The second day of the World Forum for Democracy 2026, held at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 3 November, focused on promoting inclusive democratic decision-making, strengthening resilience and exploring how democracies can better prepare for the challenges ahead.

The morning plenary sessions opened with keynote contributions from Natalia Gavrilița, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, and Mattias Guyomar, President of the European Court of Human Rights. Their messages highlighted the importance of inclusive democratic processes and the need to strengthen democratic institutions to meet future challenges.

Democracy is more than just voting

The discussions then turned to innovative solutions for making democracy more inclusive and responsive to citizens' expectations.

Jeffry Jeanty, youth civil society representative, presented the manifesto "Youth Innovating Democracy: A Powerful Manifesto for a Democratic Europe in 2049", calling for a democracy that is closer to citizens and gives young people a meaningful role in shaping their future.

“Democracy is not just about voting. It is lived every day,” he stressed, arguing for a more inclusive democratic approach.

From student mobilisation to democratic renewal

Aleksa Pavlović, representing Serbia's student movement, shared how students had succeeded in building a broad coalition by focusing on shared values, participation and democratic renewal.

His contribution illustrated how civic mobilisation, collective action and a common vision can bring people together and create new momentum for democratic change.

Putting democratic tools into practice

The morning programme also included a session entitled "Putting Council of Europe Insights to the Test", examining how the Organisation's bodies and mechanisms contribute to strengthening democratic decision-making and resilience through the monitoring of developments at national level.

Through these discussions, the second day of the Forum highlighted a central message: democracy must be continuously nurtured through participation, inclusion, accountability and the active engagement of citizens, particularly younger generations.

As democracies face increasingly complex challenges, strengthening public trust and ensuring that everyone has a voice remain essential to building a resilient democratic future.