Creating Civic Engagement Through We the People

By Sara Smith, GCDC Program Assistant

“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.” - Thomas Jefferson 

Analyzing this quote from one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, I took away two major points.

First, Jefferson alludes that the power of the democratic republic lies in the hands of the people. The citizens of the United States decide how the government runs by actions such as voting or communicating with elected officials.

Second, it is a disservice to the society to shrug off others that seem uninformed. Instead of eliminating people from the conversation, Jefferson urges people to engage their peers by sharing the proper information and tools to participate. If everyone had the knowledge to engage fully as an active citizen, imagine how inclusive and powerful the American political system could be.

The purpose of the We the People program is embedded in this quote. Created by the Center for Civic Education, We the People aims to educate students on the American government, how it works, its philosophical foundation and history, and their rights and responsibilities.  Educating people to develop civic competence will enhance society since the power reins in their hands.

The We the People Program is an engaging curriculum on the history and principles of the United States constitutional democratic republic with content-rich textbooks and simulated congressional hearings. The experience simultaneously deepens students’ knowledge of American history, like the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, while developing valuable skills. Through the curriculum, students practice skills such as public speaking, teamwork, conflict management, and consensus-building. Students are exposed to knowledge and competencies that are required to participate as citizens in the American political system.

As a judge of a simulated congressional hearing for We the People, I had the opportunity to witness first-hand the students’ knowledge about the American Government. Prior to the hearings, the students were assigned topic questions to narrow in their research and guide their testimony. The questions required students to provide their understanding of historical and contemporary issues by reasoning and applying constitutional principles and examples to support their answers. After the students stated their testimony, the judges had the opportunity to ask students follow-up questions. These questions tested the students’ ability to critically think by applying their civic knowledge to formulate an answer.

Throughout my experience as a judge, I was astonished by the overall performance of the students. The courage that was displayed from these students to partake in the simulated hearing being judged by accredited businessmen and women was incredible to witness. It was evident how engaged the students were in their learning and the extensive research that was done before the hearing. The passion that the students have was unsurfaced when the judges were able to ask interpretive questions. It became a conversation where the students were able to voice their perspectives on the historical and current American political system based on the facts they have learned.

It was through these conversations where I became inspired by the high schoolers sitting across the table from me. Hearing how they are utilizing historical facts to drive their visions of what the future American government should look like, was a lesson that was impactful. To create a promising future, we have to learn from the triumphs and mistakes of the past. These students were a testament to Thomas Jefferson’s quote above. With exposure and involvement in the We the People program, I am confident those students have the information and tools to fulfill their civic duties and even be a driving force in future development.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders on Threats to Democracy

By: Tiffany Monroy
Program Assistant, UNA-NCA

On June 22nd, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted a conversation with U.S. Senator and former Presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders. Sarah Chayes, a Senior Fellow in Carnegie’s Democracy and Rule of Law program, facilitated the discussion on threats to democracy.

Senator Sanders, having recently returned from a European tour, reflected on his experience abroad, discussing looming threats to democracy and the resulting implications of those threats. Authoritarianism emerged as the most central of these threats. He highlighted the troubling universal shift in an authoritarian direction, not just in the United States, but also abroad. He described a resurgence of a politics of bigotry and resentment, led by leaders who only serve to further the growing divide between people.

The distinction between partisanship and the threat of authoritarianism to our democracy is critical, the Senator from Vermont expressed. Disagreement is not of surprise to anyone. In fact, it is a fundamental and important aspect of democracy. Still, he argued, we should be prepared to listen and engage with disagreement. No matter our perspective, we must do everything in our power to promote the system that allows us the ability to hold opposing views. The President’s recent budget proposal serves as a perfect example. Debate over the proposal can and will be had, but it is in the ability to debate in the first place that the beauty of our system lies.

Authoritarianism poses a threat to the system we cherish. Our democracy faces the threat of a system in which opposing views are not only discouraged, but eliminated. The threats to our democracy are tangible. Blatant disregards towards the sanctity of the Judicial branch and a shift in affection towards once-scorned authoritarian leaders are merely latest examples. The threats are not solely domestic, though. Authoritarianism implies a disengagement with the international community. U.S. disengagement from issues abroad would create a vacuum, Senator Sanders explained, that would allow for a climate of terror to prevail. What are we saying to those abroad who fight each day to establish and preserve democracies, if the United States, the model of democracy, does not fight to preserve our own? We must oppose these threats. We must preserve our system and reject this shift towards intolerance and injustice. Simply put, we must oppose authoritarianism, not only for the sake of our democracy, but also for the sake of the democracies of our neighbors.

So, what is the way forward? Coming together. Senator Sanders called for each of us to come together, no matter our views, to raise the issue and talk about moving forward. “Our duty is to respect our constitution and democracy, we must come together to protect the country we love, improve democracy, and stand up against those who want to move us towards authoritarianism,” he explained.

Acknowledging our differences is merely the first step towards eliminating authoritarianism from our system. The world in which we live faces problems, and it is our job to come together, not as Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, left or right, but as Americans. We must recognize our disagreements, put them aside, and remind ourselves that democracy is the common denominator.

Not Goodbye, but See You Later: Parting Thoughts from a U.S. Diplomat

By Luis F. Mendez, Una Chapman Cox Fellow and U.S. Foreign Service Officer

Mentoring session with high school students

It’s no secret.  These are challenging times. 

·         We’re witnessing the highest level of refugee displacement ever recorded. 

·         North Korea is on a relentless drive to build up its nuclear arsenal. 

·         The planet is warming at alarming rates.

·         Batman versus Superman, the movie, was such a letdown.  

You get the point.  It is enough to make you feel bummed about the world.  But I have a confession.  I feel more hopeful today than ever before.  You see, over the last nine months, I have met hundreds of inspiring middle and high school students in the D.C. area, who represent the best of what America has to offer the world.  

·         There’s the group of former Burmese refugees that joined Model UN to better understand migration and displacement patterns and are now helping newly arrived refugees get acclimated in their homes. 

·         There’s the D.C. middle school that launched its own Model UN conference that is inspiring countless other middle schools to think globally.

·         There’s the first generation of Central American immigrants fighting to combat inequality in their neighborhoods and the Iranian-Americans out to dispel misconceptions about Muslims. 

There are countless other stories similar to these. 

I set out on this journey nine months ago to inspire the next generation of global leaders and along the way you have inspired me.  The part that is so exciting is that your journey is just beginning.  I think about all the amazing things you are going to accomplish and that lifts me up. 

For those still feeling down about the world, here's what I know.  You are an incredibly resilient bunch and while things may seem cloudy now, the clouds will pass.  It may not be tomorrow or the day after, but a brighter day will come.  I promise.    

One of the things that I love most about being a diplomat is seeing how much good there is in the world.  How many good people there are out there fighting the good fight without any recognition – ordinary people just like me and you doing extraordinary things.  These individuals are not different from you.  Whether you realize it or not, Model U.N. has already prepared you to fight the good fight.  It’s taught you to not be afraid to fail.  That finding common ground and developing consensus begins with listening, even to those you may not agree with.   That allies and partners are important in advancing your position forward.

So, I want you to ask yourself:  What your contribution to the world will be?  Will you be a voice for the voiceless?  Will you fight for justice and equality?  Will you be an advocate for peace?  I am counting on you.  America is counting on you.  Our planet is counting on you.  Make us proud!

Nothing for Women Without Women: Raising Voices for Change

By Hanna Hayden, UNA-NCA Director of Membership and Programs

Found on Page 4 of the Final Report on Women’s Economic Empowerment

On April 12^th, the International Development Program at Johns Hopkins SAIS and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security hosted a conversation with Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women.

Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka, one of the most influential African woman leaders and a global champion for women and girls, discussed some of the leading barriers for women’s equality in an evolving international landscape. These include issues of gender equality in both the public and private spheres, and major factors both driving and stalling progress towards women’s economic empowerment. She also addressed thoughts on effective actions for change.

Dr. Jeni Klugman, Adjunct Lecturer of International Development at Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Managing Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security facilitated the conversation.

The direction of this conversation was influenced by the 61^st Commission on the Status of Women in March 2017 that focused on “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Changing World of Work,” and the final report of the High Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment, also released in March. Both the report, and the two weeks of CSW establish that significant progress has in fact been made since the 1995 Beijing Declaration, and gender equality is more present in international dialogue, but significant work remains.

The importance of continued work on gender equality is not just evidenced as it stands on its own as Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the successful inclusion and equality of women is central to each SDG. We cannot fight poverty, end hunger, or achieve peace and just societies without the inclusion of women. Reduced inequalities, good health, and economic growth require the engagement and success of women. If we are to make significant progress on the 2030 Agenda, we must use a gender lens, a gender-sensitive approach, to all of the work that we do.

Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka stressed the universality of the SDGs and our approach to gender equity: “We don’t need to change women and girls to fit the world, we need to change the world to recognize that women and girls exist.”

Of course progress has been made since Beijing, but just because we’re talking about it doesn’t mean that we have achieved gender equality. The illusion of progress is and must be broken by the data that shine a light on continued inequalities. Progress towards gender equality must also remain universal, a key foundation of the SDGs. There is no way to ignore that only two countries don’t guarantee paid maternity leave – the US and Papua Guinea.

Other shameful facts on gender inequality include:

• 155 countries have one or more discriminatory laws, preventing women from doing certain jobs or fulfilling contracts, lacking wage protections, containing discriminatory property, inheritance laws, and family laws.
• Only 22.8 per cent of all national parliamentarians were women as of June 2016, a slow increase from 11.3 per cent in 1995 [UNWomen].
• Globally, there are 38 States in which women account for less than 10 per cent of parliamentarians in single or lower houses, as of June 2016, including 4 chambers with no women at all [UNWomen].

So what can we do? Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka and Dr. Klugman highlighted some actions and efforts we can make and some that have already seen positive contributions.

The use of data for name-and-shame campaigns has had a great deal of success, because no country benefits from being portrayed negatively on the world stage. Some countries have been pushed to action by reports demonstrating high rights of poverty and low rates of education for women and girls.

In July 2017, in a High Level Political Forum on Eradicating Poverty and Promoting Prosperity in a Changing World, 40 countries will voluntarily self-report on their progress on the SDGs, particularly on goals 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, and 14.

This work to enact change and develop protections on a legal level must simultaneously include a bottom-up approach that works to change the culture. While Malawi has banned the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting, the culture still supports it and the practice continues. Legal measures and protections must be in place at the government level, and the culture of discriminatory practices must be addressed on the local level with native leaders.

To make the most progress, we must talk to boys and girls about the importance of gender equality. Even when seemingly presented with the same opportunities, cultural norms and expectations get in the way of a young girl’s ability to succeed. Without including boys in the conversation, there is no interruption of the cycle of sexism and discriminatory practices that diminish women.

Globally, financial inclusion for women sits around 56% where in some countries it is in the single digits. The last few decades have shown the expansion and success of microcredit, and the prevalence of mobile networks significantly advances women’s economic empowerment. Access to digital technology, particularly through growing mobile banking, allows women more access to and control over their own finances, and spending for the household.

This is also a great opportunity for businesses and the private sector to invest in the informal economy. Companies that make even a small investment in women have seen a massive impact on their communities. In South Africa alone 23,000 women have been brought out of poverty through a strategic partnership between UN Women and Coca-Cola. Coca Cola’s endeavor to raise 5 million women out of poverty by 2020 (5By20) shows how the private sector can advance their bottom line while supporting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.

Perhaps one of the largest areas where governments and the private sector need to step up is providing increased education and opportunities for women to move from the informal to the formal sector. Women make up the bulk of the informal economy and unpaid work, which is why women are the face of poverty. There’s a huge need for more training education, skill building, and entry points to renter the labor force. For women to achieve economic independence, we need to give second chances and alternative opportunities to women that face significant obstacles to financial freedom. For women who were married as children, have incomplete or no education, that left work to have children, who missed chances for promotions or where they were otherwise seen as a liability, governments and the private sector have the unique opportunity and responsibility to bring women back into the fold of the formal economy. According to UN Women, “If women played an identical role in labour markets to that of men, as much as US $28 trillion, or 26 per cent, could be added to the global annual Gross Domestic Product by 2025.”

It’s not just about employing women, but providing the infrastructure to support women through education, legal protections, economic empowerment, and political inclusion. There is established and growing evidence that women's leadership in political decision-making processes improves them. Women demonstrate political leadership by working across party lines through parliamentary women's caucuses - even in the most politically combative environments - and by championing issues of gender equality, such as the elimination of gender-based violence, parental leave and childcare, pensions, gender-equality laws and electoral reform [UNWomen].

It is unfair to put the burden of gender equality on those women who do rise to positions of power. We also need men that are in power to put forth a gender sensitive agenda and hold space for conversations of gender equality. Achieving gender equality requires that boys and men demonstrate zero tolerance for sexism. If men removed the glass, women wouldn't have to break through it.

At the end of the day, women are resilient, and will continue to organize for equality. Organizations of women in the informal sectors have the power (and have show that power) to influence governments and companies to work for change. It is the organization and agency of resilient women like Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka that raise the voice and plight of women worldwide.