Introduction

The World Forum for Democratization in Asia (WFDA has been set up in 2005 to enhance political development and conduct democracy

Democracy

Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...

 promotion activities in Asia. WFDA's secretariat is based in Taipei

Taipei

Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...

, Taiwan

Taiwan

Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

 at the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy

Taiwan Foundation for Democracy

The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is an non-profit organisation headquartered in Taipei. Originally proposed by the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foundation's purpose is to promote democracy around the world...

 (TFD). WFDA has organized several conferences between various civil society organizations, most notably its Biennial Conferences.

Biennial Conferences

The first Biennial was held in Taipei, Taiwan and was designed to "discuss and adopt guidelines to promote the solidarity of Asian democracies, support democracy activists who are opposed to authoritarian regimes, and solicit support from the international community on democratization in Asia"

The second Biennial was held in Manila, Philippines.
The third Biennial was held in Seoul, South Korea around the eve of World Democracy Day. A brief controversy ensued when South Korea decided to bar the entry of an Uigyhur activist of German nationality that was scheduled to attend the conference.

Steering Committee Members of WFDA

• Alliance for Reform and Democracy in Asia (ARDA
  Arda
  In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Arda is the name given to the Earth in a period of prehistory, wherein the places mentioned in The Lord of the Rings and related material once existed...
  
  )
• Alternative Asean Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-Burma)
• Asian Focal Point for the International Civil Society Forum for Democracy
• Forum Asia Democracy (FAD
  FAD
  In biochemistry, flavin adenine dinucleotide is a redox cofactor involved in several important reactions in metabolism. FAD can exist in two different redox states, which it converts between by accepting or donating electrons. The molecule consists of a riboflavin moiety bound to the phosphate...
  
  )
• Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
• Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
  Taiwan Foundation for Democracy
  The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy is an non-profit organisation headquartered in Taipei. Originally proposed by the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foundation's purpose is to promote democracy around the world...
  
  (TFD)