This Monday marked three years since Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. From the very beginning, Forum 2000 has strongly condemned this unjustifiable war of aggression by Vladimir Putin’s regime against an independent democratic state. Over the past three years, Forum 2000 Foundation and its community have systematically worked to share vital information, support Ukraine’s defenders, and stand in solidarity with its people and civil society as they fight to uphold the values of freedom and democracy. We continue to #StandWithUkraine.
Does BRICS Pose a Threat to the World Order?
This year, BRICS expanded to 10 members, grouping around 40% of the world’s population and economy. “This has sparked a special interest in the West, with some labeling the group as a threat to the current liberal world order. For instance, US President Donald Trump has threatened it with 100% tariffs. However, how accurate is this threat, and what does it threaten?,” writes Max Povse, a member of DSLA.
Explore Your Life: Cecilia Requena Zárate on Defending Democracy and Sustainable Politics
As part of the 28th Forum 2000 Conference, we conducted a series of interviews with members of our wider Forum 2000 network. These conversations aim to highlight the inspiring work they do while offering an insight into their lives, hopes, and dreams. In our next interview, we feature Cecilia Requena Zárate, a member of the Bolivian Senate. Requena highlights the importance of building stronger networks to defend democracy and human rights, her belief in the unifying power of politics, and opportunities for democracy in Bolivia. She also reflects on the lessons of tolerance, her achievements in advancing sustainability in public policy, and her parents as ethical role models.
First DSA Regional Conference in Nairobi
On February 12, the members of Democratic Solidarity Africa (DSA) held their first regional conference in Nairobi, Kenya. The discussions primarily focused on mitigating foreign authoritarian influence in Africa, with an emphasis on illicit financial flows, economic engagement, geopolitics, and other regional issues. The conference also incorporated a broader global context by engaging speakers from Asia and Europe.
Argentine Embassy in Caracas Left Without Power – Asylum Seekers in Danger
Forum 2000 stands in deep concern over the worsening humanitarian and diplomatic crisis unfolding at the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. These actions target the asylum seekers who remain trapped in the embassy premises, putting their safety and well-being at grave risk. We condemn the ongoing siege and the persistent threats faced by these political refugees.
Freedom for Rocío San Miguel and Alejandro Gonzalez
February 9 marks the first anniversary of the arbitrary detention of Rocío San Miguel, a human rights lawyer, and her ex-husband, Alejandro Gonzalez de Garcia Plaza, both of whom hold dual Venezuelan-Spanish nationality. Rocío, who received last year’s International Forum 2000 Award for Courage and Responsibility, is confined in the SEBIN torture center known as El Helicoide. For more than five months, she has had a fractured shoulder, which requires surgery and rehabilitation. Her family and lawyers demand her immediate release so that she can be treated by doctors. Alejandro is in the torture center known as El Rodeo 1, where his family can see him once a week, through a glass partition, for 10 minutes when visits are allowed. They have not been allowed lawyers, they do not have access to his case file.
The Forum 2000 Editor’s Pick
A selection of essential articles, opinions, ideas, and news from the Forum 2000 community.
Interview with Evan Alireza Firoozi | Memory of Nation | Evan Alireza Firoozi now lives in the USA and works in IT. But in his early youth, he was active in his native Iran as a journalist and blogger. He also took part in protests. He was arrested for the first time in the election year 2009, when he was not even 20 years old. Over the next two years, he was imprisoned three times, twice in the infamous Evin Prison. “A lot of people today face the same or worse things in prison that I faced,” says Evan Alireza Firoozi at the end of the interview, conducted during the 28th Forum 2000 Conference.
What the ‘2024 Year of Elections’ Reveals about the State of Democracy in South Asia | Niranjan Sahoo; Ambar Kumar Ghosh | The Asia Democracy Research Network | The year 2024 was billed as the biggest election period in history. While elections in some countries (particularly Sri Lanka and India) offered renewed hope in terms of a democratic reopening and opposition gains, others (such as Bangladesh and Pakistan) witnessed electoral manipulation, voter suppression, and rising political violence.
What Does Trump 2.0 Mean for Venezuela? | Moisés Naím | Venezuela’s future will be largely shaped by US policymakers and lobbyists over the next year. Although Donald Trump’s administration has yet to formulate a unified position on the country, it will probably do so sooner rather than later, given the many important US interests at stake.