The latest seminar of the School, as part of the core programme «Sapere Aude: Freedom and Responsibility,» took place in Riga and brought together 100 representatives from civil society, the expert community, journalism, human rights defenders, diplomats, and academia from the EU, Ukraine, Russia, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and India. The seminar aimed to discuss fundamental questions that the School sets for itself: how, in the context of the aggressive war in Europe, the decline of democracy, and the rise of autocracies around the world, society can formulate the foundations for a new political culture, demand participation in global processes, defend the values of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, and build solidarity across borders despite all the pressure. Round tables, panel discussions, and debates focused on the main challenges of today’s world and other critical issues. Participants discussed the situation in the Arctic and on the border between India and Pakistan, aid to Ukraine and resistance to the regime in Iran, the People1st campaign demanding the return of all war hostages — including prisoners of war, civilian hostages, deported children, and political prisoners imprisoned for their anti-war stance — and a new framework for European and broader global security. They also discussed issues of decolonisation, justice, inclusion, visibility of violence, solidarity, and resistance.

See seminar programme