Originally published on Facebook. 

“For many of you, February 14th is Valentine’s Day. For me, it is important for an all together different reason. Because, February 14, 2019 is the 20th Anniversary of the World Movement for Democracy – a global body dedicated to the defense of our democratic values.

So, congratulations to the membership, leadership and secretariat of the World Movement for Democracy. As the executive director of Chapter Four Uganda, I joined the World Movement for Democracy in Seoul in 2015. At the end of 2018, I became the newest addition to the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy.

Our membership of the World Movement for Democracy has expanded the frontiers of our work; has given us incredible networks of support across the globe. It has enhanced our work by providing useful resources, good practices from across the world; and for that, we are very very grateful. The leadership of the World Movement for Democracy has also joined in solidarity causes such as demand for the release of human rights defenders being detained from Venezuela to Sudan to Eritrea to other parts of the world.

We are delighted to join the rest of the membership of the World Movement for Democracy to mark 20 years of its existence. We recommit ourselves to the good fight of defending democracy, of defending human rights, and the rule of law in our country and across the globe. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this community and we look forward to more fulfilling engagement in the future.”

– Nicholas Opiyo.

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