By participating in the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, the participants of the Annual Seminar of the BFPE Foundation for a Responsible Society concluded the 2025 program cycle, reaffirming the importance of this program as part of the Council of Europe’s School of Political Studies and as a platform for the development of young leaders committed to democratic values.
The World Forum for Democracy represents a unique international space for the exchange of ideas and experiences on contemporary challenges facing democracy. This year’s edition of the Forum brought together representatives of civil society, institutions, academia, media, and the cultural sector from around the world, with the aim of reflecting on the risks democracy faces today and ways to renew it.
Participation in the Forum enabled the Annual Seminar participants to connect the knowledge and experience gained throughout the program with broader European and global perspectives. Through engagement in panels, workshops, and plenary sessions, participants actively contributed to discussions on trust in institutions, civic participation, human rights, digital challenges, media literacy, and the role of culture in strengthening democratic processes.
The stay in Strasbourg also represented an important educational and symbolic moment for the program, further strengthening participants’ understanding of the role of the Council of Europe and its institutions in the protection of human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. Participation in the World Forum for Democracy contributed to reinforcing the European dimension of the Annual Seminar and encouraged participants to place their local and national experiences within a wider international context.
This study visit and participation in the Forum marked the conclusion of the 2025 Annual Seminar, symbolically linking months of learning, dialogue, and networking with the most relevant contemporary debates on the future of democracy in Europe and beyond.
