Report of Activities 2007 - Club of Madrid

CLUB DE MADRID: REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2007B) ResultsOver the past year, the Club of Madrid has provided important support for democracywith projects in over twenty countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America. In 2007,the organisation defined a strategy for offering its experience for solving some of themost critical problems and global challenges in the field of democracy, focusing itsaction and results in two main areas: 1) Democratic Leadership for Dialogue,Diversity and Social Cohesion: Shared Societies Project, and 2) Energy andDemocratic Leadership. It has continued its projects in 3) Democracy, Security andTerrorism, and 4) Political Leadership for Democratic Development (Rapid Responsefor Effective Democratic Leadership).Through these projects, the organisation continues to show the value of applying theexperience of its leaders and experts to the challenges of democracy in the world. Ourwork over the last year has created an increasing demand for our activities fromgovernments, international organisations, political parties and NGOs with the aim ofobtaining a flexible, fast response from well-known democratic leaders and expertson key topics for democratic development at global and national levels.Some of the most important results obtained over the last year are the following:1) Democratic Leadership for Dialogue, Diversity and Social Cohesion:Shared Societies ProjectDuring the missions and projects carried out in different countries of the world in theworld in the framework of this project, several political and social leaders havereceived advice based on the experience of the Club of Madrid Members and expertson critical subjects and at critical times for democracy in their countries, such as:• Reforms to expand freedom of association and political participation incountries in North Africa and the Middle East• Promotion of greater political participation and leadership by women inAfrica and Iran• Dialogue amongst political and religious leaders, with the aim of helpingpinpoint relevant experience and political and leadership solutions that willfacilitate co-existence amongst people of different cultures and religiousbeliefsThe Shared Societies Project, a global initiative of the Club of Madrid coveringseveral years and set up in 2007, is founded on the belief that societies are morepeaceful, democratic and prosperous when their leaders and citizens recognise thevalue of diversity and actively build a shared society. This project has started toprovide international leaders with a full understanding of the benefits of socialcohesion as well as a mode of acting to promote it.15/17