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On 9-10 November, Vilnius will host the third high-level Future of Democracy Forum, which gathers supporters of democracy from all over the world. The event will focus on the biggest challenges facing democracy today and possible actions to rebuff a growing authoritarian pressure.

“Today, we face multiple parallel crises, including the war against Ukraine, violence in the Middle East, tensions in the South Caucasus or the Indo-Pacific region. In such dynamic circumstances, we must not forget the need to maintain and further develop democracy as the most precious and essential part of our political heritage. Lithuania has a reputation as a hub of democracy promotion. It is the foundation upon which our nation stands. These are the values that we believe in and uphold. Thus, the formation, concentration and coordination of a united community of democracies are more important than ever,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis.

The Forum will discuss how to empower democracy activists, human rights defenders and independent media within and beyond the borders and protect them from repression by authoritarian regimes.

Just like last year, the Forum in Vilnius will bring together high-ranking foreign politicians, policymakers, representatives of international and non-governmental organisations, intellectuals and democracy activists worldwide. The event will be attended by
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskayam leader of the Belarusian democratic movement, Maria Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Foreign Ministers and Vice-Ministers, the Union Minister of Foreign Affairs of the National Unity Government of Myanmar Daw Zin Mar Aung, the Czech  Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavský, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana Mavis Nkansah-Boadu and others. In addition, UN Special Rapporteurs, representatives of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, prominent defenders of democracy such as the South African advocate and Professor of law Thuli Madonsela, the wife of the leader of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, democracy activist Inga Imanbay and others, will also join in.. Participants are expected to come from nearly fifty countries representing different regions of the world. A dozen participants of the World Liberty Congress in Vilnius will also attend the Forum. The event has brought together over 300 democracy activists. The Forum will be held in accordance with the Chatham House Rule.

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry co-runs the Resisting Authoritarian Pressure cohort with the Freedom House (the USA) and the Alliance of Democracies (Denmark). The purpose of the cohort is to build resilience to authoritarian coercion and offer support to democracy activists and human rights defenders working in non-democracies. The working group was set up in preparation for the second Summit for Democracy, which was organised by the President Joe Biden.

The Lithuanian Government plans to turn the country into a hub for democracy and make this Forum an annual event.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized this year's Forum with the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University.