The future is collective: Grassroots movements for peace and rights

Across the globe, communities are shaping democratic futures—sometimes in the face of great adversity. In Burma, grassroots movements build inclusive governance structures amid a brutal conflict. In Canada, civil society defends civil liberties and human rights as cornerstones of democracy. And in Guatemala, Indigenous women lead efforts to ensure peace and democracy are reaching those long excluded. These stories, from Inter Pares counterparts and allies, highlight the power of collective action and the enduring struggle to make democracy real, just and representative for all.

“We are building democracy”: The long journey to peace in Guatemala

In Ixcán, Guatemala, women like Carmen Jimenez Ortiz are still fighting to make peace real. Nearly 30 years after the end of the civil war, they continue to push for a democracy that includes them.

As part of Inter Pares counterpart ROMI, Carmen supports survivors of gender-based violence and works so women’s voices are heard in decisions that shape their lives.

“This is how we are building democracy,” she says.

INTERVIEW | Defending civil liberties, defending democracy

Since 2002, the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG) has been defending human rights from the harmful impacts of national security and anti-terrorism laws.

“Protest and free expression are fundamental to democracy,” says ICLMG coordinator Tim McSorley. But two decades after 9/11, new laws and rhetoric continue to threaten those rights—from surveillance expansion to the criminalization of dissent.

Democracy in the making: Grassroots governance in Burma

Amid civil war, people in Burma are laying the foundations for a future democracy. In Karenni State, activists and local leaders are drafting an interim constitution and creating inclusive governance structures that centre women, youth, and grassroots participation.

With support from Inter Pares, these efforts are part of a broader movement toward a federal democracy—one that puts power in the hands of communities, not military generals.