Strasbourg, 6-8 November 2019
Call for initiatives
The World Forum for Democracy is a platform for dialogue and democratic participation which brings new ideas into the work of the Council of Europe and promotes its principles across the world. A unique event of its kind, it deals with challenges facing democracy taking as a starting point innovative initiative and practice and fostering debate between different actors to find SOLUTIONS. A democratic exercise, the Forum aims at giving the people – demos – their rightful place in political decision-making. It thus contributes to the evolution of democracy towards more participatory and inclusive structures and institutions.
The main subject of the 2019 World Forum for Democracy will be Information and Democracy. Information is changing. The volume, the content, the platforms: each of these has evolved beyond recognition in a short period of time. To what extent are our opinions and choices – including how we vote – really being shaped for us by the manipulation or fabrication of facts? In the Twitter era, can we still even distinguish between fact and opinion? A growing number of citizens, aware of being increasingly exposed to disinformation, fake news or propaganda, are worried about the authenticity of information in the digital age. This new environment represents a challenge to the traditional media. At the same time, the fast development of algorithms and artificial intelligence adds to the complexity of the issue. Can AI help ΄clean΄the information we receive and ensure neutrality, or we would be better off asking how individuals can better separate fact from fiction for themselves through education and awareness-raising?
The questions we must address in 2019 are to what extent the information we consume today is reliable, and what lessons we can and should learn for ensuring the free flow of reliable information in the future.
Plenary sessions will be an opportunity to discuss with speakers from all continents, including politicians, public and private officials, international organisations, civil society, academics, as well as relevant experts will share their experience and discuss how to improve the current situation. The labs will allow participants to learn about ground-breaking initiatives that offer responses to the key questions above based on an analysis of their real impact and replicability. The initiatives must help us understand how democracy and democratic institutions and practices can help combat disinformation and fake news, and how can artificial intelligence and new technologies become an enabler of democracy.
The labs are the heart of the World Forum for Democracy. Their idea is to address specific issues through the critical analysis of tested initiatives. The initiatives will be presented in short speeches of ten minutes and critically assessed by multidisciplinary panels and participants in the labs. The key conclusions and lessons learnt from the labs will be discussed in a summing up session to prepare the overall conclusions of the Forum. The Forum participants will vote to choose the winner of the Democracy Innovation Award among the presented initiatives.
Organisations/institutions worldwide are invited to express their interest in presenting an initiative aimed at changing the way people receive and process information. These initiatives should be able to share evidence about efforts that have led to the creation of best practices and new approaches to countering disinformation, while offering a sustainable and ethical solution.
Examples of possible initiatives and their challenges (non-exhaustive):
- Freedom of expression and quality journalism
- Investigative journalism
- Initiatives to fight disinformation with innovative methodology
- Fostering cooperation between organization and initiatives working on the issues of information and democracy
- Social media and Hate Speech
- Protection and safety of journalists
- Women journalists and discrimination/harassment online
- Social media and fake news
- Ethical standards and good governance on media
- Artificial intelligence as a weapon against disinformation
- Empowerment and support of local journalism
- Media and ethical journalism
- Digital literacy: education against disinformation
- Media and artificial intelligence
- Education, training and awareness-raising on the use of social media and new technologies
Submissions should be made by answering the questionnaire in the appendix and sending it to [email protected] by 2 June 2019. The World Forum Task Force will select the most interesting and relevant proposals in June 2019.
Any public or private organisation is eligible to apply. One presenter for the selected initiatives will be invited to Strasbourg to take part in the World Forum. Travel and accommodation expenses may be covered by the Council of Europe if required.
For further information about the World Forum for Democracy 2019, please visit the following websites:
@WFDemocracy
Questionnaire for the submission of an initiative
at the World Forum for Democracy, 6-8 November 2019
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Country: |
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Organisation/institution: |
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Title of the initiative: |
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Contact person |
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Address: |
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Telephone: |
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Mobile phone: |
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E-mail : |
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Website: |
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Social media |
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Brief presentation of the organisation (legal status, number of members/employees, field of operation, goals, other relevant information). |
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Brief description of the initiative (max. 200 words): goals, actions, scope, participants, partners. |
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What is the origin of the initiative (sources of inspiration, relevant academic debate etc.)? |
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How was the initiative implemented? |
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What have been the results so far? |
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Which indicators did you use to assess the initiative’s results? |
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What challenges have been encountered in the implementation phase? |
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How does your initiative differ from other existing initiatives? What makes your initiative a democracy innovation? |
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To what extent is your initiative transferable to other organisations and countries? |
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Any additional relevant information/references. |
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Practical information (Please note: the following information will not feed into the jury’s assessment of your initiative) |
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Please indicate who will present the initiative, as well as a replacement in case of an emergency that prevents the first presenter from participating in the Forum (Mr/Ms, name, position, city, country, e-mail, telephone): |
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Language of presentation: |
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o English o French o Other (please specify; presentations in other languages will be considered as exceptions)
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Will you need a Visa for entering France? |
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o Yes o No |
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Are you in position to fund your participation in the World Forum? |
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o Yes o No
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Will you need assistance during the World Forum because of any kind of disability? |
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o Yes o No (Please note that the Palais building is accessible to people with mobility issues). |
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Will you be able to prepare a 2-3 min. video about your initiative prior to the Forum, in case |
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o Yes o No |