Application Deadline: June 15th 2022
The World Forum for Democracy is a platform for global dialogue and democratic participation which brings new ideas into the work of the Council of Europe and promotes its principles across the world. A unique event of its kind, it deals with challenges facing democracy, taking innovative initiatives and practices as a starting point and fostering constructive debate to find solutions. A democratic exercise, the Forum aims at giving the people – demos – their rightful place in political decision-making. It thus contributes to the evolution of democracy towards more participatory and inclusive structures and institutions.
Thirty years ago, many people believed that the spread of democracy was as inevitable as it was desirable. Those days are now far behind us. Instead, the public and policy-makers have watched as the spread of democracy has slowed and, by some measures, gone into reverse.
Those who believe that democracy is the best way to govern – and those who do not – know that democracy is in distress. Many wonder if it will survive. Others are determined that democratic decline is neither inevitable nor irreversible. The 10th World Forum for Democracy intends to get to the heart of what has gone wrong. It will look for the key contributing factors to democratic decline, consider how these might be addressed, and explore what kind of democratic future is desirable, and possible, in the interests of people across the world.
The 10th World Forum for Democracy will debate the issues and generate new ideas for tackling the decline of democracy we face today.
- Plenary sessions will be an opportunity to discuss with speakers from all continents, including politicians, public and private officials, international organisations and civil society.
- – Forum Talks will bring together relevant experts and academics that will share their experience and discuss how to improve the current situation.
- – Forum Labs will allow participants to learn about ground-breaking initiatives that offer responses to the key questions above based on an analysis of their real impact and replicability.
Benefits
Any public or private organisation is eligible to apply. One presenter for the selected initiatives will be invited to Strasbourg to take part in the World Forum.
Travel and accommodation expenses may be covered by the Council of Europe if required
CoE invite initiatives addressing topics including, but not limited to:
- Deliberative democracy and public policy
- Building resilient, participatory and connected communities through new forms of civic engagement and public-private partnerships
- Activism targeting the issues of underrepresented groups, minorities, indigenous communities, immigrants, refugees
- Showcasing non-traditional democratic models improving citizens’ participation
- Civic education, new platforms for developing informed, engaged democracy
- Addressing the wealth gap, new or more effective ways of lifting people out of poverty, crowdfunding activism
- Promoting accountability of elected officials and their communication with citizens, targeting corruption, improving integrity of public life
- Reconciliation processes, truth-telling, restorative justice
- Advocacy, protection, support or aid for activists promoting democratic values
- Promoting intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity, and artistic expression as a method of citizens’ engagement with democracy
- Incentives for ethical governance, democratic participation or disincentives for polarizing, intolerant social behaviours and political extremism
- Preventing subversion of democratic processes, supporting fact-checking and countering biases
- Inclusion of non-citizens, children or other excluded groups into the democratic process
- Monitoring, tracking hate crimes, extremism, inequalities, polarisation or other negative social/political trends
Submission Procedure:
Submissions should be made by answering the questionnaire in the appendix and sending it to [email protected] by 15 June 2022.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Council of Europe’s 2022 World Forum for Democracy