Call for Applications: World Forum for Democracy 2025

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.

• Table of Content
• About Council of Europe
• World Forum for Democracy
• Aim and Benefits of World Forum for Democracy
• Requirements for World Forum for Democracy Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

World Forum for Democracy

Aim and Benefits of World Forum for Democracy

Travel expenses
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.

Accommodation
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.

The youth centre is accessible to young people with disabilities and ready to adapt to young people’s special needs to ensure full inclusion and quality working conditions.

Requirements for World Forum for Democracy Qualification

The youth delegation will bring together up to 50 participants who reflect the diversity of young people around the world and offer a wide range of perspectives on democracy, including those already engaged in finding solutions and developing ideas to revive democratic systems where they are at risk.

Note: Special consideration will be given to applicants who are recognised within the Council of Europe’s youth sector for their active involvement in promoting democracy and youth activism.

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 Deadline

How to Apply

• The application form must be completed online before 04 August 2025, 23:59 CET. Potential applicants are strongly advised to apply well in advance before the deadline to check that their registration is complete and to solve any possible technical problems. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Application form
• In case of technical problems with the use of the platform, please send an e-mail to [email protected], before 16:00 CET, on 04 August 2025.
• For any further inquiries, please contact [email protected] , before 16:00 CET, on 04 August 2025.

For more details, visit World Forum for Democracy webpage