Building Democracy Through Civic Champions: Engaging Citizens for a Stronger Future

On November 20, 2024, the Office of the Commissioner for Citizens and CARDET hosted the open discussion “Opening the Dialogue in Democracy” at the Presidential Palace. Attended by President Nikos Christodoulides, citizens, professionals, community organizations, and government officials, the event aimed to promote participatory democracy and strengthen civil society.

The discussion, part of the EU-funded “Civic Champions” project, focused on key themes:

• Promoting democratic values and active civic participation.
• Encouraging citizen involvement through initiatives like Citizen Initiatives and Public Consultations.
• Enhancing transparency via collaboration between the state and civil society.
• Strengthening legislative support for civil society organizations.

Journalist Evangelos Agapiou moderated the interactive dialogue, fostering meaningful exchanges about advancing democracy in Cyprus.

Key Highlights

President Christodoulides stressed the importance of transparent governance to rebuild trust, particularly among youth. He highlighted initiatives like ekfraCy and Voice of the Citizen that ensure accountability by tracking government decisions and their progress.

Commissioner Panayiotis Palates noted that democracy requires active citizen participation, emphasizing the need for modern frameworks to amplify civil society’s impact.

Dr. Elena Papamichael from the Ministry of Education highlighted teaching strategies to address human rights and democratic citizenship in schools.

Mr. George Matthaiopoulos of the Ministry of Interior underscored dialogue as central to healthy democratic processes, calling democracy a “collective responsibility”.

Dr. Olivia Patsalidou from the Pancyprian Coordinating Council for Volunteering emphasized supporting NGOs through legislation and fostering participation via campaigns and digital tools.

Mr. Nikolas Mousoulides of the Ministry of Labor announced a campaign on institutional awareness and an upcoming platform to improve e-governance and accessibility, launching in early 2025.

Ms. Michaela Protopapa, representing CARDET, presented the Civic Champions initiative, which empowers citizens for active participation and social change. She also reinforced CARDET’s commitment to supporting civil society, promoting inclusive governance, and advancing participatory democracy through innovative initiatives and strategic collaboration.

The event concluded with a strong call for collective efforts to create a more inclusive and transparent democracy, ensuring every citizen’s voice is heard.