2025 World Forum for Democracy: A Global Call for Innovative Initiatives
The World Forum for Democracy, an initiative of the Council of Europe, is a unique platform fostering international dialogue between policymakers, civil society, and thought leaders. The Forum serves as a space to examine pressing challenges to democracy and highlight innovative solutions that can lead to more participatory and inclusive governance.
Now in its 13th edition, the 2025 Forum invites public and private organizations worldwide to submit groundbreaking initiatives aimed at revitalizing democracy. Selected proposals will be presented at the Forum in Strasbourg, where they will undergo rigorous analysis and open discussion. Participants will ultimately select one standout initiative to receive the prestigious Democracy Innovation Award.
The Democratic Landscape: Challenges to Overcome
Across the globe, democracy faces significant strain. Rising inequality, digital disruption, and public disillusionment have contributed to declining trust in democratic institutions. Many citizens feel unheard and unrepresented, leading to disengagement and vulnerability to populist or authoritarian influences.
Key Areas of Concern:
- Decreased civic engagement and political participation, particularly among youth
- Erosion of independent journalism, arts, and culture—vital for democratic discourse
- Manipulation of public opinion via digital platforms and AI technologies
- Inequities that limit access to democratic processes for marginalized populations
These issues not only threaten democratic stability but also highlight the need for transformative action.
Seeking Solutions: What Kind of Initiatives Can Be Submitted?
The World Forum for Democracy is looking for creative, impactful, and scalable initiatives that offer new approaches to solving democracy’s most urgent problems. Submissions can come from any sector—civil society, academia, the private sector, or public institutions.
Examples of Eligible Initiatives:
- Addressing social and economic inequality to rebuild democratic trust
- Empowering disadvantaged or underrepresented communities
- Exploring alternative models of democratic decision-making (e.g., sortition, citizen panels, deliberative democracy)
- Fostering political engagement among youth, women, and minorities
- Developing AI tools to support informed dialogue and democratic participation
- Promoting artistic and cultural expressions that champion democratic values
- Defending freedom of expression and supporting independent media
- Combating disinformation through fact-checking, deepfake detection, and digital literacy
- Enhancing the accountability and transparency of online platforms
- Strengthening civil society organizations acting as democratic watchdogs
Presentation at the Forum
Selected initiatives will be featured in the Forum’s signature “Time for Ideas” sessions. These interactive segments allow representatives to present their work to a global audience, engage in dialogue with multidisciplinary panels, and receive feedback from both peers and the public.
Each initiative will be presented in a 10-minute talk, followed by expert commentary and a moderated discussion. At the end of the Forum, participants will vote to determine the Democracy Innovation Award recipient.
One representative from each chosen initiative will be invited to Strasbourg. The Council of Europe may cover travel and accommodation costs for those in need of financial assistance.
Submission Process
Interested organizations are required to complete the official submission questionnaire and send it via email to
forum_democracy@coe.int no later than 17 May 2025.
Further Information
For more details about the World Forum for Democracy 2025, including the program, format, and past sessions, visit the official website:
🔗 www.coe.int/en/web/world-forum-democracy
Shaping the Future of Democracy
The World Forum for Democracy believes that democracy is not static—it must evolve to meet the needs of today’s complex societies. By promoting diverse voices, innovative thinking, and practical solutions, the Forum seeks to inspire lasting democratic change across the globe.
This is a call to action for all those who believe in the power of democratic innovation. The time to act is now.
Click HERE for more opportunities