29th Forum 2000 Conference to focus on reinventing democratic unity
The 2025 Forum 2000 Conference will take place on October 12–14 in Prague. Participants will discuss ways to reinvent international democratic unity, with topics ranging from the current state of transatlantic relations and the global role of Europe to the future of democracy support. Segments of the conference will focus on technology challenges, such as the role of AI and the use of digital tools for social control. Other sessions will address democracy and human rights “hot spots” around the world—from developments in Ukraine and the Western Balkans to Latin America, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific.
Anar Mammadli remains detained in pretrial detention
On May 3, 2024, the Václav Havel Library and the Forum 2000 Foundation jointly appealed to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the release of ICDR member Anar Mammadli and other prisoners. One year later, and with no response received, Mr. Mammadli—like many others—remains detained in pretrial detention. Today, both organizations reiterate their urgent call to end the repression of civil society in Azerbaijan and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners. Furthermore, on this occasion, you can also read a related statement by the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Michael O’Flaherty, here.
Goma under siege and international paralysis
“The city of Goma, the economic and humanitarian nerve center of North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has fallen under the control of the M23 rebel group, triggering a devastating humanitarian and security crisis… This bloodshed unfolded in the shadow of numerous international forces, including the United Nations peacekeeping mission,” writes Passy Mubalama, a member of Forum 2000’s ICDR and DSA.
Explore your life: Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman on speaking up for helping the voiceless
In this interview, we feature Vasfije Krasniqi Goodman, a human rights activist and survivor of sexual war crimes committed in Kosovo. Today, her mission is to be the voice of the voiceless, working to end impunity for war crimes and break the stigma associated with wartime sexual violence. 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.
How Holocaust memory is perceived in Central Europe today
The Forum 2000 Foundation is proud to be part of the CERV-funded project CEMORY, led by the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. This initiative examines how Holocaust memory is formed and perceived in Central Europe today, with a strong emphasis on multicultural and multidimensional perspectives. Combining research, education, and artistic engagement, CEMORY aims to deepen understanding of the Holocaust, raise awareness about discrimination, and promote the values of inclusion and human rights. During the upcoming 29th Forum 2000 Conference, participants will have the opportunity to attend sessions inspired by the themes of the CEMORY project.
Editor’s Pick
A selection of essential articles, opinions, ideas, and news from the Forum 2000 community.
Hungary’s new anti-NGO law is a full-frontal assault on the EU Commission | Daniel Hegedüs | EUobserver | “Europe has been facing illiberal, authoritarian challenges to pluralist democracy with growing intensity and frequency since the inauguration of the second Trump administration,“ writes Daniel Hegedüs, an ICDR member and regional director for Central Europe at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
You must take part in revolution: a graphic novel | Melissa Chan and Badiucao | In March 2025, an Emmy-nominated journalist and ICDR member, Melissa Chan, together with an esteemed activist-artist Badiucao—whose work was also exhibited during the Forum 2000 conference in 2023—released their near-future dystopian graphic novel about technology, authoritarian government, and the lengths that one will go to in the fight for freedom.
Democracy report 2025: 25 years of autocratization – democracy trumped? | Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) | V-Dem provides a multidimensional and disaggregated dataset that reflects the complexity of the concept of democracy as a system of governance—one that goes beyond the simple presence of elections. You can download the dataset here.
The views expressed in these works/in the framework of these projects are the responsibility of their authors/organizers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forum 2000 Foundation or its staff.