Youth Democracy Network Inauguration and Regional Meeting
December 4-5, 2024 , Ministry of Foreign Relations, Panama City, Panama
The regional launch meeting of the Youth Democracy Network (YDN), hosted by CoD Member State Panama, amplifies powerful voices of young leaders committed to promoting democracy and human rights.
YDN is launched with support of U.S. Department of State to foster a new generation of democratic leaders.
Overview of the meeting
On December 4-5, 2024, the Youth Democracy Network (YDN) will host a two-day regional meeting in Panama, gathering YDN members from across Latin America and local youth leaders from Panama. YDN is launched with support of the US State Department to foster a new generation of democratic leaders.
The YDN aims to cultivate a dynamic community of young leaders – civil society activists and politicians – dedicated to promoting democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. This network will provide technical tools and create opportunities for youth to engage with decision makers, integrating their insights into policymaking and enhancing democracy resilience.
The meeting in Panama will mark the official launch of the global initiative by an Inauguration ceremony. Government representatives from Panama and the United States together with the YDN Manager and the Board will lead the launch.
The second day of the event will open with a keynote address from a distinguished young Panamanian politician, setting the stage for in-depth discussions on democracy and youth leadership.
A key component of the event will be a foresight workshop, where young leaders will explore their vision for the future of democracy in Latin America over the next 25 years, and outline practical steps to achieve this vision with a special focus on themes, such as information integrity, the use of AI and civic space. The insights from these discussions will contribute to a global report on the future of democracy, incorporating perspectives from youth across regions. This report will be presented at the Youth Democracy Assembly during the Community of Democracies’ 25th anniversary in Warsaw in June 2025.
Additionally, the meeting will feature the announcement of the CoD Residency Program, inviting young professionals to engage in projects at the CoD Secretariat. Throughout the event, participants will have networking opportunities with representatives from CoD Governing Council member states, fostering connections and exploring avenues for collaboration.
