IDD 2024

A YEAR OF ELECTIONS

IDD 2024

A YEAR OF ELECTIONS

CENTRAL THEMES

The European Endowment for Democracy (EED), European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP), and Carnegie Europe are proud to invite you to the 2024 edition of the International Democracy Day Brussels.

In 2024, the year of elections, half the world’s population is going to the polls to elect new governments and representatives who will shape future policy. These elections are taking place in a context of global democratic backsliding, with half of all countries surveyed in a recent report experiencing democratic declines, and all regions showing an eroding respect for basic rights, including freedom of expression and assembly.

While some of these elections are being held in open environments, many others are taking place under despotic regimes or amidst war and conflict. The integrity of all elections is increasingly under threat, with new technologies manipulating public opinion, increasing hate speech, misinformation and disinformation.

At the same time in many parts of the world, there is evidence of increased political participation. Organisations and movements such as electoral management bodies, anti-corruption agencies and rights institutions are acting as important checks and balances helping to prevent abuses of power and to reduce corruption.

WYDE PROGRAMME

IDD24 will reflect on the electoral year within Europe and globally, assessing the current state of democracy globally. At this pivotal moment, the conference offers a platform to discuss and shape the EU’s democracy agenda for the coming years. It will bring together policy makers, politicians, activists, and independent journalists from across the world for critical discussions on the state of democracy today, the challenges it faces, and the opportunities ahead.

Special attention will be given to the roles of youth and women in these discussions in the framework of the Women and Youth Democratic Engagement (WYDE) programme. This EU flagship initiative aims to promote political pluralism and the inclusiveness of democratic processes.

PROGRAMME

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19 September

14:20 – 15:00

Session 1: Elections 2024 – latest state of play

2024 is a super election year. Elections will be held in 8 of the world’s 10 most populous nations (Bangladesh, Brazil, India, United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Russia, Mexico) as well as in 16 African countries. Around 4 billion voters – approximately a quarter of the world’s population – are expected to be heading to the polls this year. How will these elections impact the world in general and democracy in particular? Is the world becoming more or less democratic? Has the European Union done enough to promote democracy in partner countries?

15:35 – 16:20

Session 2: Mobilising young people at the ballot box: good practices and challenges

Several studies have shown that young people are turning away from democracy and politics. However, recent elections have highlighted how mobilised young people can impact the result of elections. Recently, South African voters have been queuing up for up to 6 hours to cast their ballot in a process through which the main political party will lose its absolute majority after 30 years of unchallenged political dominance. From Poland to Guatemala, Zambia (2021), Argentine (2023), Liberia ( 2023), Senegal (2024), people were able to shake up the status quo by voting en masse to bring opposition candidates to power. For better or worse, voters can make a change, sometimes radical one. Even if elections are not enough to make democracy a democracy, they still matter for voters and political alternance is a key deterrent for corruption and abuse of power. In the year of elections, young people hold the key to reinvigorating democracy through the ballot box.

16:30 – 17:10

Session 3: International Democracy Day at 10

In this panel, speakers will reflect on the ten years that have passed since the first edition of the International Democracy Day Brussels conference, a decade of democratic recession, receding civic space and media freedom, yet also of mass protest. They will reflect on EU international democracy support during this decade and on the role democracy support will play during the next Commission.

20 September

09:15 – 10:00

Session 4 – How to counter disinformation at a time of war?

Disinformation and misinformation are tools used by all sides in the ongoing wars in Ukraine, Palestine and Sudan. False and misleading information are shaping narratives, influencing public opinion, demoralising people, causing mass confusion and swaying international perceptions. In this panel, the trhee speakers will explain how a war of information is distorting narratives in their countries, they will explain its effects, and they will talk about the work they are doing to address this.

10:50 – 11:40

Session 5: Gender Equality and Authoritarianism

As gender disparities widen in countries with authoritarian regimes or restrictive political environments, women’s political participation is particularly at risk. Women rights defenders and gender equality political advocates are developing strategies as they become the targets of authoritarian governments and far-right movements. Amidst the numerous elections happening in the world this year, the resilience of young women activists is coming to the fore.

11:55 – 12:45

Session 6: After the EU elections – what’s next for EU support to democracy globally?

The European Parliament elections marked the beginning of a new term and ushered in a renewed EU leadership tasked with driving the EU agenda for the next five years. Representatives from various EU institutions will share their perspectives on the emerging priorities and focus areas. They will discuss how the incoming European Commission and newly elected European Parliament can translate these priorities into concrete actions that strengthen democracy.

GALLERY

IDD SPEAKERS

Meet the European representatives who participated in the event.

Shada Islam

Managing Director, New Horizons Project Geopolitical Strategy Advice and Analysis

Apostolos Tzitzikostas

1st Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions, Governor of Central Macedonia Region

Christian Leffler

Former Deputy Secretary-General of the EEAS and current Chair of the Board of Advisers of International IDEA

Antonina Majchrzak

Member of a Polish energy think tank

Dubravka Šuica

European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography

Chiara Adamo

Deputy to the Director for Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace directorate in DG INTPA, European Commission

Laura Thornton

Senior director of global democracy programs, McCain Institute

Asanda Luwaca

Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency of South Africa, Club de Madrid WYDE Network of Young Decision-makers

Ann N. Nderitu

Registrar of Political Parties in Kenya

Gary Klaukka

Executive Director, European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP)

Iryna Fedoriv

Co-founder, Holka

Nico Jaspers

Co-founder and CEO, Latana

Riham Abu Aita

Co-founder, Kashif

Simone Susskind

Founder, Actions in the Mediterranean

Saskia Brechenmacher

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu

Principal Adviser, Democracy and Inclusion, International IDEA

Salma Al-Nims

Senior Social Affairs officer, Gender Equality and Inclusion, UNESCWA

Sonia Gassemi

Women’s rights activist and artist

Japleen Pasricha

Founder-CEO & Editor-in-chief of Feminism in India

Khalid Albaih

Sudanese political cartoonist, civil rights activist and freelance journalist

Luis Villaherrera

Founder and President, TRACODA

Viviane Ogou

Researcher and civil society leader

Samuel Kpartor

Deputy Secretary for Programs at the Federation of Liberian Youth

Pita Limjaroenrat

Former leader of Move Forward Party, Thailand

Michael Bruter

Professor of political science and European politics at the London School of Economics

Leopoldo López

Venezuelan opposition leader

Elsa Pilichowski

Director for Public Governance at the OECD

Sam van der Staak

Director for Europe, International IDEA

Patrick Molinoz

Chair of CIVEX commission, Committee of the Regions

Kevin Casas Zamora

Secretary-General, International Idea

Richard Youngs

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace