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World Forum for Democracy - 5-11 October 2012 - Council of Europe
World Forum for Democracy - Strasbourg, 5-11 October 2012
The Strasbourg World Forum for Democracy brings together reformers and global leaders to identify democratic responses to the economic, social and political challenges which affect our societies today. By confronting conventional concepts with new realities the Forum will gauge how democracies can satisfy the expectations of citizens and adapt to their different values and traditions".
Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of Europe Secretary General
World Forum for Democracy - Strasbourg, 5-11 October 2012
Democracy: between old models and new realities
"Bridging the gap"
In bringing together high-ranking political officials, leading public figures, Nobel Peace Prize winners and civil society activists, the World Forum will allow for an exchange of experiences and perceptions and help identify risks as well as possible answers to today’s societal challenges.
Synergy and interaction will be fostered between several types of event which will make up the first Forum, scheduled for 5 to 11 October 2012.
The Forum will begin with a formal opening ceremony on Monday 8 October attended by leading international figures, to be followed by a meeting of experts from politics, civil society and academia, who will suggest new ideas on democracy related issues for the 21st century. The experts will participate in a one-day symposium with institutional leaders, parliamentarians at European and national levels, academics and young leaders from the network of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe.
Public workshops, arranged by theme and professional category, will also bring together figures from public life to pool experience and good practices relating to democratic governance, public participation and responsible journalism. These sessions open to civil society and to the public will propose new initiatives to strengthen democracies, including the oldest ones, in coping with the challenges of today.
On the sidelines of the Forum, a number of public events, such as a Democracy fair, a film festival, a meeting of the Youth Assembly, civil society debate, etc. will be held in various city venues.
Eminent personalities
- Mr Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations*,
- Mr Moncef Marzouki, President of the Republic of Tunisia
- Ms Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), Nobel Peace Prize winner 2011.
* to be confirmed
Main topics
Public workshops, arranged by theme and professional category, will also bring together figures from public life to pool experience and good practices relating to democratic governance, public participation, responsible journalism etc.
- “Universal values, global challenges, regional realities”
- “Do markets need democracy and vice-versa?”
- "What democracy after the Arab Spring?”
- “Values v. values? Democracy and religion”
- “Virtual values? Democracy and Internet”
- “One size fits all? Democracy and globalisation”
- “People v. money: the trust gap”
- “Can democracy be imposed?”
Events
- Plenary sessions with leading world personalities
- Thematic conferences
- Meetings of experts
- “Democracy in the 21st century” workshops
- Public debates in the City
- Political film/documentary festival
- Youth Assembly session
- Exhibitions
On the sidelines of the Forum, a number of public events organised by the city of Strasbourg will be held in various city venues.
Public of the Forum
All actors of democratic life: governmental representatives, elected representatives (national, regional and local), citizens, media, socio-economic leaders, academics, representatives of civil society… Through partnership with international organisations, the Forum will bring together participants from all continents.
Registration
- Private individuals (closed)
- Schools of Political Studies (closed)
- Accreditation of journalists
For further information