[ad_1]
(CNN) Addressing the second Democracy Summit from the White House on Wednesday, President Joe Biden sought to assure attendees that democratic institutions work, citing his administration’s “boosting democracy globally.” based on what he billed as a “lasting commitment to
This year’s multi-day summit will be co-hosted by Mr. Biden and leaders from Costa Rica, the Netherlands, South Korea and Zambia.
Biden led a virtual summit event in Washington focused on how democracies address global challenges, calling for democracies to remain united amid global challenges.
“I hope everyone gathered here, and everyone watching around the world, will benefit from this summit. It’s working. It’s working,” Biden said. “When we gathered here in December 2021, there was a feeling in too many places around the world that the best days of democracy were past. It’s gone downhill, but I’d say it’s a different story this year.”
The summit’s role is to “keep moving forward so we don’t go wrong again,” he said.
“Democracy is hard work,” he continued, adding that “it must always be defended.”
Among the measures Biden announced Wednesday included a coalition of international partners joining the United States to regulate the use of commercial spyware.
“U.S. taxpayer money should not support companies willing to sell products to further human rights abuses,” Biden said. “This effort is led by my administration in the digital space to strengthen the tools for internet freedom, to protect activists and journalists from cyber threats, harassment and abuse, and to shape emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. It’s one of many initiatives we’re doing, and it’s aligned with our values.”
The announcement comes days after the president issued an executive order barring U.S. government agencies from using spyware deemed a threat to U.S. national security or involved in human rights abuses. On Monday, CNN reported that at least 50 US government officials were suspected or confirmed to have been targeted with invasive commercial spyware designed to hack cellphones.
Each host country will focus on the so-called ‘pillars’ of democracy in plenary sessions during the Summit. Supporting a free and independent media; Fighting corruption; Strengthening democratic reforms and supporting human rights; Advancing technology for democracy; selection.
During the Summit, the United States announced a number of other initiatives, including an additional $690 million in fresh funding over the next two years to the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal launched at the first Summit in 2021. announced.
Ukraine is participating in the summit, with President Volodymyr Zelensky virtually participating in Tuesday’s session with Secretary of State Antony Brinken. Zelensky spoke at Biden’s plenary session Wednesday, along with other leaders who also appeared online.
“It is Ukraine that tyrannical Russia can reach with its bloody hands of missiles, artillery, bombs and tanks. spoke at the event.
“Russia has long been at war with the world’s democracies,” Zelensky added. “Fighting disinformation, election interference, espionage, corruption, exploitation, cybercrime, trying to trigger an energy crisis and price explosion in the market, electricity and gas prices hitting people like crazy. .”
He also called Russia’s efforts to squeeze food markets as another act of war against democracy.
Zelensky emphasized that the enemies of democracy “have diverted the time and unlimited money they earned in their dealings with the free world to undermine, corrupt and undermine democracy.”
Biden followed Zelensky’s remarks by praising the “unprecedented unity” of the world’s democracies in favor of Ukraine, saying that the United States was “a brave defender of their democracies against Russia’s brutal war of aggression.” He promised to continue to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.”
Biden will host the first democracy summit in 2021, with more than 100 virtual attendees representing government, civil society and private sector leaders as precautionary measures continue during the Covid-19 pandemic. collected purposefully.
The 2021 summit focused on fighting corruption, defending against authoritarianism, and promoting human rights.
The establishment of the summit, led by Biden, was seen as a show of strength against tyranny.
This story and headline have been updated to reflect additional developments.
[ad_2]
Source link
