In response to an invitation our friends in the democracy community, AMEL has joined a campaign to sound the alarm on global state of democracy in the light of COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did AMEL join the call as an organization and executive leadership, but AMEL alumns and activists from around the world also joined this call and connected social media campaign, answering the question "Why democracy needs to be defended now?" from their vantage point. 

Some of the videos submitted by AMEL community members as part of this campaign became part of powerful video launched today - International Democracy Day - featuring former Secretary of State, Madeline Albright; political scientist Francis Fukuyama; president of World Uyghur Congress, Dolkun Isa; the Chairman of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, Natan Sharansky; policy makers, student activists, and dozens of leaders from around the world.

As part of the campaign, more than 500 political, civil leaders, Nobel Laureates and pro-democracy institutions have signed the open letter to defend democracy issued June 25, 2020 by International IDEA and the National Endowment for Democracy, with the backing of over 150 organizations and over 800 individual signatories. Be part of the movement by sharing your own video with #DefendDemocracy and sign on to the Call today!