Deadline: August 4, 2025
Applications are invited for the World Forum for Democracy 2025 – Youth Delegation. The World Forum for Democracy is a unique platform for political decision-makers and activists to debate solutions to key challenges for democracies worldwide. The theme of the 2025 edition of the World Forum for Democracy is “Democracy at risk: how can we revive it?”
The 2025 edition of the World Forum for Democracy will address how the lack of trust in democratic institutions and processes undermines democratic legitimacy, stability, and resilience to both external and internal threats. When citizens are no longer invested in democracy, they may gradually withdraw from voting and other forms of civic participation, leaving the fundamental freedoms that underpin democratic institutions increasingly vulnerable.
This vulnerability creates an environment in which populists and autocrats have greater latitude to weaken institutional checks and balances, undermine constitutional protections, and restrict freedoms such as expression and association.
Benefits
- Travel expenses and visa costs will be reimbursed upon presentation of the relevant receipts, according to the rules of the Council of Europe. Only the participants who attend the entire event (pre-Forum preparation and World Forum for Democracy) can be reimbursed. The payment will be made by bank transfer after the Forum. Prepaid tickets for travel can be arranged in case prior request.
- Board and lodging are provided and paid for by the Council of Europe during the dates of the activity (arrival on 2 November and departure on 8 November 2025). Participants will be accommodated at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg.
Eligibility
To be selected and participate in the World Forum for Democracy 2025, the youth applicants must be:
- Between 18 and 30 years of age;
- Able to communicate and work in English;
- Actively involved in youth organisations or other civil society organisations working with young people on issues reviving democracy via new creative solutions;
- Motivated to share their experiences on democracy and to contribute to developing new ideas on reviving it;
- Available to participate fully in the World Forum for Democracy 2025 and in the preparation process beforehand (i.e. online preparation and onsite presence in Strasbourg arriving on 2 November and departing on 8 November).
Application
The application form must be submitted on-line before 4 August 2025, 23:59 CET. In case of technical problems with the use of the platform, please send an e-mail to [email protected].
For more information, visit World Forum for Democracy.
