The 12th World Forum for Democracy was held in Strasbourg (France) from 6 to 8 November. This year's theme was "Democracy and Diversity - Can we transcend the divides?
Elisenda Baró, representing AHEAD, was selected by the European Youth Centre of Strasbourg to attend the Forum as a youth delegate.
"We spent a whole week discussing democracy worldwide, the rise of fascism in far-right parties, increasing polarisation and technological innovations. We had the privilege to participate in labs, workshops, forums and debates with experts from around the world, sharing experiences and stories.
We also learned about democracy in practice. Over 70 people were selected from different countries around the world. Despite our differences, we saw each other as human beings and citizens, worthy of respect and obliged to respect others. We discussed how a polarised world is often created by denying others and their unique perspectives".
The World Forum for Democracy is a unique platform for political decision-makers and activists to debate solutions to key challenges for democracies worldwide. By identifying and analysing experimental initiatives and practices, the Forum highlights and encourages democracy innovations at the grassroots and their transfer on a systemic level in order to strengthen the foundations of democratic societies. The Forum thus contributes to the evolution of democracy towards more participatory and inclusive structures and institutions.
The 2024 edition of the World Forum for Democracy addressed the critical threats posed by disinformation and divisive political narratives around diversity, including in the context of electoral campaigns. The Forum focused on how electoral processes inadvertently crystallise societal divides and provide fertile ground for populism to flourish. Given the urgency of this challenge, the Forum will explore ways to increase citizens' understanding of the risks that populism poses to their fundamental rights and freedoms.
The main axes for the 2024 edition were the following:
- Elections and value divides
- Unravelling the web of disinformation
- Civic engagement for democratic renewal
https://www.coe.int/en/web/world-forum-democracy/forum-2024
