Around the annual anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the first Berlin Freedom Week took place from 8 to 15 November. For one week, Berlin became a meeting point for people from the city and from around the world who are committed to freedom, democracy, and human rights.
As a Member of the European Parliament and Chairperson of the Campus for Democracy Society, I have supported the initiative from the beginning. It was impressive to see how strong the idea’s impact already was in its very first year.
Opening at the Campus for Democracy
The opening event at the Campus for Democracy – located on the grounds of the former Stasi headquarters – made visible how closely Berlin’s history is intertwined with the promise of a free and open society. The Campus stands for the reality of surveillance and repression, but also for the courage of those who refused to be intimidated in the GDR.
The World Liberty Congress Moves Its Headquarters to Berlin
A special highlight was the presence of the World Liberty Congress, which held its meetings on 8 and 9 November in the Berlin House of Representatives. Hundreds of dissidents and activists from around the world came together to exchange experiences and develop joint strategies for the global struggle for freedom. It was no coincidence that the Congress took place in the Berlin parliament on the weekend commemorating the fall of the Wall. Over the week, it became clear how much the Peaceful Revolution of 1989 continues to serve as a point of orientation and hope for freedom movements worldwide. Its success inspires people who are fighting today for their rights under authoritarian regimes — and this link between historical experience and current engagement was palpable in many moments during Freedom Week. Perhaps for this reason, the World Liberty Congress has decided to move its headquarters to Berlin in the future.
Berlin as “City of Freedom”
At the same time, the week showed just how great the need is for exchange, international networking, and solidarity — especially at a time when authoritarian regimes are on the rise worldwide and democratic values are under pressure. And it underscored the special role that Berlin can play: as a true “City of Freedom” that brings people together and creates confidential spaces where the realities of dictatorships can be discussed and where ideas and solutions for protecting and respecting human rights can be developed collectively.
These were my events during Berlin Freedom Week:
- Fri, 8 Nov – Welcome and discussion with Igor Levit at the opening reception at the Campus for Democracy.
- Mon, 10 Nov – Keynote on Transnational Repression at the Berlin Freedom Conference at the Gasometer. You can find more information on the conference here; you can listen to the speech here. More information on transnational repression and the report I am working on can be found here.
- Wed, 12 Nov – Networking meeting and public evening event “From Stasi to Spyware” at the Campus for Democracy. More information here.
- Fri, 14 Nov – Welcome and input on gender apartheid in Afghanistan at the film screening of “Rule Breakers” as part of Stories of Freedom at Kino Colosseum. More information here.
- Sat, 15 Nov – Berlin Freedom Mobile in front of the DDR Museum, conversation with Roya Mahboob & Hesam Misaghi on women, youth, and the future of freedom. More information here.
