Satellite Events of the World Forum for Democracy
The organising institutions are free to propose the dates and format of their event, the speakers and the specific topic(s) in line with this year’s Forum main theme. Possible formats include seminars, lecture in schools, survey, social media campaigns or radio/TV debates.
The satellite events should take place before the Forum so that their findings could be presented at the Forum and eventually be included in the Forum’s final report.
The Organising institutions should prepare a brief presentation of the findings of the event which will be put on the website of the World Forum for Democracy.
"We Want to Hear the Voice of Young People and Listen to Their Proposals"
Dr. Javier Esguevillas Ruiz, Director of the Institute for International Relations, has proposed a one-day seminar in Comillas to bring young people directly into one of Europe's most important ongoing democratic conversations. Under the title Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe — the 2026 Report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe — the event will channel youth voices from Cantabria to Strasbourg, joining a growing wave of debate and reflection on the future of democracy across the continent.
Through four structured debate panels — two in the morning and two in the afternoon — participants will analyse the key challenges facing democracy today and formulate concrete proposals to be submitted to the Council of Europe's Directorate of Democracy as a contribution to the World Forum for Democracy (WFD) 2026.
The seminar is open to university students from Cantabria, Asturias and the Basque Country, as well as students from other regions of Spain and Europe, and non-university young people with an active interest in democracy and current affairs. Each panel will be led by a Moderator and a Rapporteur. At the close of the day, the four rapporteurs will jointly produce a conclusions document for formal submission to the Council of Europe.
The final report, drawing on the conclusions of the day's debates, will be prepared by Dr. Enrique Barón Crespo, former President of the European Parliament.
Organised by the Institute for International Relations (a project of Human Rights Global House), in collaboration with The Centre for European Studies ( the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences ) of UNAM. and the Local Government of Comillas, Spain.
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