The 2016 World Forum for Democracy gathered 2200 participants from more than 100 countries.Political institutions representatives, young activists,academia, media, business circles, civil society organisations, social innovators and educators.
The event responded to current concerns about rising levels of Islamophobia, as well as stigmatisation of other religions, whilst acknowledging the rights of all individuals and groups -whether religious or not- under the European Convention on Human Rights.
Following on from the Syros Migration Policy Lab in September 2015, the aim of the Athens Refugee Policy Lab – From reception to integration: Evidence and innovation has been to engage multiple stakeholders in a dialogue, assessing refugee reception efforts in Greece since 2015.
The Forum on Freedom of Media and Human Rights fostered knowledge and discussion that protect press freedoms, increase public access to knowledge and information, the inclusion of minority voices in media, and use of communication and information to address pressing social issues.
The 2015 edition of the World Forum for Democracy took place after the 13 November Paris attacks, highlighting the pertinence of the theme chosen and the urge to provide answers to the three sets of questions raised.
Symbiosis, the Civil School of Political Studies in Greece, Network of Council of Europe, organised the Migration Policy Lab on “Safeguarding fundamental rights in the midst of increasing migratory flows and social crisis” in Syros from 3 to 7 September 2015.
Symbiosis-School of Political Studies in Greece, affiliated to the Council of Europe Network of Schools, organised the seminar in Xanthi from 24 to 26 March, 2015, in line with Symbiosis commitment to decentralization.
A joint seminar by the affiliated to the Council of Europe Istanbul and Symbiosis-Schools of Political Studies in Greece, investigating the possibilities for Politics of Friendship today, took place on 27-30 December 2014.
The 2014 edition of the World Forum for Democracy gathered representatives of civil society, media and business circles, academics, young activists, and political leaders from more than 100 countries to discuss the issues and challenges of youth participation and the opportunities they offer for democratic renewal.