Citizens for Global Solutions

The 2026 V-Dem Democracy Report has officially reclassified the United States. We are no longer a liberal democracy.

In a single year, American democracy has fallen back to 1965 levels. That same scale of damage took Hungary's Viktor Orbán four years, and Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić eight.

In her new piece for CGS, Olivia Gauvin (Vice Chair of Democracy Without Borders USA) lays out what is happening, why Project 2025 is already 40 percent implemented, and what we can actually do about it. The short version: it is going to take more than the ballot box.

Read here: https://globalsolutions.org/updates/blog/democracy-disappearing-in-america/

🌍 A decade ago, the world solved the Iran nuclear question. Then we threw it away.

In 2015, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, Germany, and the EU sat down with Iran and built a deal: sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on uranium enrichment and full access for international inspectors. The IAEA verified Iran was holding up its end.

✏️ In 2018, the Trump administration walked away. Allies tried to keep the agreement alive. It collapsed. Today the country is at war.

In his new piece for CGS, historian Lawrence Wittner asks the question that matters most: what do we learn from this?
The clearest lesson is that pressure from the community of nations works in ways that threats from a single country never can. The UN Security Council is the right venue for problems like these. And frameworks that treat all nations equally, like the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, hold up better than deals that get torn up with a change in administration.

🔗 Read Lawrence Wittner's full analysis: https://globalsolutions.org/updates/blog/losing-the-iran-nuclear-deal/

🏛 Want to take your advocacy for global governance straight to Capitol Hill?

The 2026 CGS Annual Meeting (May 15–17, DC) includes optional in-person lobbying sessions on Friday morning. You'll meet with Congressional offices alongside fellow CGS members to make the case for international cooperation.

First-timer? No problem — we'll make sure you're prepared.

Register by April 30. → https://globalsolutions.org/event/2026-cgs-annual-meeting/

🌍 Did you know there's no global treaty specifically addressing crimes against humanity? It's one of the most significant gaps in international law, and Professor Leila Nadya Sadat has led the effort to close it for nearly two decades.

📜 In 2008, she founded the Crimes Against Humanity Initiative at Washington University School of Law. In December 2024, the U.N. General Assembly adopted Resolution 79/122, launching formal negotiations toward a treaty expected to conclude by 2029. That's a remarkable arc from scholarship to real-world impact.

🎤 In the inaugural Norman Cousins Lecture, Professor Sadat will walk us through that journey, explain why addressing these crimes early can help prevent conflicts from escalating, and discuss how organizations like CGS and engaged citizens can support the push for global justice.

📌 Join us for a conversation you won't want to miss! Sign up here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Gahbccc9QL2QkUfOkaYvTw #/registration

🌍 Save the date! The 2026 CGS Annual Meeting is coming to Washington, DC — May 15–17.

Join fellow CGS members for three days of advocacy on Capitol Hill, strategic workshops, the Norman Cousins Lectureship, and time to connect with advocates for democratic global governance.

Open to all CGS members. Not a member yet? Join for just $25 to be eligible to attend.

📅 Register by April 11 for group accommodation & food arrangements 📅 Final registration deadline: April 30

Register → https://globalsolutions.org/event/2026-cgs-annual-meeting/

🇺🇳 What a week at the United Nations!

Our CGS Global Governance Fellows just wrapped an extraordinary few days at CSW70, the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York City.

From Day 1, our fellows were in the rooms where it matters, engaging with sessions on:

💜 Enhancing women's access to justice through judicial leadership

💛 The unfulfilled promise of the Women, Peace & Security agenda

💜 A townhall with the UN Secretary-General and civil society leaders

💛 How artificial intelligence can increase women's and girls' access to justice

💜 The gendered consequences for health in conflict zones

These conversations help shape real outcomes for women and girls around the world, and our fellows brought energy, curiosity, and purpose to every session.

🚨 The week is not over yet! TODAY at 10:30 AM ET, join us online for our panel discussion "Closing the Gap: Housing, Health, and Inequity in Latin America," an intergenerational conversation on gender, class, and social policy in the region.

🔗 Register now: https://globalsolutions.org/event/closing-the-gap-housing-health-and-inequity-in-latin-america/

Is the United Nations ready for the 21st century? 🤔

We’re kicking off 2026 with our first World Citizen Book Club of the year and an important question: 80 years after its founding, how can we modernize the UN to meet today’s global challenges?

Join us on Saturday, February 14 at 12:00 PM EST for the first of two sessions discussing A Second UN Charter: Modernizing the UN for a New Generation with special guest Dr. Augusto Lopez-Claros.

Dr. Lopez-Claros leads the Global Governance Forum and has spent 30+ years working with the World Bank, IMF, and World Economic Forum. He’s currently spearheading an ambitious project: drafting a revised UN Charter that addresses everything from preventing armed conflict to protecting human rights to sustaining our planet.

This 90-minute Zoom session includes Q&A, perfect for anyone curious about how international cooperation can evolve to tackle the issues no single nation can solve alone.
New to our book club? You’re welcome! We meet monthly to explore big ideas around peace, global governance, and world citizenship.

Event Details:
📅 Saturday, February 14, 2026
⏰ 12:00–1:30 PM EST
📍 Zoom—open to everyone

Register here: https://bit.ly/49QmpZv