Since the Permanent Secretariat informed the Pillar that Argentina, Estonia, Guatemala, Norway and the United Kingdom accepted to take part in the renewal process, Redlad has been ensuring to make all the necessary efforts to work hand in hand with each focal point in these countries in order to coordinate the consultation process. 

Between the 5th January and 7th February, a round of meetings with the focal points of Estonia, Guatemala, Argentina and the United Kingdom was held. The meeting  with the Norwegian focal point. We were working with the focal points of each country to gather information from civil society on whether the countries should be renewed or not.

The five focal points are: Cultura Democrática, Argentina; Open Estonia FOundation, Estonia; Acción Ciudadana, Guatemala; Human Rights House, Norway; Bond, UK. The Chair and Permanent Secretariat of the pillar is: i) hearing from their representatives about the democratic situation in each country, ii) collecting the main concerns to be transmitted to the Permanent Secretariat of the CoD, iii) coordinating the actions to be held for the country visits and reports building. The process of renewal can be seen in this note.

The Chair of the Pillar sent to the CoD’s Permanent Secretary an initial report on the five countries that can be consulted here.