The Rationale for the Diplomat’s Handbook

In recent years, diplomacy as practiced by many democratic nations has taken on more of a human face. Whereas once the conduct of diplomatic relations was strictly on a state-to-state basis, today, Ambassadors and diplomats are much more likely to engage the publics of the host countries and not exclusively government officials. Embassies and Consulates are ready vehicles and brokers promoting contact and communications between the peoples and nongovernmental organizations....continue

Government of Morocco Contributes to Handbook Project

The government of Morocco has made a financial contribution to the Diplomat's Handbook project, joining other donor countries Canada, India and the United States.

Diplomat's Handbook Launch: Estoril, Portugal 28 June

The European Launch of the Diplomat’s Handbook has been scheduled for the 28 June closing dinner of the “Human Rights Today: 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” conference in Estoril, Portugal.  Portuguese Secretary of State Dr. Joao Cravinho will preside over the launch; Dick Rowson, President of the Council of a Community of Democracies (CCD), will present the Handbook and describe plans for its use by Community of Democracies (CD)member governments and civil society.    

The “Human Rights Today: 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” conference will be chaired by Joao Carlos Espada of the Catholic University (Portugal).  Mr. Espada is also a member of the nongovernmental International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies.

A follow up report on the European launch will be posted in early July.  At a meeting of the CD Convening Group at the Portuguese Embassy earlier this week Ambassador De Vallera indicated that he is planning a launch in Washington at his residence in the early fall.

1st Print Edition of Diplomat's Handbook Completed

The first print edition of the Diplomat's Handbook has been completed and published. The additions in the latest version of the Handbook include: Edits to Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4; Edits to the South Africa, Ukraine, Chile and Belrus Case Studies; the addition of a Preface, written by President Vaclav Havel (leader of Velvet Revolution, Czechoslovakia); addition of a foreword from the Foreign Ministers of Portgual and Poland, ; addition of Case Studies for Burma/Myanmar, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Please check back for more updates on events surrounding the launch of the Diplomat's Handbook, to take place this summer in Europe and the United States.

The Handbook Forum: Contribute Your Ideas

A full edition of the Diplomat’s Handbook is scheduled for publication at the end of April 2008. It will include a number of new case studies documenting how diplomats of democratic countries have made a difference in assisting those advocating democratic change, especially democratic leaders of civil society. Despite our best efforts our research will reveal only the tip of the iceberg. Furthermore, we regard the work of the Handbook as never ending. Change is happening...continue