"For us freedom of speech is one of the very fundamental values of the European Union." - Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President, Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, European Commission
#athensdemocracyforum
"[all over asia] Young are there to stand up against corrupt power." - Seoul Sohee Yang, Co-Founder and C.E.O., VALID and Founder, YOUNAN Movement
#athensdemocracyforum
"Ukraine really is Europe’s shield, Europe needs Ukraine" - Chrystia Freeland, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Former Minister of Finance, Canada
#athensdemocracyforum
"For so long we have treated nature as something we are not part of."
Stewart Patrick, Senior Fellow and Director, Global Order and Institutions Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
#athensdemocracyforum
"Can deliberation cure the ills of democracy?" - James S. Fishkin, Professor and Janet M. Peck Chair in International Communication, Stanford University
#athensdemocracyforum
"Civic education is the key to confront the challenges that we have today." Julián Sastoque, Economist and Councilor, Bogotá City Council, Winner of The Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize 2025.
@kofiannanfdn.bsky.social
#athensdemocracyforum
"The older you get the narrower the choices become until you have one." - Maria Ressa, Co-Founder and C.E.O., Rappler
#athensdemocracyforum
"The immediate effect of the tariffs has been great uncertainty." - Mary Beth Goodman, Deputy Secretary General, O.E.C.D.
#athensdemocracyforum
"If you look at the last ten or even 15 years, [...] what they [the US] are trying to do is bring the manufacturing back to their own country." - Jaeyoung Lee, Former Member, South Korean National Assembly and Adjunct Professor, Kookmin University, Seoul
#athensdemocracyforum
"Every day we wake up waiting for a declaration that could change everything all over again." - Brando Benifei, Member of European Parliament
#athensdemocracyforum
"There's plenty of money in the world, it's just in the wrong hands." - Bill de Blasio, Former Mayor of New York City
#athensdemocracyforum
"The most difficult job of mayors is to target actions towards social cohesion." - Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens
#athensdemocracyforum
"Cybercrime is about the same size as the global construction industry." - Evan Kotsovinos, Vice President for Privacy, Safety and Security, Google
#athensdemocracyforum
"Ethics and security go hand in hand, together. I believe this is not something we can rely only on companies [to take care of] alone" - Martin Hojsík, Vice President, European Parliament
#athensdemocracyforum
"Democracy dies when people lose faith" - Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob, Scholar and Policy Adviser
#athensdemocracyforum
I was truly privileged to moderate the AI, Ethics & Democracy sessions at this year’s Athens Democracy Forum, where we explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping societies, institutions, and democratic life. 🇬🇷🇪🇺 #AthensDemocracyForum
“[There is] a double discrimination LGBTQ people [of Namibia] are facing: Traditional and Cultural values and religious and political phobia.” - Omar Van Reenen, Co Founder and Campaign Manager Equal Namibia
#athensdemocracyforum
“The most stable systems that had delivered to the citizens… were Democracies.” - Rashid Al Mohanadi, Middle East Council on Global Affairs
#athensdemocracyforum
Colmena Fund's ED Suyen Barahona co-facilitated with Bru Pereira @votelgbt.org the roundtable “Resist, Persist and Reimagine: Accelerating Diverse Women & Young People’s Political Power” focused on effective strategies to build inclusive political pipelines in decision-making.
#AthensDemocracyForum
Honored to work with Hussam Erhayel and Rebekah Ison (Better Politics Foundation), Pavel Kounchev (Fine Acts), Andrés Sáenz (L-Hub), James Weinberg (University of Sheffield) and Nada Zohdy (@obamafoundation.bsky.social) in “Re-Imagining Democracy & Public Sector Leadership” at #AthensDemocracyForum.
“This award… I’d like to dedicate to those who really deserve it. It’s not me. It’s the journalists of the Gaza.” - Gideon Levy, Journalist and Author - Winner of the City of Athens Democracy Award
#athensdemocracyforum
“We hope because peace in the region would mean food for the children.” - Harris Doukas, Mayor of Athens
#athensdemocracyforum
“We forgot to focus on people, so we need to invest in people.” - Mandeep Tiwan, Secretary General CIVICUS
#athensdemocracyforum
Day 2 live:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRwG...
#athensdemocracyforum #polphil #polsci #polsky #polisci
“I think threat detection using Ai can become a point of collaboration across the world.” - Despina Spanou, Principal Adviser for Cybersecurity Coordination, European Commission
#athensdemocracyforum
“The talent that we want/wish to attract is from greece and from diaspora. We have 3 focus, one is health care.. Culture and language …and of course, sustainability.” - Stefanos Kollias - National Technical University of Athens
#athensdemocracyforum
The #AthensDemocracyForum is underway in Greece, bringing together leaders, scholars, and activists from around the world to tackle the challenges of rising authoritarianism and democratic backsliding.
Athens Democracy Forum fascinating discussions being livestreamed:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U18E...
Program: www.athensdemocracyforum.com/program/2025...
A relevant Bluesky account: @demcultfoundation.bsky.social
#Democracy #Polisky #Polsci #athensdemocracyforum #Polphil
“I hope that…AI can be tamed and
channeled for good.” - Hélène Landemore, Professor of Political Science, Yale University
#athensdemocracyforum
“AI can strengthen democracy
through citizen engagement.” - Anthony Kefalas, Vice Chair, Democracy & Culture Foundation
#athensdemocracyforum
