FORUM 2000 BULLETIN
DECEMBER 2021

Dear friends,

Please allow me to take this opportunity to thank you for your continuing support! 2021 was not an easy year. However, it has also been a year of hope. For us at Forum 2000, it has been a year when we could again, at least partly, return to in-person activities. Some of the participants of the 25th Annual Conference, after months of online-only events, were able to come to Prague and engage in a highly relevant and timely dialogue. At the same time, we have not given up the possibilities offered by technology. Many participants enriched this year's discussions by joining us online.

And although the international situation — and not just COVID-wise — remains complicated, there are many reasons to be optimistic. Democratic institutions are under constant pressure, and populism is rampant. But voters have shown — in different countries around the world — that the prospect of a rational and competent government still holds its appeal. And although authoritarian regimes are ever more assertive, democracies are coming together in different formats and around a range of issues to protect their shared values.

Today, it is more important than ever for the democracies from Europe and North America, but also Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Australia, to enhance these cooperative efforts, to work together globally as well as in regional alliances, to defend the freedom and security of their citizens, and to stand for freedom and human rights of all other human beings in the world. As President Václav Havel pointed out, indifference to the suffering of others opens the door to evil. On the other hand, if we keep on caring for each other — as humans and as active citizens — we can change the world for the better. Let's keep changing the world together.

Happy Holidays and a joyful and free New Year!

Jakub Klepal
Executive Director

25 years of the Forum 2000 Foundation

What were the milestones of the Forum 2000 Foundation's history? The very first conference, the creation of our major projects, visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama or Aung San Suu Kyi, and many more. Let's take a look at the highlights that have shaped the direction of our organization.

Take a look back at the 25th Forum 2000 Conference

As the end of the year is approaching, we cannot forget to highlight our biggest and most important annual event - the Forum 2000 Conference. You can still find the recordings from both days of the 25th Conference on our YouTube channel. Check out the photo gallery to feel the atmosphere of the event once again.

Five essays about this year's Conference

Students of the Václav Havel Joint Master Programme - European Politics and Society have written essays on the crucial topics of the 25th Forum 2000 Conference. We have chosen and published the best of them. Read the five best essays to learn about building back democratically after COVID-19 and other challenges facing democracy today.

#Forum2000online Chat Special

Watch the new special episode of the #Forum2000online Chat to learn more about what democracies can do to prevent violations of human rights and why the democratic world needs a coordinated strategy to act effectively and to bring about a real change. Tinatin Khidasheli, the former Minister of Defence of Georgia, Tomáš Petříček, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, and Yevgeniy Zhovtis, the Chair of the Board of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, were our guests.