Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) is a nonprofit organization that promotes democracy, the rule of law, and human rights for all of the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). They believe that peace, security, dignity, and prosperity in the region can only be achieved by democratically elected governments that respect human rights and abide by the rule of law.    

To fulfill their mission, DAWN seeks to highlight and celebrate democratic reforms in the Arab world, while also shining a light on human rights violations and arbitrary and abusive practices.    

As a US-based organization, DAWN focuses its research and advocacy on MENA governments with close ties to the United States and the military, diplomatic, and economic support that the US provides these governments, as that is where they have the greatest responsibility. 

They believe that they can have the most impact by convincing the US government and other international entities, including businesses, to uphold their human rights obligations by ending support for abusive and undemocratic governments in the region.   

In performing their mission, DAWN will serve as a resource and a database for comprehensive information about human rights violations, focusing on particularly egregious cases of detention. They will also endeavor to expose and hold accountable government officials responsible for abuses, be they judges, prison guards, interrogators, agents, security officials, or the rulers of their countries, as well as foreign governments aiding and abetting abusive governments in the region. They will seek to develop policy recommendations for reform of abusive governments and reform of US and other international foreign policies that support abusive governments.

Finally, DAWN strives to create a platform and cultivate a community for MENA democracy exiles, as well as MENA experts, to share their ideas and help shape a democratic, rights-respecting future of the region.