International Democracy Day Brussels 2023

An era of
democratic unrest ?

14-15 September | Brussels

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International Democracy Day Brussels is an event organised each September to mark the UN International Day of Democracy.

Experts and activists will discuss how the global decline of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism worldwide have been met with a new wave of civic activism.

Programme

13:30 - 14:00 European Committee of the Regions

Registration and coffee

14:00 - 14:10 European Committee of the Regions

Address by Patrick Molinoz, chair of CIVEX commission, Committee of the Regions

Patrick Molinoz

14:10 - 14:30 European Committee of the Regions

Address by Věra Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, European Commission

Věra Jourová

14:30 - 14:40 European Committee of the Regions

Commentary by Rosa Balfour, Director of Carnegie Europe

Rosa Balfour

14:40 - 14:50 European Committee of the Regions

Keynote speech by Nathan Law, democratic activist, Hong Kong

Nathan Law

14:50 - 15:20 European Committee of the Regions

A conversation on the global challenges of democracy support

With Damon Wilson (National Endowment for Democracy) and Jerzy Pomianowski (European Endowment for Democracy). Moderated by Shada Islam

Damon Wilson

Jerzy Pomianowski

Shada Islam

15:20 - 15:25 European Committee of the Regions

Lightning talk

With Tigran Amiryan (CSN Lab, Armenia)

Tigran Amiryan

15:25 - 15:55 European Committee of the Regions

Coffee break

15:55 - 16:05 European Committee of the Regions

Lightning talks

With Youssef El Idrissi (Kounaktif pour les arts et les cultures, Morocco) and Olga Caballero (Alma Civica, Paraguay)

Youssef El Idrissi

Olga Caballero

16:05 - 17:05 European Committee of the Regions

Panel 'Global faces of activism'

Autocratisation trends have galvanised democracies from across the globe and sparked civic awakening worldwide. Throughout 2022 major protests occurred in Iran, Georgia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China and Hong Kong, as citizens worldwide took to the streets to demand their rights. This session will showcase the story of four activists and how they are planning to achieve a more democratic future for their countries. With Zaza Abashidze (RealPolitika), Leila Alikarami (Lawyer and human rights advocate), Nathan Law (Hong Kong democratic activist) and Olga Rudenko (The Kyiv Independent). Moderated by Hardy Merriman (International Center on Nonviolent Conflict).

Olga Rudenko

Nathan Law

Zaza Abashidze

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Hardy Merriman

17:05 - 17:15 European Committee of the Regions

Closing remarks by Ken Godfrey, Executive Director, EPD

Ken Godfrey

09:00 - 09:15 European Committee of the Regions

Registration and coffee

09:15 - 09:20 European Committee of the Regions

Introduction by Shada Islam

Shada Islam

09:20 - 09:30 European Committee of the Regions

The EU’s democracy agenda – Perspectives from Council Presidency

With H.E. Elena Gómez Castro, Ambassador to the EU Political and Security Committee, Spain

Elena Gómez Castro

09:30 - 09:40 European Committee of the Regions

Presentation of Democracy Perception Index by Olaf Böhnke, Senior Advisor, Alliance of Democracies

Olaf Böhnke

09:40 - 09:50 European Committee of the Regions

Keynote speech by Karam Nachar, co-founder and co-editor of Al-Jumhuriya

Karam Nachar

09:50 - 09:55 European Committee of the Regions

European Democracy Hub lightning talk

With Elene Panchulidze (European Partnership for Democracy)

Elene Panchulidze

09:55 - 10:50 European Committee of the Regions

Panel 'Policy and democracy community'

With democracy in decline over 17 years and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine putting democracy at the top of policy agenda in Europe and the US, the concurrent rise in autocracy is providing a new sense of urgency to democracies worldwide. During this session, the speakers will address what this era of democratic rest means for EU policy, democracy support and activism worldwide. With Helena König (EEAS), McDonald Lewanika, (Accountability Lab South Africa), Sam van der Staak (International IDEA) and Hardy Merriman (International Center on Nonviolent Conflict). Moderated by Shada Islam.

Sam van der Staak

Helena König

McDonald Lewanika

Hardy Merriman

Shada Islam

10:50 - 11:00 European Committee of the Regions

The EU’s democracy agenda – Perspectives from Council Presidency

With H.E. Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belgium

Hadja Lahbib

11:00 - 11:15 European Committee of the Regions

Coffee break and networking

11:15 - 12:15 European Committee of the Regions

Panel 'The future of the Summit for Democracy: insights from summit organisers'

What's next for the Summit for Democracy? This session provides an opportunity to engage with visionaries and leaders committed to shaping the future of democracy on a global scale. As the United States, host of the first two summits, and South Korea, the host of the eagerly anticipated third summit in 2024, come together, the session brings you a unique opportunity to gain unprecedented insights into the evolution of this critical global initiative. It will provide updates on the continued Summit for Democracy process, based on insights from both host countries and some key findings of an impact report prepared by International IDEA. Delve with us into the future of the Summit for democracy." With Julia Keutgen (International IDEA), Christina Droggitis (Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, United States Department of State) and Kang Byongjo (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea). Moderated by Marilyn Neven (International IDEA).

Marilyn Neven

Kang Byongjo

Julia Keutgen

Christina Droggitis

12:15 - 13:15 European Committee of the Regions

Panel 'Democracy in action: youth driving innovative engagement'

This session will bring together dynamic young leaders, advocates, and activists to discuss and showcase how youth-led initiatives are playing a pivotal role in shaping democratic engagement through innovative projects. The session will inspire attendees with concrete examples of advocacy work led by youth cohort members who have received advocacy grants, demonstrating the impact of their efforts in driving democratic change. With Ismael Paez Civico (Youth Forum), Natalia Gómez Solano (Special Adviser on Youth to the EU) , Olga Caballero (Alma Civica, Paraguay) and McDonald Lewanika (Accountability Lab South Africa)