The 2024 Generation Democracy Global Summit hosted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Vilnius, Lithuania, from September 11-14, 2024, brought together over 60 young leaders from 31 countries. This event served as a crucial platform for youth committed to democracy, providing opportunities for young leaders, policymakers, and activists to address global challenges and collaborate on solutions that would empower the next generation of democratic actors.
Key Partnerships: Global Democracy Coalition and Youth Empowerment
One of the Summit´s most impactful sessions was the panel titled “Leadership in Diversity: Cultivating Youth Leaders from All Backgrounds”, organized in partnership with the Global Democracy Coalition, hosted by International IDEA. This session, moderated by Elisenda Ballesté Buxó, Project Coordinator of the GDC, focused on how youth from diverse backgrounds could be nurtured as leaders in their respective
communities and countries. Panelists included Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius and Monika Ošmianskienė, members of the Lithuanian Parliament, Anesa Colakovic, the Director for Culture, Youth, and Sports at the North Mitrovica Municipality, and Marla Patricia De la Cruz Rivas, an Adolescent Girl Advisory Council Fellow at the Global Fund for Women.
Throughout this collaboration, the Coalition, a strategic alliance of over 130 democracy organizations, helped to elevate discussions on cross-sector collaboration, strengthening youth civic participation, and addressing challenges such as disinformation and authoritarianism.
During the summit, Nicolette Kalfas, Research Assistant at the GDC, highlighted the Coalition’s ongoing efforts to connect youth with critical global initiatives, including the Summit for Democracy and GDC forums. She emphasized how young leaders could use these networks to develop leadership skills, engage in political processes, and ensure their voices are influential in shaping future governance.
Summit Highlights: A Platform for Action and Innovation
Beyond this session, the summit offered a range of discussions that emphasized youth political participation, civic engagement, and the innovative use of technology to strengthen democracy. A standout session focused on the ‘Year of Elections’, where
experts like Marie Kikvadze, Vice President and Global Member Advisory Board at Generation Democracy, Daryna Onyshko, the Youth Network Coordinator at the Community of Democracies (CoD), Emiliana Gil, a member of Youth Liberty Congress and activist from Venezuela, and moderator Javier El-Hage, the Chief Legal and Policy Officer at Human Rights Foundation (HRF) shared their experiences of navigating complex
political landscapes, promoting democratic participation, and advocating for electoral integrity. The panelists highlighted the challenges and opportunities faced in their respective countries, underscoring the importance of youth engagement, international cooperation, and the defense of human rights in ensuring free and fair elections around the world.
The summit also featured practical workshops aimed at equipping participants with tools for leadership. One such session, titled “Building Bridges: Connecting with Funders and Partners”, was led by Meryl Miner, Senior Manager for Youth and Inclusion at IRI. This session not only emphasized the importance of forging strong, sustainable partnerships, but encouraged participants to think strategically about funding and long-term impact. It also provided a platform for a brainstorming session on the best ways to present yourself and your pitch when meeting with potential funders, as well as helpful tips on demonstrating your value.
The Global Summit Declaration: A Commitment to Democracy
A major outcome of the event was the Global Summit Declaration, a youth-driven manifesto outlining attendees´ commitments
to protecting and promoting democracy in their respective regions. The declaration emphasized the role of youth in addressing global issues such as climate change, inequality, and digital disinformation, calling for greater youth involvement in governance and civic education, but also in transnational collaboration to ensure democratic resilience.
This year’s declaration was crafted as a direct response to the challenges young leaders encounter, including political exclusion, misinformation, and limited opportunities for meaningful participation in decision-making processes. Through
workshops, participants developed actionable strategies to address these challenges and promote a more inclusive, democratic future.
Cultural Exchange and Networking
In addition to political discussions, the summit featured Cultural Immersion Activities, including visits to the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and Uzupis. These activities allowed participants to experience Lithuanian history and cultural heritage, deepening their connections and reinforcing the theme of unity across borders.
The summit concluded with a Closing Ceremony where participants signed the Global Summit Declaration and celebrated the partnerships and friendships forged. The Global Democracy Coalition and other partners (National Endowment for Democracy, Human Rights Foundation, Juventud LAC, Youth Democracy Cohort, and Community of Democracies) were instrumental in ensuring that the summit was not only a space for
dialogue but also a launching pad for future collaborations aimed at strengthening democratic resilience globally.
Looking Forward: A Vision for Youth Leadership
The 2024 Generation Democracy Global Summit was a success, offering participants meaningful collaborations, innovative ideas, and actionable commitments. As young leaders return to their communities, equipped with new knowledge, networks, and strategies, they bring with them a collective vision of a more inclusive and resilient democratic world.
The future of democracy is in the hands of these young leaders, and their impact will be felt across the globe.
About the Authors
Nicolette Karina Kalfas
Research Assistant, Global Democracy Coalition (SNAO)
Nicolette Karina Kalfas serves as a Research Assistant for the Global Democracy Coalition, a dynamic multi-stakeholder alliance dedicated to advancing and safeguarding democracy worldwide. This coalition is strategically coordinated by the North America Programme at International IDEA. Nicolette’s tenure with International IDEA began in April 2024, where she plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the coalition’s engagement in both the Summit for Democracy and the preceding GDC Forum.
Elisenda Ballesté Buxó
Project Coordinator – Global Democracy Coalition, North America Programme
Elisenda Ballesté Buxó is the Project Coordinator of the Global Democracy Coalition, a strategic multi-stakeholder alliance of organizations to advance and protect democracy. The Coalition helps to amplify the voices of individual organizations, allows for dialogue across regions, themes and sectors, and enables individual organizations to have greater impact as part of a collective effort to advance and protect democracy. International IDEA is one of the co-coordinators of this initiative.