. Hopkins Receives "Pumphandle" Epidemiology Award (PDF)
Legendary eradication expert Dr. Donald R. Hopkins received the prestigious Pumphandle Award June 3 from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), honoring his outstanding contributions to applied epidemiology.  The Pumphandle Award is the most prestigious award for applied epidemiology in the country. It commemorates the actions of Dr. John Snow, a 19th century physician and the "Father of Applied Epidemiology" who ended a cholera epidemic in London by removing the pump handle from a contaminated well.

May 26, 2012
Clarification on Carter Center Egypt Election Statement
In response to false reports in the media, The Carter Center election witnessing mission confirms that it has not issued any statements relating to the presidential election results.

May 26, 2012
Executive Summary of Carter Center Preliminary Statement on Egypt's Presidential Election (عربي)
The Carter Center election witnessing mission was accredited in Egypt by the Presidential Election Commission (PEC) on May 3, 2012. Accreditation badges, necessary for witnesses to observe the process, were only provided on May 16, less than seven days before the election.  The Carter Center mission, which is led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, includes a total of 102 witnesses from 35 countries who visited 909 polling stations in 25 governorates to follow voting, counting, and tabulation. The Center's witnesses continue to assess the conclusion of the vote tabulation, and will remain in Egypt to follow the runoff election and the post-election environment.

May 24, 2012
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Nepal (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
I am concerned by the tensions, prolonged strikes, and incidents of political violence that have taken place throughout Nepal in recent weeks. Positively, it appears that these tensions have reduced in the last few days following the signing of several agreements between the Government of Nepal and protesting groups, as well as some commendable initiatives at the local level.  However, the risk that the situation could again deteriorate in the coming days or weeks remains present.

May 17, 2012
Abu Hamad First to Stop River Blindness Transmission in Sudan (عربي)
The Sudan Federal Ministry of Health, with assistance from The Carter Center and Lions Clubs International Foundation, announced that the isolated desert area of Abu Hamad has stopped transmission of river blindness (onchocerciasis). Abu Hamad is among the first areas in Africa to demonstrate that intensified mass treatment of the drug Mectizan®, donated by Merck, can interrupt transmission of this debilitating disease. Related Video >

May 14, 2012
Carter Center Announces International Delegation for Egypt's Presidential Election (عربي)
The Carter Center has received accreditation as an organization from Egypt's Supreme Presidential Election Commission and will deploy 22 international election witnesses from 14 countries for the presidential election scheduled May 23-24, 2012. They will be joined by a larger delegation of 80 witnesses from over 35 nations that will travel to Egypt several days before the election, led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

May 11, 2012
The Carter Center Encourages Increased Transparency and Public Participation in Tunisia's
Constitution Drafting Process; Calls for Progress to Establish Independent Election Management Body
(En français) (عربي)
The Carter Center office in Tunisia has found that issues of transparency and participation in the country's recently established National Constituent Assembly (NCA) are coming to the forefront and recommends the establishment of a detailed work plan and timeline to help structure NCA work and increase visibility on the process and accountability to stated objectives.

April 23, 2012
Statement by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the Death of Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Rosalynn and I, along with our Americas Program colleagues, were saddened to learn of Jorge Santistevan de Noriega's passing on April 18. Jorge was a courageous Ombudsman of Peru during the difficult 2000 elections, a member of the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and a friend who joined me in promoting democracy and human rights in the Americas.

April 4, 2012
The Dominican Republic and Haiti Continue Plans to Eliminate Malaria and Lymphatic Filariasis on the Island by 2020 (En español) (En français)
Efforts to eliminate two mosquito-borne diseases – malaria and lymphatic filariasis – in Haiti and the Dominican Republic are ongoing, with the first of four binational meetings on the issue to take place in 2012, held in Santo Domingo on the 29th and 30th of March of this year, with participants from the technical teams of the National Center for Tropical Disease Control, the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Health and the National Malaria Control Program of the Haitian Ministry of Health. Also participating in the strategic meeting are experts from The Carter Center, The Panamerican Health Organization (OPS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

April 3, 2012
Carter Center Supports Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation
The Carter Center today announced its support for the Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation at the official launch of the document at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.  The declaration was developed through a consensus process with representatives of domestic monitoring groups from West Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

March 23, 2012
Carter Center Statement on Mali
The Carter Center strongly condemns the seizure of power in Mali by elements of the military. The Carter Center calls for the immediate and peaceful return to constitutional order and the establishment of a short transition toward the scheduled elections.

March 17, 2012
South Sudan:  Carter Center Praises Progress on Legal Framework, Urges Informed Debate on
Electoral Bill
Following a series of public hearings, South Sudan's National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is in the final review stages of a national elections bill to establish the framework for political competition in future elections in South Sudan. Taking into account that passage of an elections bill is needed to move forward with by-elections for vacant legislative seats at the state and national level, The Carter Center encourages all stakeholders to continue to contribute to a thorough debate on the draft bill.

March 14, 2012
Open Letter from Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to the People of Nepal (नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
My colleagues at The Carter Center and I commend Nepal's government and political parties for closing 13 of 28 cantonments and completing the discharge process for those Maoist combatants who have chosen voluntary retirement. These are important steps toward completing the peace process.

March 12, 2012
Winter Weekend Auction Raises $1,347,550 for Carter Center Peace and Health Programs
The Carter Center's annual Winter Weekend auction, held March 10, 2012, in San Diego, Ca., raised $1,347,550 to benefit the not-for-profit Center's initiatives to advance peace and health worldwide.

March 5, 2012
Applications Being Accepted for the 2012-2013 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.

Feb. 29, 2012
Carter Center and Liberia Extend Agreement to Promote Freedom of Information
The Carter Center and the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICAT), have extended their Memorandum of Understanding to continue ongoing collaboration to promote and strengthen awareness, implementation, and compliance with the 2010 Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

Feb. 28, 2012
Carter Center Preliminary Statement on Egypt's Shura Council Election (عربي)
As Egypt's new parliament works to select a 100-member Constitutional Drafting Committee, the Carter Center's mission to witness the country's Shura elections urges Egypt's elected representatives to address the overwhelming lack of representation of women in the parliament by ensuring at least 30 percent of the committee is female.

Feb. 24, 2012
Declaration of the Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter in Support of Freedom of Expression in Ecuador (En español - PDF)
We, the undersigned, Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, express our deep concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression in the Republic of Ecuador.

Feb. 23, 2012
Carter Center: Democratic Republic of the Congo Legislative Election Results Compromised (En français - PDF)
The Carter Center finds that as with the Nov. 28, 2011, presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the integrity of the national assembly results has been compromised. It is difficult, and given the circumstances and amount of time that has passed, perhaps impossible, for the Independent National Election Commission (CENI) or any other body to reconstruct fully the results in the hopes of producing a faithful record of the will of the people.

Feb. 23, 2012
Uganda's Success Against River Blindness: An Inspiration for Africa and an International Challenge
The Carter Center congratulates Uganda for its historic achievement of interrupting transmission of river blindness disease (onchocerciasis) in several parts of the country, freeing hundreds of thousands from risk of this scourge. Uganda's success is helping to change widely held views that river blindness is such a pervasive public health problem in Africa that it can only be controlled, not eliminated. Of the 18 endemic areas in the country, Mt. Elgon, Itwara, and Wadelai are the first to interrupt transmission of river blindness since Uganda launched its elimination effort in 2007. Related Video >

Feb. 16, 2012
The Carter Center Calls on Israel to Release Hunger Striker Khader Adnan (عربي)
The Carter Center calls on the Israeli government to immediately charge or release Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan, who was arrested on Dec. 17, 2011, based on "secret evidence" and has been held in administrative detention without charge.

Feb. 16, 2012
DRC: Carter Center Deplores Suppression of Church-Led Peaceful March (En anglais et en français)
The Carter Center deplores the suppression of today's march by Christian groups in Kinshasa to protest discontent over the recent elections, and calls on the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) not to interfere with the rights of Congolese citizens to peaceful assembly and expression.

Feb. 14, 2012
Carter Center Appoints H. Inman Allen Board of Councilors Chair
H. Inman Allen, chairman of the Ivan Allen Company, has been appointed chair of the Carter Center's Board of Councilors for 2012. 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. 13, 2012
Rare Presidential and Carter Memorabilia to Be Auctioned to Benefit The Carter Center
Original artwork by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, rare Camp David Accords memorabilia, and celebrity-autographed guitars are among the more than 150 items up for public auction in San Diego, Ca. on March 10, 2012, during the Carter Center's annual Winter Weekend event. For the past 19 years, the auction has been a critical source of support for the not-for-profit Center's international work advancing peace and health. Last year, the highest bid item at the fundraiser was an original painting by President Carter, which sold for $150,000.

Feb. 10, 2011
Carter Center and JPC Expand Liberian Community Legal Advice Services Into Montserrado County
The Carter Center, in partnership with the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), and working under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Justice, is expanding its Community Legal Advisor (CLA) program to provide legal support services in Montserrado County. With support from USAID and Humanity United, this expansion now will enable residents of Monrovia and surrounding communities to have access to free community-based legal services, access to alternative dispute resolution, and knowledge of their rights.

Feb. 9, 2012
Carter Center Study Group to Visit Venezuela for Feb. 12 Primaries (En español y en inglés)
As Venezuela enters an important election year, The Carter Center will send a small study group of international experts to the country for the opposition's primary elections on Feb. 12, 2012. The candidates chosen in the primaries will represent the political opposition in the Oct. 7 presidential elections and the December 2012 governor and mayoral elections.

Feb. 7, 2012
South Sudan: Carter Center Urges Broad Participation in Assembly's Hearing on Political Parties Bill
The Carter Center commends South Sudan's National Legislative Assembly for its decision to convene a public hearing on the draft Political Parties Bill and solicit input from political parties, civil society, and citizens. This is an important opportunity for South Sudanese to provide input and demonstrate citizens' interest in the political process. The Carter Center urges interested stakeholders to review the bill and participate in the public hearing, which will be held Feb. 9-10 in Juba.

Feb. 4, 2012
Carter Center Preliminary Statement on the First Round of Voting in Egypt's Shura Council Elections (عربي)
Carter Center witnesses in Egypt observed low levels of interest and participation among voters, political parties, and nongovernmental organizations during the first stage of the country's Shura Council elections. Despite the brief respite between the People's Assembly and Shura Council elections, Egypt's election authority was able to introduce several technical amendments for the Shura election including the use of more secure ballot boxes and the counting of votes at polling stations.

Jan. 31, 2012
Over 10 Million Nepalis Registered to Vote, Ensuring Access for Remaining Unregistered Voters Crucia
(नेपालीमा पढ्नुहोस)
In a report released today, The Carter Center commended the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) for registering more than 10 million Nepali citizens to date, and encouraged the ECN to undertake additional efforts to reach out to those who have yet to participate in the process.

Jan. 30, 2012
Carter Center Welcomes Gates Foundation, UAE, CIFF Funding to Achieve Guinea Worm Eradication
$40 million in donations announced today from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) will enable a Carter Center-led eradication campaign to end Guinea worm disease by 2015. The Center also announced today that provisional results show only 1,060 cases of Guinea worm occurred worldwide in 2011.

Jan. 24, 2012
Carter Center Urges Israel to Release Palestinian Legislators (عربي)
The Carter Center denounces the recent detention of Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Dr. Aziz Dweik, as well as the arrests of three other legislators and one former minister, who are members of the speaker's Hamas-affiliated faction.

Jan. 13, 2012
Carter Center Witnessing Mission for Egypt People's Assembly Elections: Executive Summary of Findings
(عربي)
Egypt's People's Assembly elections enjoyed broad participation from voters and are a progressive step toward a democratic transition. While there were shortcomings in the legal framework, campaign violations, and weaknesses in the administration of the elections, the results appear to be a broadly accurate expression of the will of the voters.  However, the ultimate success of Egypt's transition will depend on the earliest possible handover of power to a civilian government that is accountable to the Egyptian people.

Jan. 6, 2012
Former Hemispheric Leaders Call for Reform of Nicaragua Electoral System (En español y en inglés)
The Friends of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, a group of  former leaders and eminent persons in the western hemisphere,  today called for "serious review and reform" of Nicaragua's electoral system.

Jan. 2, 2012
Jimmy Carter to Lead Carter Center Delegation to Egypt (عربي)
The Carter Center announced today that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will visit Egypt next week as part of the Center's witnessing of Egypt's parliamentary elections.