Agenda
Opening
Monday, June 23
Day 1
Tuesday, June 24
Day 2
Wednesday, June 25
Day 3
Thursday, June 26
Side Events
Friday, June 27
Please see below for the developing agenda
Opening Ceremony
09:00 – 10:15 (CET)
Leaders from the Government of Poland, European Commission, World Justice Project, and civil society will meet on the plenary stage to offer opening remarks and contribute their vision and commitments to accountable governance and the rule of law.
Type
Understanding the Global Rule of Law Recession
10:45 – 12:00 (CET)
Opening Plenary: A conversation framing the Forum’s themes and key questions for the days ahead: what is driving the rule of law recession, and what can be done to reverse this trajectory in the context of increasing authoritarian trends?
Type
Lunch
12:00 – 13:00 (CET)
Standing Up to Corruption In Africa
13:00 – 14:30 (CET)
Speakers
Type
Fixing the Rule of Law by Bending It? Lessons from Poland
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Democracy Reporting International. Since October 2023, the new Polish centrist ruling coalition has undertaken to repair the rule of law in the country, restore judicial independence, and reverse damage to constitutional institutions incurred during eight years of anti-democratic rule. In doing so, the Polish government has resorted to various legal means, some of which raised eyebrows in the legal world. Is such a utilitarian approach to the rule of law something the liberal establishment should baulk at – or perhaps it’s the only way to deal with entrenched institutions? This roundtable will shed light on one of the fascinating dilemmas arising from the Polish experiment in the rule of law restoration and examine its consequences for countries that might face similar travails in the near future.
Speakers
Type
Intergenerational Dialogue on Youth Leadership and Accountable Governance
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies. This working session will bring together Young Justice Leaders and justice sector leaders for an intergenerational dialogue. It will explore youth leadership, justice, democracy, and governance—focusing on challenges, innovation, and amplifying marginalized voices. The session will highlight the vital role of young leaders in accountable governance. By combining the insights of seasoned advocates with fresh perspectives, it will show how youth will advance democracy and justice in their contexts. This dynamic platform will foster collaboration and learning, showcase youth-led initiatives, and offer insights for the justice sector’s future. The moderated session will use an open fishbowl format to promote active participation.
Speakers
Type
Justice System Response to Extreme Weather Events and Other Disasters
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This session will examine current and emerging legal needs and justice challenges posed by extreme weather events and other disasters, and explore effective and adaptative solutions to address them. Panellists will also discuss the role of the justice system when citizens hold governments accountable for their actions and inactions in preventing and responding to climate change, and addressing the enforcement of environmental regulations. The session will also highlight the importance of data collection in understanding the needs arising from climate challenges and shaping effective responses.
Type
How Legal Empowerment Can Deepen Democracy
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Namati and Legal Empowerment Fund. The rise of authoritarianism and closing civic space poses significant threats to the work of civil society, social movements, and justice defenders. Moreover, the very foundations of legal empowerment – respect for human rights and the rule of law – are under attack, as part of an authoritarian «playbook of repression.» This session brings together grassroots justice defenders from Argentina, Kenya, the Philippines, and Indonesia to share a playbook of justice to counter the playbook of repression. From legal empowerment groups with decades-long experience fighting repression to youth activists rising up to meet urgent challenges, the global movement for grassroots justice holds critical lessons for defending and deepening democracy through legal empowerment.
Speakers
Type
Under pressure: protecting media freedom in the EU and beyond
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT). In recent years, even stable democracies have faced growing threats to the rule of law. Within the EU, some member states are seeing a troubling decline in democratic standards. This panel focuses on media freedom, often among the first targets in times of democratic backsliding. We will explore how the erosion of the rule of law impacts journalists’ rights and media independence, including SLAPPs, impunity for violence, and financial or regulatory pressure on critical outlets. The panel will also highlight civil society efforts to defend media freedom, their use of EU tools like the Rule of Law Mechanism, and challenges faced in both EU and candidate countries.
Type
Working Sessions
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Concurrent breakout sessions designed to foster interaction amongst Forum participants and generate new insights, actionable recommendations, and next steps.
Type
Rule of Law Award
16:45 – 17:30 (CET)
The World Justice Project will present the 2025 Rule of Law Award in recognition of extraordinary rule of law achievements by an individual, institution, or organization.
Type
Opening Ceremony
09:00 – 10:15 (CET)
Leaders from the Government of Poland, European Commission, World Justice Project, and civil society will meet on the plenary stage to offer opening remarks and contribute their vision and commitments to accountable governance and the rule of law.
Type
Opening Plenary: Understanding the Global Rule of Law Recession
10:45 – 12:00 (CET)
Speakers
Anne Applebaum
Kevin Casas-Zamora
Type
Presentation of the Rule of Law Award
16:45 – 17:30 (CET)
Type
Fixing the Rule of Law by Bending It? Lessons from Poland
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Democracy Reporting International. Since October 2023, the new Polish centrist ruling coalition has undertaken to repair the rule of law in the country, restore judicial independence, and reverse damage to constitutional institutions incurred during eight years of anti-democratic rule. In doing so, the Polish government has resorted to various legal means, some of which raised eyebrows in the legal world. Is such a utilitarian approach to the rule of law something the liberal establishment should baulk at – or perhaps it’s the only way to deal with entrenched institutions? This roundtable will shed light on one of the fascinating dilemmas arising from the Polish experiment in the rule of law restoration and examine its consequences for countries that might face similar travails in the near future.
Speakers
Type
Intergenerational Dialogue on Youth Leadership and Accountable Governance
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies. This working session will bring together Young Justice Leaders and justice sector leaders for an intergenerational dialogue. It will explore youth leadership, justice, democracy, and governance—focusing on challenges, innovation, and amplifying marginalized voices. The session will highlight the vital role of young leaders in accountable governance. By combining the insights of seasoned advocates with fresh perspectives, it will show how youth will advance democracy and justice in their contexts. This dynamic platform will foster collaboration and learning, showcase youth-led initiatives, and offer insights for the justice sector’s future. The moderated session will use an open fishbowl format to promote active participation.
Speakers
Type
Justice System Response to Extreme Weather Events and Other Disasters
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This session will examine current and emerging legal needs and justice challenges posed by extreme weather events and other disasters, and explore effective and adaptative solutions to address them. Panellists will also discuss the role of the justice system when citizens hold governments accountable for their actions and inactions in preventing and responding to climate change, and addressing the enforcement of environmental regulations. The session will also highlight the importance of data collection in understanding the needs arising from climate challenges and shaping effective responses.
Type
How Legal Empowerment Can Deepen Democracy
15:00 – 16:30 (CET)
Organized by: Namati and Legal Empowerment Fund. The rise of authoritarianism and closing civic space poses significant threats to the work of civil society, social movements, and justice defenders. Moreover, the very foundations of legal empowerment – respect for human rights and the rule of law – are under attack, as part of an authoritarian «playbook of repression.» This session brings together grassroots justice defenders from Argentina, Kenya, the Philippines, and Indonesia to share a playbook of justice to counter the playbook of repression. From legal empowerment groups with decades-long experience fighting repression to youth activists rising up to meet urgent challenges, the global movement for grassroots justice holds critical lessons for defending and deepening democracy through legal empowerment.
