 The COVID-19 pandemic poses severe challenges to democracy. Authoritarian leaders are using this crisis to expand their power and silence their critics. In many cases, parliaments and judges are being sidelined, journalists are being harassed, minorities are being scapegoated. That's why International IDEA, alongside many partners from around the world, has published a call to defend democracy. A statement which by now has been signed by over 70 leading democracy and human rights organizations, and almost 500 prominent leaders from over 100 countries, including 13 Nobel laureates, more than 60 former heads of state, and scores of respected activists, journalists, public intellectuals and academics. At this time of great danger, we have all come together to shed light on the importance of defending democratic institutions. Democracy is needed more than ever to preserve our fundamental freedoms, to deal in a fair way with the consequences of this pandemic, and to make societies more resilient in the face of future adversity. You can also sign the statement. Go to our website www.idea.int and join this cause. We must not let democracy become just another casualty of the coronavirus.