Click here to see the preliminary list of participants and the tentative program.
More than 250 high level experts and policy makers, including 40 Club de Madrid Members, all of them democratically elected former Prime Ministers and Presidents, are expected to sign the outcome of the Madrid+10 Policy Dialogue: a document titled #GlobalConsensus, a statement of principles with the aim of creating unity and fostering leadership in the fight against violent extremism.
Based on the work of leading experts and the insight and experience of Club de Madrid members, it seeks to facilitate a global response that is both smart and realistic, as well as create commitment and partnership among political leaders and civil society around the world. Following its presentation, the #GlobalConsensus will be available on the Madrid+10 online platform where different interlocutors and partners can read and sign on to it, sustaining the commitment and engaging in a debate on how its principles can be translated into policies, strategies and measures. This #GlobalConsensus will be signed by Club de Madrid Members, experts, policy makers, civil society organizations and international institutions all over the world.
In addition, a social media campaign will be launched focused on the official hashtag of the Madrid+10 Policy Dialogue: #GlobalConsensus. This hashtag will capitalize on social media discussions and bring attention to the document, aimed at serving as a benchmark, resource and source of inspiration to political leaders on how to respond to the daunting challenge of radicalization and violent extremism.
Radicalization and violent extremism are one of the greatest threats currently undermining human rights and democratic values. Although the menace posed by groups like Daesh continue to create headlines, violent extremism is not limited to a specific region or religion. The cycle of violence triggered by extremism could be more damaging and destabilizing to global peace than any other conflict since the end of the Cold War and is fuelling crises such as massive internal displacement, and the refugee exodus from the Middle East to European countries.
In this context, with the support of the European Commission, the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States Department of State among other partners, the Club de Madrid and the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) are launching a global dialogue to mobilize policy makers, opinion leaders, civil society and grassroots organizations to prevent and counter radicalization and violent extremism, increase public engagement and promote grassroots initiatives with long term policy solutions based on respect for democracy and human rights.
The confirmed participants will include leaders such as the current Prime Minister of Tunisia Habib Essid and a line up of 40 ex PM’s and Presidents, including, among many others, the Club de Madrid President, Vaira Vike-Freiberga (Latvia); Kjell Magne Bondevik (Norway); John Bruton (Ireland); Wim Kok (The Netherlands); Yves Letterme (Belgium); Danilo Turk (Slovenia); Fuad Siniora (Lebanon); Sadiq Al Mahdi (Sudan); Mehdi Jomaa and Mehdi Jebali (Tunisia); Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria); Cassam Uteem (Mauritius); Felipe Calderón (México); Laura Chinchilla (Costa Rica); Ricardo Lagos y Sebastián Piñera (Chile); Jorge Tuto Quiroga (Bolivia) Andrés Pastrana (Colombia); Roza Otunbayeva (Kyrgyzstan); José Manuel Ramos-Horta (East Timor) and Jennifer Mary Shipley (New Zealand)
The policy dialogue will include four thematic workshops which will focus on different dimensions of countering radicalization and violent extremism:
- Women, organized by Hedayah
- Education and Youth, organized by the Anna Lindh Foundation and IEMed
- Inter-religious and Intercultural dialogue, organized by KAICIID
- Online Radicalization, organized by ICSR and TRENDS
Club de Madrid, Media Contacts for interviews and accreditations:
Luis Pérez: +34 607 694 354 // + 34 91 154 82 38 Press Officer lperez@clubmadrid.org
Susana Mañueco: + 34 626 20 93 30 // + 34 154 82 36 Press Coordinator smanueco@clubmadrid.org
KAICIID, Media Contact for interviews with its Secretary General:
Mariela Hoyer Starcevic: +43 664 887 24 068 Spanish Media Officer mariela.hoyer@kaiciid.org
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The Club de Madrid is an independent non-profit organization composed of more than 100 former presidents and prime ministers from 70 democratic countries. The Club de Madrid responds to a growing demand for support to address a number of challenges in democratic governance by providing the experience and valuable leadership of its members.
ICSR’s mission is to bring together knowledge and leadership. Producing first class, rigorous research, our aim is to educate the public and help policymakers and practitioners find more intelligent solutions in dealing with radicalization and political violence.
