Ryota Jonen oversees the World Movement for Democracy’s efforts to facilitate exchanges of best practices and information among democracy and human rights activists and practitioners globally. Since 2008, he has managed the World Movement’s Defending Civil Society project, addressing issues of restrictive environments for civil society around the world. With his efforts, the World Movement has also strengthened its youth program. Before joining the World Movement, he helped grassroots organizations plan human rights education programs in Switzerland and Liberia. He has been a visiting speaker on democracy promotion, post-conflict peace building, and human rights for high schools, universities, and non-governmental organizations in Africa, the U.S., and his native country, Japan. He holds a Bachelor of Art in Political Science and a Master of Art in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington, DC.