Polish pro-democracy activities are addressed directly to societies embarking on the path of democratic transition. Poland is willing to share its experience in this area. In that way we support the creation and strengthening of democratic society foundations among our foreign partners. This is accomplished both as part of bilateral cooperation and also at the level of European Union, United Nations, Council of Europe, OSCE, as well as the Community of Democracies, which was co-founded by Poland.

The Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy is a long-standing feature of Poland’s promotion of democracy. Now in its eighth edition, the event will take place on 3 October 2019. This annual conference is an effective platform for the exchange of experience between the non-governmental sector, academic experts international organisations, and governments in the field of democracy. This year’s theme is freedom of religion and belief, a right which is an essential pillar of democracy and is closely linked to other civil liberties, such as freedom of speech and expression and freedom of assembly and association. On Poland’s initiative, the UN General Assembly has established the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. We celebrated the first International Day on 22 August this year.

Poland’s support for actions that promote democracy and human rights is reflected in its Pro Dignitate Humana Prize. Its laureates in recent years include the Yazidi human rights activists Nadia Murad and Farida Abbas, the Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, until recently imprisoned by Russia, and Naveed Walter, the director of Human Rights Focus Pakistan.

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Marked on 15 September each year, the International Day of Democracy was established by UN General Assembly resolution of 8 November 2007. Its goal is to protect and advance democratic principles among all states and societies. Its founding resolution also points to the universality of democratic principles.