Deralla noted that issues once seen as matters of education and development have now become a matter of defense: “Today we are defending values, defending institutions, defending human dignity.” He warned that the international environment is deteriorating rapidly, stressing that democratic societies must act decisively “to put an end to imperialism, aggression, and authoritarianism that undermine security, distort public debate, and threaten peace at European and global levels.”
Members of CIVIL’s leadership, Biljana Jordanovska and Diana Tahiri, joined Deralla in presenting the programme’s context and agenda, highlighting the broad participation of experts, journalists, diplomats, activists, and partners from Germany, Ukraine, France, Italy, the United States, and across the Western Balkans.
Over the coming days, the programme will navigate some of the most pressing challenges of our era: Russian hybrid operations, the role of media in the post-truth age, the spread of authoritarian influences, and the explosive rise of artificial intelligence in warfare and information manipulation. These themes, Deralla stressed, are not abstract: “As a society — and as a region — we are entering an exceptionally delicate period. Democracy fades when the public grows tired, institutions weaken when left without oversight, and false narratives win where truth has no defender.”
He called for shared responsibility, warning that democratic erosion in the Western Balkans echoes wider global trends: “These developments are not isolated. They are part of a global confrontation between democracy and authoritarianism.” The week-long initiative aims to mobilize citizens, rebuild trust, strengthen partnerships, and reaffirm the idea that defending democracy is a collective responsibility: “Democracy is not protected by one organization, one institution, or one generation. It is defended by society as a whole.”
Concluding his address, Deralla framed the programme’s title as a vision: “‘Horizons of Freedom’ is a vision of a society where dignity is inviolable, information is accurate, institutions strong, and citizens free from fear and manipulation — where every state, no matter how small, has a voice in the democratic family of Europe and the world.”
The message was clear: “Democracy survives only when it is actively defended. We are here to defend it, to strengthen it, and to share that responsibility with all of you.”
SUMMARY OF THE PROGRAMME
Defending Democracy: Horizons of Freedom is a nine-day strategic civic and multimedia programme dedicated to human rights, democratic resilience, and responses to hybrid threats. It runs from 5–15 December 2025, with a closing event on 15 December.
Key Segments
Opening & Press Conference (5 Dec)
Launch of the programme, core messages, and partner presentations.
Media Action & Networking (5–8 Dec)
Public calls, interviews, youth outreach, presentation of monitoring findings, and intensive national/regional networking.
International Cooperation Day (8 Dec)
Online briefing with global media and partners on hybrid threats and programme themes.
National & Regional Democratic Resilience (9 Dec)
Strategic roundtables with experts and institutions focused on strengthening democratic infrastructure.
Human Rights Day (10 Dec)
Public address, youth workshop, and the “Human Rights Alive” artistic installation.
Artificial Intelligence Day (11 Dec)
Media briefing and high-level discussions on AI’s impact on conflict, authoritarianism, and democracy.
International Conference (12 Dec)
Key thematic panels featuring participants from North Macedonia, the Western Balkans, Europe, the U.S., and Ukraine:
– Ukraine and the global struggle for democracy
– AI, disinformation, and the post-truth/post-shame world
– European and global democratic resilience
Closing Event (15 Dec)
Public presentation of the Local Elections 2025 Report with strategic recommendations.
CIVIL Communications Team
Supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, and implemented in cooperation with partners in the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI) and the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine (WA4U) – including Media Dialogue, Youth4Media, the New European People’s Forum (Germany), the Jean Monnet Association (France), and Centro Studi Internazionali (Italy) – this year’s edition expands CIVIL’s long-standing mission to defend freedom, truth, and democratic values.
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