Forum 2021
A forum for new ideas and diverse voices to reinvigorate democracy.
Global conversation
A global multi-stakeholder coalition for democracy (Global Democracy Coalition) gathered in a virtual forum held for 24 hours on 7 December 2021, convened by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). The purpose of the Global Democracy Coalition Forum was to galvanize a global conversation on democracy, as inputs to the first Summit for Democracy which was held on 9 and 10 December 2021.
Partnerships
The Forum sought to provide a platform for voices, actors, and issues that may not be part of the official Summit and is thereby aimed to broaden the discussions of the Summit. Issues ranged from the integrity of elections, electoral assistance, gender and democracy, disinformation, malign finance, youth and democracy, state of democracy globally, in Asia, Africa and the United States, SDG 16, democratic backsliding and rising authoritarianism, democratic leadership, civic education, role of media, freedom of speech, transnational repression, and development and democracy, among others.
Agenda
41 webinars, organized by 52 organizations and bringing together over 250 democracy organizations, activists, advocates, experts, academics, students, politicians, and thought leaders from all over the world to discuss challenges, opportunities, and solutions to reinvigorate democracy worldwide.
Recommendations
The Global Democracy Coalition Forum consisted of 41 webinars organized by 51 democracy organizations from around the world with over 245 experts, democracy activists, political and civil society leaders and multilateral organizations from all regions. The discussions covered everything from elections, women’s political participation, disinformation, transnational repression, the state of democracy globally, in the United States, in Africa and in the Pacific, the role of youth, corruption and malign finance, democracy and development, freedom of expression and the role of a free media, among many others.
This document provides an overview of the discussions held and of the main recommendations made by Forum participants to the first Summit for Democracy held in 2021.
Testimonials
These testimonials and messages are from individuals, governments, and organizations that did not participate directly in the Global Democracy Coalition Fora and/or Partners for Democracy Day, but that expressed their support to the initiative and its aim of broadening and enriching the official discussions of the Summits for Democracy.