SEATTLE - The Biden-Harris administration has reasserted its focus on strengthening democracy globally with a raft of initiatives announced at the third Summit for Democracy in Seoul, as outlined in a White House fact sheet. Secretary of State Antony Blinken led the US delegation, underscoring efforts to promote good governance and fend off corruption. The administration has called for an $11.8 billion investment in Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) initiatives, $5.8 billion of which has already been green-lit for 2022 and 2023. The remaining $6 billion awaits Congressional approval over the next couple of years.
This summit followed through on a suite of promises aimed at bolstering democratic institutions. Noteworthy in the list is an executive order signed in March 2023 by President Biden, which bars the U.S. Government from using commercial spyware deemed a threat to national security. To combat the trade and use of such spyware, Washington has sanctioned five entities and their leaders, a move that marked the first time the U.S. Government penalized players in this arena. The Treasury highlighted this groundbreaking step among several actions to counter the spread and misuse of commercial spyware.
In the arena of media freedom, the U.S. has played a supportive role through USAID’s International Fund for Public Interest Media, which has dealt out approximately $9 million across numerous nations to aid media outlets in precarious circumstances and buttress their survival for the long haul. This initiative has garnered an additional $32 million in pledges from a combination of government, philanthropic, and corporate partners.
Fighting Corruption has been an administration hallmark, with sanctions against over 130 individuals and entities across 17 countries and public visa restrictions slapped on more than 90 individuals for corruption-related activities. Moving forward, USAID has launched the Countering Transnational Corruption Grand Challenge and the State Department has expanded the Transnational Anticorruption Partnership – a comprehensive tack to empower global partners to prosecute corruption cases more effectively.
New at this year's summit was an announcement on efforts to counter commercial spyware proliferation. An expanded coalition, including Finland and Germany, signed on to a joint statement promising to construct significant guardrails against the abuse of sophisticated surveillance technologies. Additionally, the Biden-Harris Administration is poised to throw financial support behind the Platform for the Engagement of Civil Society, intending to build a web of democratic cohesion and plan for future summit meetings.
Reflecting its dedication to gender equity, the U.S. and the UK has been crafting a framework to combat gender-based online harassment and abuse. A global conference in Kenya will provide further insights into countering disinformation campaigns targeting women in politics and activism. In conjunction with that, the State Department has established a new fund to support female leaders facing severe forms and/or threats of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
At the heart of the summit's agenda was the protection of human rights and the advance of democratic reformers. With initiatives such as the Partnership for Democratic Development and the Advancing Women’s and Girls’ Civic and Political Leadership Initiative, the U.S. has maintained its commitment to backing democratic development and fostering women's active participation in the political arena. As the next United Nations General Assembly looms, USAID will gather stakeholders to maintain momentum for democratic renewal globally.
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