At today’s public event “Defending Democracy and Human Rights – From Recommendations to Action” which was held in Rome, Xhabir Deralla, President of CIVIL, promoted the book Defending Democracy and Human Rights – with reports and policy recommendations.
The event was also attended by Roger Casale, former MP of the British Parliament, expert on European policies and recognized leader and public figure on the international stage, Westminster Alliance for Ukraine, co-founder of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative, as well as Eric Joszef, journalist and correspondent for Libération, leader of the Europe Now organization, author and writer.
“We the citizens need to wake up, organize ourselves, have faith in ourselves and face the danger. Europe needs to be prepared against the threats from Putin. We must be prepared as soon as possible. It’s time to take even greater responsibility”, Casale said at the promotion.
Joszef reflected on the external and internal threats towards Europe, calling for a united Europe in defending democracy.
“We need to be aware that we are under attack. External attacks, primarily from Putin, but also from US threats to Europe. Vice President Vance said very clearly that he will support the far-right parties or in another way that Europe is a main enemy of the United States. That is why we need to be aware about what is happening. These are external threats. And certainly the internal threats– the national and far-right parties that are trying to destroy the democratic world from within. That is why it’s important to defend democracy, for people to be united, to network, to be prepared for mobilization, fight against disinformation. Journalists are really important and also to create new hope for the European citizens. New hope means a united Europe, federal, with the purpose to defend democracy, but also the social, environmental, economic European model”, Joszef said.
“In a time of growing global extremism and authoritarianism, the fight for human rights and democracy has to be global as well. Political and social actors, institutions and initiatives with a democratic and moderate orientation must urgently find ways to strengthen, protect and support each other. They need to share their experiences, resources and good practices, while at the same time ensure that these efforts reach the wider public and the decision-makers through media, legal mechanisms and civic activism”, say Dr. Wolfgang Ressmann, Media Dialogue, Heather Roberson, Roger Casale and Xhabir Deralla in the introduction of the book, which emerged from the international conference “Defending Democracy and Human Rights in the Face of War, Nationalism and Authoritarianism”, which was held in December 2024.
Promoting the book, Deralla highlighted that democracy is under strong pressure and all stakeholders need to mobilize in its defense.
“If until a few years ago we were promoting democracy, promoting and educating about human rights, now we are in a situation to say that we must defend democracy. Democracy is under strong pressure, under attack by the dictatorship, we must mobilize as soon as possible; media, civil society organizations, culture and art are extremely important, not just diplomacy and military means, which of course need to be strengthened in the defense system of Europe. Europe increasingly more seems to be alone in this war against dictatorial, authoritarian systems and regimes”, Deralla stressed.
The event is part of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative, co-founded by the New European People’s Forum (NEPF), Media Dialogue and CIVIL– Center for Freedom, and supported by Europa Now!.
The Defending Democracy Global Initiative brings together parliamentarians, civil society and media representatives across Europe to promote democratic resilience and cooperation. It focuses in three main pillars: advocacy and policy-making, independent media production, including the “Eyes on Democracy“ podcast, and its flagship programme, the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine.
Translated by: N. Cvetkovska