In the current era of political distrust and ideological extremism, perhaps the only element of modern politics we can largely agree upon is its democratic structure. Or can we? Democracy is revered as the only political system giving value to the opinions and rights of all individuals. But in a society plagued by misinformation and […]
When describing our diverse EU family, we love to gush about the likes of Paris, Budapest or Prague – but what about those further-afield places, whose name you may not know? Rural areas account for approximately 77% of all EU territory. Despite this, it’s the big cities that tend to receive the most attention in […]
Who knew that the topic of gender equality would still be so divisive in 2020? But bring up the subject online or in a group setting, and you are likely to be met with a whirlwind of contradicting opinions. Some claim that gender equality has already been achieved in the majority of the world and […]
After four long years of Leave-Remain battle – from the referendum campaign, the voting day, and all of the chaos since then – from the resignations of David Cameron and Theresa May, to the re-election of Boris Johnson, and all of the anticipation and #Regrexit in between – is it all finally over? (Spoiler alert: […]
Okay, so Brussels itself is extremely diverse. But head to the EU quarter and any large building there sporting blue starry flags, and it’s a different story. We hear a lot about the flaws of the EU institutions these days – with Brexit (yet again) fast approaching, and the world arguably having more of an […]
Featured image, courtesy of JRC, European Commission When most of us in Europe think of African migrants – though it may hurt to admit it – images of crowded little boats braving the Mediterranean or knock-off handbag sellers lining tourist-filled boulevards may spring to mind. But is this the full picture when it comes to […]
It’s high time we talked about combatting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) – and without fuelling hate speech through our words. Last week, the End FGM European Network and the World Solidarity Forum (WSF) co-hosted a seminar in Brussels on how to sensitively and effectively discuss FGM and other forms of gender-based violence – to inspire […]
Freedom of speech means the right to express ideas and opinions on a daily and public basis, without censorship or interference. But unfortunately, many people around the world still do not have this right. What responsibility does the EU have in terms of securing the freedom of all individuals, as well as the media, to […]
It comes as no great shock that climate change deniers are often the same crowds who oppose migration. But what happens when the climate changes populists refuse to acknowledge actually fuel the fire they fear so much? The World Solidarity Forum (WSF) hosted a panel discussion at the Brussels Press Club last week where climate […]
This article was produced thanks to our partnership with EU Events. The EU claims to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms both within Member States and elsewhere – but to what extent do the European Institutions really secure the personal safety and liberty of individuals? And how can our participation in this week’s long-awaited European […]