Berlin Becomes the Global Capital of Democratic Resilience
The World Forum 2026 — Secretary Clinton, Nobel Laureates, Heads of State and 300 of the world's leading minds counter the rise of authoritarianism, disinformation and unsafe AI
Berlin, February 15 - 17, 2026 - The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, AI/Tech and Humankind brought together its Honorary Chairwoman Secretary Hillary Clinton, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, philosopher Yuval Noah Harari, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Heads of State from Lithuania, Latvia, Israel & Palestine, Slovakia, Romania and Tunisia, six Nobel Peace Laureates, 50 of the world's leading dissidents, and 300 of the world's foremost thinkers - united by one question: How can humankind and freedom survive?
Hillary Clinton: "A post-truth world makes democracy impossible"
In her keynote address at The World Forum 2026, Secretary Hillary Clinton warned that autocracies now outnumber democracies for the first time in 20 years, and that nearly three-quarters of the world's population lives under authoritarian rule.
She named Putin as the primary driver of Europe's authoritarian wave, called out Elon Musk for amplifying far-right parties across Europe, and drew a direct line from Cambridge Analytica and Russian interference to Brexit and the 2016 US election. "A post-truth world is not a world I want to live in, and by definition, it makes democracy impossible."
Nancy Pelosi: "Ukraine and Taiwan are chapters in the same story"
Nancy Pelosi - Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives
The first female Speaker of the United States Congress, Nancy Pelosi, joined The World Forum 2026 for the landmark workshop "Taiwan, Ukraine, and Nations under Threat: Why Protect Democracy", arriving just weeks after the US Congress passed new sanctions legislation in response to Chinese threats against Taiwan.
In a moment when Washington's commitment to its democratic allies has never been more contested, her message was unambiguous: "Ukraine and Taiwan represent chapters in the same broader story, a story in which authoritarian regimes test whether borders can be erased by force, whether freedom can be crushed through intimidation, and whether the democratic world retains the will to stand together."
The World Council on AI & The Ten AI Commandments
At The World Forum 2026, Founder Jaka Bizilj announced the establishment of The World Forum Council on AI and Social Media — a permanent governing body bringing together legislators, technologists, legal scholars, journalists, civil society leaders, and ethicists across jurisdictions to set the rules artificial intelligence and digital platforms have so far escaped.
The Council convened over 35 of the world's leading AI experts, policymakers and researchers, including EU AI Act architect Brando Benifei, Oxford data ethics professor Sandra Wachter, virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier, philosopher Nick Bostrom, and former Facebook Elections Integrity Head Yaël Eisenstat, to produce a sweeping set of findings and demands. Among them: that generative AI is wrong 60–80% of the time and currently faces no legal liability for it; that the EU AI Liability Directive was shelved under US geopolitical pressure; that bot anonymity must be ended as a prerequisite for any functioning information environment; and that children remain the most urgent and least protected category in every existing regulatory framework.
The Council's foundational document, The Ten AI Commandments, translates these findings into the binding principles that must govern AI development, deployment, and accountability in a democratic society.
Women’s Progress Framework: "Women's rights are the canary in the coal mine"
The Women's Progress Dialogue at The World Forum 2026 sounded a clear alarm: attacks on women's rights are not a side issue — they are the earliest warning sign of democracy's collapse. "Attacks on women's rights weaken democracy and strengthen the hands of dictators," Secretary Clinton declared. The session launched a permanent monitoring institution with real consequences — a global Notice framework classifying every nation by its treatment of women, backed by trade measures, diplomatic pressure, and a planned Secretariat hosted at Columbia University under Clinton's leadership. The dialogue addressed Red Notices for Afghanistan, conditions attached to US payments to the Taliban, and concrete support for the women of Iran.
Featuring Hillary Clinton, Former US Secretary of State; Dalia Grybauskaitè, Former President of Lithuania; Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, President-elect of Belarus; Tzipi Livni, Former Vice President and Foreign Minister of Israel; Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Zarifa Ghafari, Former Mayor of Maidan Shahr, Afghanistan; Věra Jourová, Former Vice-President of the European Commission; Maria Alyokhina, Russian political activist; Pussy Riot; Tamara Cofman Wittes, President, National Democratic Institute; Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Former Co-President, Club of Rome; Jennifer H. Cunningham, Editor-in-Chief, Newsweek; Seyran Ateş, first female Iman; Sima Samar, Former Vice President of Afghanistan; Rushan Abbas, Founder, Campaign for Uyghurs; Mimi Kodheli, Chairwoman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Albanian Parliament; Manizha Bakhtari, Last female Ambassador of Afghanistan; Yasmine Mohammed, Founder, No Hijab Day; Angelina Usanova, Miss Eco International 2024; UN Goodwill Ambassador; Natalia Halla, Filmmaker, The Last Ambassador and moderated by Kasia Madera — BBC News Chief Presenter
President of Taiwan Congratulates The World Forum 2025
We are honored to share a heartfelt congratulatory message from President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan to The World Forum, held on March 18–19, 2025. His message was distributed to all participants of the Forum, including world leaders such as President Bill Clinton and various heads of state.
In his official message to The World Forum, President Lai praised the event’s commitment to strengthening global dialogue on democracy, the rule of law, freedom, and peace.
“I greatly admire your dedication to the preservation of such universal values, as well as the positive contributions you have made to the global community.” - President Lai Ching-te
President Biden Congratulates Secretary Clinton and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Receiving the Cinema for Peace Award
“We must find the courage within ourselves to preserve the planet, protect human dignity, and provide opportunity for people everywhere. This road will be long, but with artists and filmmakers helping to light the way, I know we will get there together.”
The President of the United States of America Joe Biden
At the World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech and Humankind on 18 & 19 February 2024, organized by Cinema for Peace in Berlin, Sharon Stone quoted a message from a letter by President Joe Biden to Cinema for Peace. In his letter, President Biden extended heartfelt congratulations to Secretary Hillary Clinton and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for receiving the prestigious Cinema for Peace Award. He praised the award as a testament to their lifelong commitment to promoting democracy and peace globally. President Biden also emphasized the significant role of cinema in reflecting our humanity and advancing societal change. He commended the Cinema for Peace Foundation for its work in highlighting films that address critical global challenges, reinforcing the power of the arts in fostering a more just and peaceful world.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Calls for Global Solidarity in the Defense of Human Rights and Democracy
Inaugural speech by 8th UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at The World Forum
In a powerful address at the World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind on 18 & 19 Feb 2024, 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon articulated the fundamental interconnections among peace, security, economic development, and human rights, as outlined in the United Nations Charter.
World's Leading Philosopher
Yuval Noah Harari Contributes to The World Forum
Historian, Philosopher and Bestselling Author Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari Addresses The World Forum
How Technology Can Help Humans Flourish
In his powerful address to The World Forum 2025, Professor Yuval Noah Harari examines the critical intersection of technology and politics, urging us to harness technological advancements to strengthen democracy and human agency. He challenges us to redefine our roles from passive observers to active creators in shaping a politically empowered future. Watch his compelling speech to explore how innovative technologies can be pivotal in advancing freedom and enhancing governance globally.
Special Mission Accomplished to Save Lives of Dissidents in Russian Prison
From top left to right: Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, corporate security executive and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, Lilia Chanysheva, former coordinator of regional offices of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny, former head of Open Russia movement Andrei Pivovarov, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerskhovich, co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Memorial Human Rights Centre Oleg Orlov, government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tatar-Bashkir service Alsu Kurmasheva, Russian opposition activist and former municipal deputy of the Krasnoselsky district Ilya Yashin, artist and musician Sasha Skochilenko.
Fearing for the lives of Vladimir Kara-Murza and others wrongfully kept in prison in Russia and Belarus – especially after the death of Alexei Navalny – Cinema for Peace founder Jaka Bizilj initiated a prisoners' exchange of Kara-Murza, Evan Gershkovic, Paul Whelan and others by sending former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder‘s confidant Detlef Prinz to the German chancellory, to Moscow and to Istanbul in order to strike a deal, after all official negotiations had failed for more than a year. While bureaucrats endangered the objectives of this mission again, which involved several governments, courageous heads of state like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann, and particularly President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proved effective. Two weeks later US President Joe Biden and Chancellor Scholz announced the exchange of prisoners. We thank Detlef Prinz for masterfully executing a ‘‘mission impossible“ for Cinema for Peace and The World Forum in a rare and small window of opportunity.
Peace Plan for Ukraine
Security Guarantees and Military Support for Ukraine
The World Council of Democratic Nations
A working document by The World Forum, The Cinema for Peace Foundation and The Court of the Citizens of the World, based on a concept note by Jaka Bizilj, advised by Geoffrey Robertson KC, the Honourable Ambassador Stephen Rapp and Professor David Crane.
The World Forum was Held by the Cinema for Peace Foundation and its Partners
For the past two decades, the Cinema for Peace Foundation has hosted over one billion participants, initiated more than 20 films, and raised more than $10 million for humanitarian efforts. The Cinema for Peace has collaborated with over a hundred of Academy Award winning artists; more than 30 heads of state; ministers and elected officials; and iconic human rights activists including Nelson Mandela, The Dalai Lama, Muhammad Ali, and Mikhail Gorbachev.
The Cinema for Peace Foundation also contributed to protecting the lives and freedoms of dissidents such as Alexei Navalny, Ai Weiwei, and Pussy Riot. The foundation’s dedication to upholding human rights triggered the liberation of Burmese comedian Zarganar after the release of the documentary film, The Prison Where I Live. Films such as this have inspired open and solution-focused dialogue at The World Forum to address some of the world’s most pressing problems.
Leonardo DiCaprio & Mikhail Gorbachev introducing the International Green Award at the Cinema for Peace Gala.
The ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo at the Justice Gala by Cinema for Peace in New York.
Nicole Kidman as UN Women Goodwill Ambassador with ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda at Cinema for Peace.
UN SG Ban Ki-moon receiving the Justitia Award on behalf of the UN by Cinema for Peace in Kampala.
Cinema For Peace Gala 2024
Honours Pope Francis, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, UN SG Ban Ki-moon, Helen Mirren, and the World's Most Influential Filmmakers with Sharon Stone, Pussy Riot, Sir Bob Geldof, Ann Curry, Ukrainian Nobel Peace Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, and 102-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Margot Friedländer
Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock and Sharon Stone present The Cinema for Peace Honorary Award to Secretary Hillary Clinton
Speakers at The World Forum
-
![]()
Bill Clinton
42nd President of the United States
-
![]()
Ban Ki-moon
The 8th Secretary-General of the
United Nations -
![]()
Hillary Rodham Clinton
First Lady & U.S. Secretary of State
(2009 - 2013) -
![]()
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia
President of the Pontifical Academy for Life
-
![]()
Gordon Brown
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2007-2010)
-
![]()
Yoshua Bengio
Co-Godfather of AI
-
![]()
Maria Ressa
Nobel Peace Laureate & Founder of Rappler
-
![]()
Geoffrey Robertson
World’s Leading Human Rights Lawyer
-
![]()
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Russian “President in-exile”
-
![]()
Vjosa Osmani
President of Kosovo
-
![https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lai_Ching-te]()
Lai Ching-te
President of Taiwan
-
![]()
David Sinclair
World’s Leading Scientist on Longevity
-
![]()
Sharon Stone
Actress, Artist, Activist
-
![]()
Sir Bob Geldof
Irish singer, Writer and Political Activist
-
![]()
Oleksandra Matviichuk
Human rights lawyer
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (2022) -
![]()
José Ramos-Horta
President of Timor-Leste
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (1996) -
![]()
Moncef Marzouki
President of Tunisia
(2011 - 2014) -
![]()
Salome Zourabichvili
President of Georgia
-
![]()
Natalia Gavrilita
Prime minister of Moldova
(2021 - 2023) -
![]()
Raila Odinga
Prime Minister of Kenya
(2008-2013) -
![]()
Gjorge Ivanov
President of Macedonia
(2009 - 2019) -
![]()
Eamon Ryan
Irish Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications
-
![]()
Hans Corell
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and the Legal Counsel (1994 - 2004)
-
![]()
Stuart Jonathan Russell
Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley
-
![]()
Jan Eliasson
Foreign Minister of Sweden
(2006 -2006) -
![]()
Joseph Yossi Beilin
Justice Minister of Israel
(1999-2001) -
![]()
Tom Malinowski
U.S. House of Representatives
(2019 - 2023) -
![]()
Eva-Maria Liimets
Foreign Minister of Estonia
(2021-2022) -
![]()
Ann Curry
Humanitarian Correspondent
-
![]()
Dr. John Barker
Founding Director of Cambridge Governance Labs at Cambridge University
-
![]()
Nadya Tolokonnikova
Russian musician, political activist & founding member of the Pussy Riot
-
![]()
Ivan Simonović
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights (2010–2016) & Minister of Justice of Croatia
(2008 -2010) -
![]()
Prof. Hans Kochler
Philosophy professor & the Founder and President of the International Progress Organization ( I.P.O.)
-
![]()
Melissa Parke
Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons & Member of the Australian House of Representatives (2007 - 2016)
-
![]()
Ulrike Guérot
Political Scientist, Founder and Director of the European Democracy Lab
-
![]()
James Bacchus
American Lawyer
Member of U.S. House of Representatives (1991-1995) -
![]()
Henning Otte
Member of the German Parliament Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee
-
![]()
Narges Mohammadi
Noble Peace Laureate
(In Iranian Prison)
The Panel Discussions
At The World Forum 2025
The World Forum 2025 hosted a total of 40 panel and round table discussions on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind, categorised into six segments. The Forum served as a platform to renew democracy and define the future of humanity. To encourage real change, some panels were followed by a lawmaking workshop aimed at developing blueprint legislation for governments around the world.
The World Forum questions the status quo and aims to unite leaders from politics, civil society, and culture to engage in the ideas and practices for a better world through fundamental change. The World Forum serves as a platform where humankind’s future is reshaped by elaborating breakthrough ideas and technologies, while facilitating investments and creating modern legislation, which pave the way to progress on tech, AI, social media, democracy, peace, justice, freedom, and securing the survival of the human race. In an era where advancements in AI and technology present unique opportunities but also existential threats, we intend to help create innovation, new legislation and governing bodies, which are critical for society’s democratic future, such as The World Council of Democratic Nations as well as The World Council on AI - Algorithms, social media and digital Life.
A major topic is how to reinvent democracy in the digital age? Our Philosophers panel discussed at the panel “Why Democracy” not only how to protect the right to vote for every citizen, but also controversial ideas of giving educated voters, who can answer questions on the ballot correctly, more votes, as well as universal constitutional limitations on voting topics, which may prevent an irrational “rule of the mob” as recent statistics confirm Plato’s and Sigmund Freud’s warning that 80-90% percent of humans can be manipulated to irrational decisions, harmful behavior and voting by “giving them false appearances.” Nobel laureate Maria Ressa saw social media as a crucial element: “Without facts, there is no truth. Without truth, there is no democracy.”
To learn more about each segment, please click the links below: