Deadline: 15-Jun-22
The World Forum for Democracy calls for expressions of interest from innovative initiatives aiming at enhancing democracy and reversing democratic decline from all over the world.
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.
What is the Format of the 10th WED?
The 10th World Forum for Democracy will revisit the results of the previous editions and assess the impact of the most promising and innovative of the initiatives presented over the last decade. It will bring together diverse voices from around the world to discuss and debate visions for the future which might successfully counteract the erosion of democratic culture and galvanize the defenders of democracy to resist dangerous polarization and reverse the global democratic decline.
The Labs- How to Present an initiative?
Key Issues:
- SOS Democracy in Distress
- Can we swing back the pendulum?
- Democra cy defended – From decline to rebirth?
Topics
They 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
- Showing 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 behaviors 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, polarization or other negative social/political trends.
Eligibility Criteria
- NGOs, think tanks, educational and civil society organisations can submit proposals.
- 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 will be covered by the Council of Europe if required. In case travel and large gatherings will not be possible in November 2022, the World Forum for Democracy may be held under a different format.
For more information, visit https://www.coe.int/en/web/world-forum-democracy/forum-2022