Making Democracy The only rule of the game! 

The Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) is a board-led, non-profit, non-governmental, civil society organization registered under the Authority for Civil Society Organizations with registry number 4307, according to the Civil Societies Law 1113/2019. CARD acquired its legal personality on 24 July 2019. CARD aspires to see Ethiopia being a place where human rights are respected and democratic culture flourished. Since its foundation, CARD has been operating with a mission of advancing a conducive civic, media, and digital space for the respect of human rights and cultivation of democratic mass culture in Ethiopia. 


Who We Are

CARD is a non-profit organization that is working to build up democratic mass cultures in popular movements through awareness creation, organizing, and advocacy embedded with human rights values.

CARD’s Vision

CARD aspires to see Ethiopia being a place where human rights are respected and democratic culture flourished.

CARD’s Mission

CARD works for the advancement of civic, media, and digital space to cultivate democratic mass culture in Ethiopia.

CARD’s Core Objectives

CARD, as legally registered for, and is mandated to:

  • To work for the advancement of democratic culture in Ethiopia by promoting democratic values, raising awareness and creating platforms for democratic practice.
  • Conducting timely monitoring, documentation, reporting and advocacy activities to advance transparency and accountability in governmental and non-governmental institutions.
  • Conducting policy research, consultation and lobbying to bring about necessary changes.
  • Providing professional and technical support to democratic institutions.
  • Monitoring, documenting, and reporting on the state of police detention centers, prisons, and court proceedings in accordance with Ethiopian law to ensure the respect of human and democratic rights.
  • Advocating the advancement of media space and capacity building to raise professional and ethical standards in journalism.
  • Advocating for and supporting the respect of digital rights and the safety of digital technology users.
  • Observing elections and providing civic and voters’ educatio.

Programs