Europe GDC Forum 2025

The Freedom Marathon: Shaping A Global Coalition for Freedom

March 15th, 2025 | Milan, Italy

RSVP

🌐If you're online, join us here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81439150913

Agenda

 9:00-9:30 Light breakfast & Networking (food provided)

 9:30-10:00 Welcome Remarks from Atlas (in presence) & GDC representatives (online)

• Andrea Venzon, Co-founder, Atlas
• Elisenda Ballesté Buxó, Project Coordinator, GDC (online)

10:00-10:15 Message of Support [in English with captions]

• Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-in-exile, Belarus (online)

 10:15-10:45 Practical Toolkit | Youth at the Forefront of Democracy [in English with captions]

This talk will centre the voices of young activists and changemakers leading the fight for democracy. Through firsthand accounts from a youth leader, participants will hear about strategies for resisting oppression, breaking down barriers, and driving meaningful change. The talk will help identify key areas where young people can take action, amplify their impact, and shape the future of movements for democracy and freedom.

• Bernard Dika, Spokesperson, Presidente Regione Toscana

11:00-11.30 Keynote Speech [in English with captions]

• Oleksandra Romantsova, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine - Nobel Prize Winner 2022
• Moderator: Andrea Venzon, Co-founder, Atlas

11.30-13:00 Panel | Do we need a new international order to stand up for freedoms? [in English with captions]

This panel will look at different freedom struggles and who they can count on for support, before deep-diving into the challenges they face when seeking systematic action for democracy, against dictatorships. It will then focus on the need to build international institutions and coalitions able to promote freedom and democracy across the board, instead of being paralyzed by national interests and unable to act in front of crises.

Speakers:

• Carine Kanimba, Spokesperson, World Liberty Congress
• George Katrougalos, UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order
• Oleksandra Romantsova, Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine, Nobel Prize Winner 2022
• Virginia Fiume, Fellow, EUI (online)
• Colombe Cahen–Salvador, Co-founder, Atlas
• Moderator: Matteo Magnani, Policy Lead Atlas Italy

13:00-14:30 Lunch Break (food not provided)

14:30-15:00 Keynote speech | The Global Contest Between Autocracy and Democracy: More Complicated Than It Seems [in English with captions]

• Kenneth Roth, Professor, Princeton University (online)
• Moderator: Colombe Cahen-Salvador, Co-Founder, Atlas

15:10-16:50 Consultations | Imagine: How Could The Coalition We Need to Look Like? [In Italian | English speaking moderators available]

Attendees will be involved to explore how such a coalition could take place, how citizens might directly partake in it, express their preferences, and have a stake in the continued advancement of the struggle for freedom.

• Carine Kanimba, Spokesperson, World Liberty Congress
• George Katrougalos, UN Independent Expert on the Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order 
• Maura Gancitano, Philosopher, Tlon (online)
• Moderator: Julian Gerth, Community Team Leader

17:00-18:00 Panel | What Can Italy Do on Global Freedoms? [in Italian with captions]

 The panel will explore Italy's role in promoting human rights worldwide. As a nation with a rich history of advocating for civil liberties and a founding member of the European Union, Italy is called to take a larger role in this historical moment. This discussion will delve into how Italy can leverage its relationships and influence to support and advance global freedoms.

• Brando Benifei, MEP, Democratic Party (online)
• Giulia Pastorella, National Deputy, Azione (online)
• Pierfrancesco Maran, MEP, Democratic Party
• Ruslana Tkach, Segretaria UAMI
• Andrea Venzon, Co-founder, Atlas
• Moderator: Elena Baggio, Policy Lead of Atlas Italy

18:00 Closing remarks & next steps