Defending Democracy Global Initiative
Defending Truth. Protecting Freedom. Building Resilience.
This is where Democracy Fights Back.
The Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI) was born out of urgency and resolve. Its origins go back to December 2024 and the international conference “Democracy and Human Rights Perspectives in Times of War, Far-Right Nationalism, and Authoritarian Tendencies,” held in Skopje. The event, made possible with the support of the Government of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and organized by Youth4Media and Media Dialogue (Germany), CIVIL – Center for Freedom (North Macedonia), and the New European People’s Forum (international), brought together experts, civil-society leaders, media professionals, diplomats, and thought leaders from across Europe and the United States. There, participants agreed that declarations were no longer enough. The world needed a platform that could stand firm against authoritarianism, disinformation, hybrid warfare, and the rising tide of expansionism, imperialism, and even genocide. From that moment, DDGI began its journey.
The Initiative set out to unite voices across borders. Its purpose is both simple and formidable: to defend democracy, human rights, and truth where they are under attack, and to transform words into action.
At the heart of DDGI lies a clear mission. To Defend: by countering propaganda, hybrid operations, and authoritarian threats, while standing firm against genocide, war crimes, and mass atrocities in Ukraine, Gaza, and beyond. To Connect: by building bridges between civil society, parliaments, institutions, and media, creating alliances that resist authoritarian aggression and expansionist ambitions. To Act: by transforming words into action and policy into measurable change, strengthening democratic resilience in Europe and beyond.
From this mission, DDGI has shaped its core programs. The Westminster Alliance for Ukraine (WA4U), launched in the UK House of Commons in May 2025, has already become a landmark effort to rally parliamentary solidarity and ensure long-term support for Ukraine’s democracy and recovery, with further sessions planned in Rome and other European capitals. The Initiative also invests in Policy and Publications, beginning with the release of Defending Democracy and Human Rights: Report and Policy Recommendations in March 2025, and soon to be followed by Defending Democracy: The Battlefield of Truth. Complementing these efforts is a strong focus on Media and Public Engagement, through multimedia outreach such as the Eyes on Democracy podcast, interviews, analyses, and multilingual reporting designed to reach diverse audiences and challenge disinformation.
The year 2025 has already brought decisive milestones for DDGI. In March, the Initiative released its foundational report, setting out a roadmap for defending democracy and human rights. In May, it launched its flagship programme, the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine at the UK House of Commons. By June, consultations and preparations for the next major policy framework were underway, widening DDGI’s international partnerships. July marked the start of Eyes on Democracy podcast, amplifying voices on the frontline of democracy. In August, CIVIL introduced the Democracy Navigator project in North Macedonia – a strategic response to disinformation and hybrid threats in the country, across the region, and throughout Europe. In September, DDGI carried its vision to the Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland, strengthening European and transatlantic cooperation. And in October, the Initiative takes another decisive step forward with high-level events in Rome and Skopje, moving firmly from recommendations to action.
Yet the path ahead is not without challenges. DDGI must remain agile in staying ahead of disinformation and hybrid threats. It faces the rise of authoritarian tendencies, imperial wars of aggression, and anti-democratic movements across regions. It must ensure that its policy recommendations are not just words on paper, but strategies embedded into national and international action. To secure its long-term vision, it must build sustainable funding and expand its reach beyond Europe.
The story of DDGI is still being written. What began as a call to act in Skopje has become a growing international movement, determined to confront those who seek to undermine freedom, to empower those who defend democracy, and to remind the world that the struggle for truth and justice knows no borders.
