Democracy issues to be discussed in Yerevan
The Council of Europe Forum for the Future of Democracy will take place from 19 to 21 October in Yerevan (Armenia) and will discuss principles of and challenges to democracy in Europe.
European democracies are currently facing many challenges: the crisis of confidence in political institutions, growing disinterest in politics and the impact of the economic crisis are all factors which threaten to jeopardise the proper functioning of democracy.
Discussions will bring together personalities from international and local politics, civil society, media and academia throughout Europe.
Some 60 non-governmental organisations active in promoting democratic governance, including 16 from Armenia, will participate in the Forum at the invitation of the Council of Europe Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations. Selected by the INGO Conference, non-governmental organisations who have duly applied to participate and whose competences are relevant to the Forum's discussion of European democracy issues will be invited shortly to send one representative.
Launched in Warsaw in 2005, the Forum was since held in Moscow (2006), Stockholm (2007), Madrid (2008) and Kyiv (2009), and considered civil participation, the role of political parties, the interdependence of democracy and human rights, e-democracy and electoral systems.
