“Democracy is first and foremost nurtured by citizens, shaped by the experiences of people who care about their freedoms, their rights, their neighbours and the places they live in,” stressed Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori addressing the third edition of the Council of Europe Human Rights Day in Tampere, Finland, on 19 May 2025, dedicated to the crucial role of civil society.
He stressed that “civil society is not an add-on to democracy – it is a central pillar of it, and we in the Council of Europe make sure that governance is inclusive and citizen-driven also beyond elections,” pointing out that local and regional authorities were the first line of contact between government and citizen – the level where citizen participation in democracy begins.
Citizens and civil society must have influence on shaping outcomes in a democratic society, but they also have the responsibility to stay informed, to engage and contribute to the well-being of their communities, underlined Secretary General Mori. “Democratic institutions must provide an enabling environment where civic action is welcomed and supported – an environment in which citizens can act to expose the weaknesses and failures of governments. Democracy is not something we inherit – it is a system we create, together, every day,” he concluded.
Human Rights Day in Finland underscores civil society’s vital role in democracy
