From the Civil Society Pillar Secretariat and Chair, we are pleased to inform you that the Renewal Process for four of five countries concluded on 28th September with the decision to renew the membership of Argentina, Estonia, Noruega and the United Kingdom. On 30th August, the CSP Secretariat and Chair  submitted the five reports of the visits to the Permanent Secretariat and Governing Council members. To carry out the decision on the  Renewal Process, an extraordinary virtual meeting was held on 27th September where States such as the CSP Chair and the focal points of these countries had the opportunity to intervene and present their recommendations and findings of the missions carried out in the four countries. The situation of criminalization and attacks that could affect the peaceful transition of power in Guatemala was also highlighted.

Regarding Guatemala’s Renewal, on 21st September, the Executive Committee held an ad hoc meeting to consider the recommendation made by the Civil Society Pillar and supported by the Guatemalan Focal Point, Acción Ciudadana, to postpone the vote on the Guatemala’s membership  renewal and to monitor the presidential transition process and also,  the request made by the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala to postpone Guatemala’s membership decision. Taking into account both requests the Executive Committee recognized the requests and decided that the vote will take place within 30 days following the expected presidential transition; this period will extend from 15th January to 13th February 2024.  However, if any situation arises that does not allow the inauguration of the president-elected Bernardo Arévalo, on 14th January, 2024, an immediate and extraordinary vote by the Governing Council will be called.

Once again we would like to thank our focal points Cultura Democrática (Argentina), Open Estonia Foundation (Estonia), Acción Ciudadana (Guatemala), Human Rights House Foundation (Norway) and BOND (The United Kingdom) and the several civil society organisations  in these countries that participated in the visits because thanks to their support we were able to carry out an efficient renovation process in line with our objectives. We will continue to work ensuring that civil society will be increasingly included in the different spaces of the Community of Democracies.