The initiative, which arose from the High-Level Meeting “Democracy Forever” convened by the president borikThe summit seeks to counter the “profound uncertainty” in the world and the constant “challenge” to democratic values. The leaders emphasized the need to effectively involve citizens in decision-making, strengthen the United Nations' capacity for action, and foster cooperation among nations that share democratic principles.
Key Proposals for a Resilient Democracy
During the meeting, three key themes were discussed: the defense of democracy and multilateralism, disinformation and digital technologies, and extremism and inequality. As a result, concrete action proposals were approved, including:
The promotion of an international network of democratic think tanks to consolidate strategies in defense of democracy.
International cooperation for algorithmic transparency and data management in the digital environment.
Technical cooperation for democratic digital governance.
Monitoring the Seville Commitment on Financing for Development.
In addition, the consolidation of a network of countries and civil society will be sought to promote citizen participation mechanisms, and the UNESCO initiative for the Integrity of Information on the Climate Change, a coalition for progressive taxation will be developed, and a Multilateral Youth Observatory against Extremism will be promoted.
Pedro Sánchez He emphasized that the five leaders share the conviction that it is "time to step forward to actively defend and deepen our democracy." The Spanish president affirmed that preserving democracy is a "moral duty," a responsibility to past and future generations.
Sánchez highlighted Spain's proposal for promote democratic digital governance and international collaboration "So that algorithms don't manipulate our opinions or weaken social cohesion." She also emphasized the importance of reducing social, environmental, and economic inequality.
The meeting follows a previous meeting between Sánchez and Lula in 2024 and will have its next meeting in September in New York, within the framework of the United Nations High-Level Week. Spain, for its part, will host the next summit for the defense of democracy in 2026.