From 7 to 9 July 2026, 28 representatives of the Belarusian democratic forces and civil society, as well as experts and the Congress Rapporteur for a democratic Belarus, Belinda Gottardi (Italy, SOC/G/PD), met in Strasbourg for the third edition of the workshop “Leaders for change: Promoting democracy and human rights at the local level”. Through an interactive programme combining learning experiences and peer exchanges, participants discussed topical issues related to good governance, local democracy, and human rights at the local level.
“Despite facing immense repression at home and the challenges of operating in exile, the commitment of Belarusian democratic forces to building a democratic future from the bottom up is an inspiration,” stated Ms Gottardi. She added that “nurturing a democratic culture at the grassroots level is essential to counter the Lukashenka regime and defend European values.”
The workshop was an important initiative to equip the next generation of local elected representatives, civil servants, and activists with the tools necessary for effective local self-government. The programme was rooted in the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, the 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance and the Congress’s work on human rights.
The interactive agenda allowed participants to navigate the complexities of democratic participation in exile and discuss topical issues such as local democracy and its link to the delivery of human rights at local level, different forms of participatory democracy, public trust, and the diverse roles of local authorities, civil society organisations, media and citizens. The workshop also encouraged reflection on designing an effective local governance system tailored for Belarus’s future.
The event was organised within the project “Empowering Belarusian democratic forces to promote local democracy and human rights” (2026–2027), as part of the Council of Europe’s Contact Group on Co-operation with Belarusian Democratic Forces and Civil Society.
