HOW TO OVERCOME DISTRUST
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[07:56 pm] 11 June, 2007
Strasbourg, 11.06.2007 – Today more Europeans live in democracies
than ever before. However, despite this unprecedented and favourable
context, lack of confidence in the democratic system as a whole is
growing among European citizens. Declining turnout in elections,
political disaffection, distrust of politicians and the challenges of
globalisation, are all challenging and threatening the very foundations
of democracy in Europe.
The theme of the 2007 Council of Europe Forum on the Future of
Democracy is "Power and empowerment – the interdependence of democracy
and human rights". The Forum takes place in Stockholm and Sigtuna in
Sweden from 13-15 June and is hosted by the Swedish Government, the
Swedish Parliament and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities
and Regions.
400 participants from all over Europe and from many sectors of the
European societies, including citizen-activists, will discuss a wide
range of subjects. The keynote speech on the theme of Power and
Empowerment will be given by Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe
Commissioner for Human Rights, as the first item after the opening
of the Forum.
The Forum opens on 13 June at the Swedish Parliament (Rikdagen)
at 13h30 with a welcome address by Per Westerberg, Speaker of the
Riksdag. The opening speeches include statements by Vuk Jeremic,
Serbia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Council
of Europe Committee of Ministers, Rene van der Linden, President
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Ms Nyamko
Sabuni, the Swedish Minister for Integration and Gender Equality,
Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and Halvdan
Skard, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of the Council of Europe.
