Recovering Freedom: CALD Launches 2021 Annual Report

The year 2021 was supposed to be a year of recovery – of our bodies and our body politic –from the onslaught of the pandemic and of populist authoritarianism, respectively.

The availability and growing access to COVID-19 vaccines, coupled with the efforts of the community of democracies to come up with a united front and pushback against authoritarian forces, should have pointed to a rosier future for the cause of freedom.

However, it became evident that recovery from both the pandemic and authoritarian populism would be a long, protracted process. This reality is captured in CALD’s 2021 Annual Report with the theme, “Recovering Freedom.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have profound impact on our economies and health systems, exacerbating the decline in democracy as some opportunistic political leaders exploit the global crisis,” said CALD Chairperson Kiko Pangilinan in his message. But the fight goes on: “COVID-19 or no, we persist to battle on for truth, justice, and the freedoms we have won in our individual and collective struggles,” he added.

Aside from the online activities of CALD last year, this 2021 Report features CALD and CALD Youth’s podcast series, The Great Asian Pushback and the Youth Perspective, which focused on stories of defiance and hope and on the young people’s fresh perspective on various issues, respectively. A mental health section is also included, being one of the most important issues that emerged during the pandemic.

The message of Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo in a CALD Women’s Caucus event is also highlighted in the Report, together with Former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s “Time for Integration Based on Common Values”, Kiko Pangilinan’s “Defending Truth in the Age of Disinformation”, National Democratic Institute Party Director Birgitta Ohlsson’s “Parties as Defenders of Democracy”, Former Philippine Budget Secretary Butch Abad’s “The Pandemic as an Opportunity” and Liberal International President Hakima el Haite’s “Changing the World Means Working Together.”

“Recovery from the pandemic, it appears, resembles how democracy is recovering from

the onslaught of authoritarian populism… The process …may take longer than expected, but the world has certainly made significant strides in that direction last year,” expressed CALD Secretary General Blue Abaya.

This 2022, may the health of our body and of our democracy be in a much better state.

To read the CALD 2021 Annual Report, click here.