What Is BDF

The Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) initiated by Indonesia in 2008, is an annual, inclusive and open intergovernmental forum on the development of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region. The forum is aimed to promote and foster regional and international cooperation in the field of peace and democracy through dialogue-based on sharing experiences and best practices that adhere to the principle of equality, mutual respect and understanding. Throughout the years, this has become the foundation of the forum. In doing so the BDF has also been active in advocating the principles of democracy – namely that it must be grown and developed based on internal initiatives (home-grown); that it upholds the values of pluralism and diversity; and that it must be inclusive.

In its effort over the years, the BDF has succeeded in making democracy as a strategic agenda in the Asia-Pacific. It has facilitated in establishing a balance between economic and political development, between creating peace and security, and promoting the quality of human rights and humanitarian values in the region, all of which as reflected in the three founding pillars of the United Nations Charter.