Date: September 19, 2024
Location: Nepal
Host: Accountability Lab Nepal
Accountability Lab Nepal (ALN) is organizing a regional Policy Park titled “South Asia in 2024: Democracy at Risk Amidst the Rise of Electoral Populism” on September 19, 2024, Thursday at 3 PM (Nepali time). The virtual dialogue will explore unique trends and challenges observed in the recent election cycles across South Asia.
Experts from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan will present their insights on dominant practices, agendas, threats in their countries, and explore regional parallels. The discussion will also address the implications of the election outcomes on democratic practices and processes, along with providing space for collaboration and exchange of ideas.
Key topics include: Is South Asian democracy diminishing? Can it be lived with such an ill-suited elections? What are the implications of election outcomes for democratic processes and practices? What are some of the common and unique challenges and trends that emerged during elections? What does the future trajectory of South Asian democracy look like? What action do we need to take to ensure elected leaders are held accountable, so elections serve citizens’ interests rather than perpetuating authoritarianism?
Our speakers:
Keynote Speech: Biraj Patnaik, Executive Director, National Foundation for India (NFI) (India)
Moderator: Fayyaz Yaseen, Executive Director, Accountability Lab Pakistan (Pakistan)
Panelists:
Deekshya Illangasinghe, Executive Director, South Asians for Human Rights (Sri Lanka)
Shaveena Anam, Manager, New Content and Audience Research, The Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Jagganath Lamichhane, Social Activist and Columnist (Nepal)