By Xhabir Deralla
This article serves as a public expression of gratitude and appreciation, and I want it to be a personal letter to each and every individual, institution, and organization whose name appears in the program of the international conference Defending Democracy and Human Rights in the Face of War, Nationalism, and Authoritarianism.
Your support and dedication has been crucial to the success of the conference. It is with deep respect and personal acknowledgment that I address this message to each of you, recognizing your irreplaceable and profound contribution to the ongoing fight to uphold democracy and human rights. On behalf of my colleagues at CIVIL and myself, I extend our heartfelt gratitude, also grateful for the kind and encouraging words we received from you during and after the conference. The thoughts expressed in this text are heartfelt, and I believe they must be shared, for the sake of preserving the memory of our societies’ collective commitment to defending democracy and human rights.
Democracy is under siege worldwide, with authoritarianism steadily creeping into societies through disinformation, operations of influence, hybrid warfare, and brutal military aggression – each tearing the fabric of truth, giving rise to tyranny and undermining democratic values and human rights and freedoms across the globe. The world is heavily affected by waves of manipulation, disinformation and false narratives, deepening societal and political rifts and polarization, eroding public trust in democratic processes and institutions, and paving the way for the rise of authoritarian regimes and military aggression.
The preservation of democratic values is not automatic! What the world urgently needs now is continuous awareness and watchfulness, courage, and a collective determination to confront the forces that seek to undermine the very essence of modern civilization and the global democratic order.
Democracy, as a system, is based on active participation of citizens, elections being the crucial processes, and by definition and law is there to safeguard human rights and freedoms that form its foundation. Without this shared commitment, principles of democracy will be extremely vulnerable to erosion, exposing societies to the rise of authoritarianism, oppression, and the destructive ambitions of dictators like Putin, whose actions as a war criminal instigate brutal wars of aggression.
The international conference Defending Democracy and Human Rights in the Face of War, Nationalism, and Authoritarianism, held in Skopje, North Macedonia, on December 11–12, was a resounding call to action. It brought together leading voices from around the Balkans and the world to discuss the complex intersection of democracy, disinformation, and resilience in the face of global authoritarian trends. The tiny country in the Western Balkans was, let’s be free to call it that way, the global capital of democracy and human rights those two days. But it should not, more precisely, must not, remain on those two days only. The partner organizations and their respective representatives played a critical role in making this event possible, and the initiative saw remarkable growth even within those two days.
The preservation of democratic values is not automatic! What the world urgently needs now is continuous awareness and watchfulness, courage, and a collective determination to confront the forces that seek to undermine the very essence of modern civilization and the global democratic order.
The origin story of this international event tells volumes, too, and may serve as an example of how initiatives don’t die, but grow and remain alive in the future. I kindly ask for some attention to tell my personal story behind this. It all began years ago, in the midst of growing concerns about the erosion of democratic values and the rise of authoritarianism in my country, and several regions across Europe and beyond. But there was one story – one ongoing tragedy – that touched me, and countless others, deeply and pushed me to act in ways I hadn’t before: the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
In 2014, when Russia first set its boots on Ukraine’s soil, tearing apart the peaceful lives of millions with its invasion of Crimea and parts of Donbas, I felt an instinctive anguish. But it didn’t stop there. The horror came in 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, bringing unimaginable devastation to Ukraine. And tore through the very foundation of global peace and stability. I watched in disbelief as entire cities were razed to the ground, as families were torn apart, as innocent lives were lost. These weren’t just political games. These were real people, real lives. I saw children killed, or spending weeks in cold shelters, families being torn and fleeing bombed-out homes. And I saw a ragtag army made of ordinary Ukrainians standing up against a military giant, knowing they might never return home again.
The pain I felt for Ukraine was not just a political stance. It was deeply personal. I felt the weight of the loss, fear, and immense suffering. And I felt the magnificence of dignity, courage, and resolution. And love for freedom. I kept on asking myself: How could we, as global citizens, sit by and let all this happen? For it was more than apparent that this is a terrible war not only for Ukraine, but for the entire world – a stark reminder of the fragility of peace and the cost of ignoring the rise of authoritarian regimes. My personal connection to the suffering of Ukraine ignited the drive within me. It was this deep sense of urgency and injustice, among other gravely alarming global threats, which were driving my colleagues and myself to take countless actions, conduct projects, write reports and analyses, press releases, and books (I wrote two books on Ukraine, and contributed or edited numerous publications on disinformation and hybrid warfare).
This all inspired me to take part in the creation of the #DefendingDemocracy initiative ten months ago, together with Dr. Wolfgang Ressmann of the MEDIA DIALOGUE/Y4M, whose leadership, and the great support from the government of North Rhine-Westphalia, led to the realization of the conference Defending Democracy and Human Rights in the Face of War, Nationalism, and Authoritarianism. This initiative is not merely about discussion or raising awareness – it is about action. Through this effort, we are uniting across borders, building coalitions, and working together to protect the democratic values that are under siege today.
The success of our #DefendingDemocracy conference would not have been possible without the irreplaceable and profound contributions of the illustrious speakers who shared their knowledge and visions. Professors from renowned universities across Europe and the United States, civil society leaders, dedicated media professionals, diplomats, and esteemed public figures – each one brought a unique perspective, deep understanding, and unwavering commitment to defending democratic values and human rights. Their words resonate deeply with all of us, elevating the conversation and getting to the core of the complex challenges we face today.
The #DefendingDemocracy initiative is not merely about discussion or raising awareness – it is about action.
I am deeply grateful to each and every speaker for their time, their passion, and their dedication to this cause. I witnessed the energy that derived from the tireless work of experts and university professors who bring us knowledge, activists and CSOs striving to protect human rights, the frontline efforts of journalists navigating against oceans of disinformation, and the profound diplomatic efforts to preserve stability and peace in turbulent times. Every speaker played a crucial role in making the conference a truly global and impactful event. Their engagement at the conference, and their valuable contribution to proposals about the ways to tackle pressing issues of today’s world, gave all of us, and me, a renewed sense of hope and determination to continue our collective work in defending democracy, upholding human rights, and ensuring that authoritarian forces do not succeed in their mission to destroy our societies and take our freedoms.
We didn’t simply walk away from the conference on the afternoon of December 12. This wasn’t one of those events. In the days that followed, we arranged several meetings, conducted evaluations, and laid the groundwork for next steps. I was deeply impressed by the unwavering commitment of everyone involved in the agenda. Their dedication testifies to the fact that we are not just inspired but truly empowered. Knowing that such passionate and knowledgeable individuals stand beside us in the fight for democracy strengthens our resolve and drives us forward.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the government of North Rhine-Westphalia, and especially to Mr. Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal, European, and International Affairs and Media, as well as Head of the State Chancellery. Their steadfast support and confidence in CIVIL and MEDIA DIALOGUE/Y4M were instrumental in making this conference a reality. We are deeply honored to have had the opportunity to be part of the Human Rights Week initiative of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, which further underscores the importance of this event. Minister Liminski and his team’s unwavering commitment to promoting democratic values and human rights has been a guiding light, enabling us to bring together experts, activists, and decision-makers from across Europe and beyond—all united in the shared goal of defending democracy, upholding human rights, and countering authoritarianism.
Let me conclude. The conference was not just a moment of reflection. Together, we have turned it into a launchpad for action. Its success, marked by deep engagement, bold ideas, and new alliances, underscored the resilience and resolve of those fighting for human rights, democracy, justice and freedom. I am proud to claim that, as the conference concluded, it became clear that this is only the beginning. We stand at the dawn of a renewed mission: to expand partnerships, deepen our networks, and sustain the momentum necessary to resist oppression, military aggression, and safeguard democratic principles. Together, we will ensure that the lessons, ideas, and strategies forged during the conference’s two days reverberate far beyond the Balkans, igniting change across Europe and the world. Democracy must not only be defended – it must prevail!
CONFERENCE, FULL VIDEO, Streamed live on December 12, 2024:
https://youtu.be/1f2Eo1ZXEQ0
PHOTO ARCHIVES: #DefendingDemocracy, Panel 1: Democracy under Siege
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.994398716055531&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy, Panel 2: The Rise of Far-Right Nationalism
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.995019619326774&type=3
#DefendingDemocrcy Panel 3: Countering Authoritarianism
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.995771969251539&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy conference, Panel 4: Commitment to Democracy
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.996548069173929&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy Conference (overall)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=a.993726732789396&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy – workshop and meeting with the press
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.992924672869602&type=3
#DefendingDemocracy PRESS CONFERENCE
https://youtu.be/19GAn7azNvY
For more information on the Conference, please visit the special website DefendingDemocracy
