“Since its inception, the Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy has stood at the intersection of public administration, civil society and the academic community, serving as a space where defenders of human dignity can speak freely,” emphasised Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor, during the Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy conference, which took place on 2nd December at the University of Warsaw. The event was organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy” is an annual international event that aims to promote democratic values, strengthen international solidarity and support cooperation between governments, civil society, the academic community and human rights defenders.
The main themes of the “Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy” conference, which took place on 2nd December at the University of Warsaw, were democracy and international security. The event was organised in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The conference was held under the slogan “Democracy and International Security: Human Rights Defenders at the Frontline of Freedom”.
The meeting was attended by, among others, Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor, Agata Duda-Płonka, Director of the Department of Global Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Susan Kerr from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, diplomats, representatives of non-governmental organisations, including humanitarian organisations, and experts in fields such as international law, economics and new technologies.
“Since its inception, the Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy has stood at the intersection of public administration, civil society and the academic community, serving as a space where defenders of human dignity can speak freely. Today, authoritarian tendencies, disinformation and digital surveillance technologies are creating new forms of pressure on human rights defenders and new vulnerabilities in democratic systems. These challenges are no longer abstract. Many of us encounter them on a daily basis. That is why the role of universities is so crucial. Academia must remain a place where critical thinking flourishes, where uncomfortable truths can be voiced, and where open debate is not only protected but required. In times of geopolitical tension or democratic regression, it is universities that maintain intellectual integrity in society, especially when times get difficult,” said Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor, opening the meeting.
Thematic panels
During the conference, four thematic panels were held on:
- human rights: Human rights defenders under pressure – protecting the voices of freedom;
- democracy in the age of disinformation: Democracy support in the age of disinformation and digital authoritarianism;
- human rights protection in the context of refugees: Defending Human Rights from Exile in Post-Soviet States: Strategies of Belarusian and Russian Activists;
- human rights in the context of economic development in the era of artificial intelligence and energy transformation: Human rights and economic development in AI and energy transformation era.
The panel on human rights and economic development in AI and energy transformation era was moderated by Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor. The panel also included Dr Jowanka Jakubek-Lalik from the UW’s Faculty of Law and Administration, an expert in public administration, and Dr Paweł Kuczma from the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, who specialises in artificial intelligence and Big Data analysis. The experts discussed how global processes related to economic change, technological development and energy transformation can affect the functioning of societies in the context of human rights and freedoms.
“Supporting human rights during times of rapid technological and energy change is not a luxury, but a prerequisite for national stability. Societies become resilient when transformations, both digital and energy-related, are carried out in a fair, transparent and inclusive manner. Democracy must keep pace with technology, but it must not lose its values,” said Robert Grey, the UW Chancellor, summarising the panel discussions.
Detailed information about the event are available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – gov.pl >>
