Skopje – Düsseldorf, November 26, 2025
CIVIL – Center for Freedom (North Macedonia) and MEDIA DIALOGUE / Y4M (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) are pleased to announce the upcoming international conference “Defending Democracy and Human Rights in the Face of War, Nationalism, and Authoritarianism,” taking place on December 11-12 in Skopje, North Macedonia.
This major gathering will bring together leading experts, policymakers, civil society leaders, and journalists from across Europe and the USA to address the urgent threats facing democracy and human rights worldwide.
The Government of the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) supports this important international conference. The event is part of the NRW Human Rights Week, which includes various formats on the topic. North Macedonia and North Rhine-Westphalia have been linked as partner countries since 2021.
As the free world confronts new and intensified challenges to fundamental democratic values, standards and practices – from escalating conflicts and surges in nationalism to the growth of authoritarian regimes – this conference will provide a critical platform for exchanging insights and crafting actionable recommendations for democratic resilience and media freedom. Through panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, participants will explore bold, collaborative strategies to counter disinformation, protect human rights, and strengthen the foundations of democratic societies.
Highlights of the conference will include a dedicated workshop on challenges and opportunities for democratic defense on December 11, followed by a meeting the press event and the opening of an exhibition marking 25 years of CIVIL’s commitment to democracy and human rights. On December 12, attendees will dive into four key panels, addressing themes such as:
- Democracy under siege: Examining how wars and conflicts destabilize democratic institutions and fuel disinformation.
- The rise of far-right nationalism: Analyzing the far-right’s impact on social cohesion and exploring media’s role in countering its spread.
- Countering Authoritarianism: Investigating effective strategies to resist authoritarian tactics and protect democratic freedoms.
- History and future of uncompromising commitment to democracy, human rights, and media freedoms: Examine the civil society’s commitment to democracy, human rights, and media freedoms.
The list of panelists include prominent civil society leaders, media professionals and experts, university professors, and diplomats from all over Europe and United States, the Western Balkans region and North Macedonia. The list will be revealed in the next press release of the organizers, who are also about to launch a dedicated website of the conference in English and some of the local languages.
These conversations, designed to inspire meaningful solutions, will be live-streamed on YouTube and Facebook to encourage broader public engagement, with online participants welcomed to join the dialogue with their questions and comments. Media outlets across the country, region, and globally are encouraged to tune in and are welcome to rebroadcast the event.
The conference also marks the 25th anniversary of CIVIL, one of North Macedonia’s most prominent civil society organizations, dedicated to advancing democracy, protecting human rights, and countering disinformation and hybrid threats to democratic values.
This announcement serves as an invitation to stay informed on this landmark event – one that promises to confront critical questions, highlight essential partnerships, and chart new courses of action for a stronger, more resilient democratic future.
Further details, including a full agenda and additional guest speakers, will be shared in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for more updates!
CIVIL and MEDIA DIALOGUE
