Caux Democracy Forum 2025

Join us next July for the second edition of the Caux Democracy Forum! Early-bird rates are available until 20 February, 2025.

The Caux Democracy Forum, taking place in Caux, Switzerland from 8 to 12 July, 2025, aspires to inspire, equip, and connect individuals, groups, and organisations committed to strengthening democracy, human rights and civic engagement across Europe and the world.

This Forum comes at a critical juncture for global democracy. Building on the inaugural 2024 event and in the wake of the "super election year," we will delve deeper into the values essential for strengthening democracy in a rapidly evolving world, threatened by disinformation, polarisation and waning participation.

By bringing together voices from civil society, grassroots movements, governments, academia, corporations and non-traditional sectors, the Forum creates a unique platform for addressing pressing challenges and fostering citizen engagement.

The Caux Democracy Forum is part of a three-year programme launched in 2024 which includes the Geneva Democracy Dialogues held each May and October, regional events, and subsequent Caux Democracy Forums from 8-12 July, 2025 and 22-26 June, 2026.

This Forum is organised by Caux Initiatives of Change in partnership with Initiatives of Change International, The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and OHCHR, as well as other partners (the list will continue to be updated in the weeks to come).

The Venue: The Caux Palace near Montreux, Switzerland  

The Caux IDG Forum takes place in our centre for dialogue and peacebuilding - the Caux Palace, a former Belle Époque Grand Hotel nestled in the mountains 1000m above sea level.  With its breathtaking view over the Léman and the Alps, it provides a unique and inspiring setting. 

Discover the rich history of this extraordinary venue

Image

A Transformative Approach Rooted in the Values of Democracy

The Caux Democracy Forum offers a unique, values-driven experience that interweaves core democratic principles with pressing global challenges. Each day of the forum is anchored in a fundamental value, creating a progressive journey of exploration and growth:

• We Are One Humanity: Recognise that our shared human experiences are the source of hope and the cornerstone of democratic societies.
• Integrity: Explore how we can champion integrity on a personal and collective level and drive systemic change
• Trust: (Re)build relationships through trustbuilding, dialogue, respect and teamwork
• Courage: Explore strategies to defend democratic values and confront autocratic regimes, polarization, and systemic racism through collective action and principled resistance.

These values serve as the framework for our three interconnected thematic tracks:

1. Healing the Wounds of the Past
2. People-Centered Economics: Human Rights and Responsibilities
3. People Fostering Societal Cohesion

By aligning each day's discussions with a core democratic value, participants will gain a holistic understanding of how these principles can be applied to address complex societal challenges. This innovative approach aims to inspire and empower individuals to be agents of change in their families, workplace, communities or countries. 

More details on these tracks and workshops will be released in the coming months.

What Practical Outcomes are Envisioned?

The Caux Democracy Forum aims to facilitate interaction among participants by providing inspiration, tools, courage, and effective strategies for enabling, facilitating, and encouraging the capabilities and attitudes considered necessary to strengthen democracy across the world.

The Caux Democracy Forum 2025 will:

• Bring people together around collective exploration and action powered by storytelling, dialogue, reflection and the arts.
• Provide first-hand experiences of a wide range of people active in the key selected issues.
• Foster learning through innovation, prototyping, practice and sharing application of tools.
• Create opportunities to support further activities within the Caux Democracy Programme and organisations.
• Equip people with the practical tools and skills to independently design, facilitate and lead their own initiatives such as Democracy Dialogues
• Ally with partner organisations

Who Should Attend

Each of us has a unique role in revitalising democracy. This Forum will offer the space to explore that role, and to develop joint initiatives.

Over 200 people are expected to participate in the full residential program and more than 300 people for the Opening Ceremony. Local participants, interested in learning more about this Forum, can also benefit from day passes. 

The Caux Democracy Forum will commence and conclude with the voices of those most impacted, positively and negatively, from civil society.

We will also hear from representatives of people’s movements, NGOs, governmental bodies, youth activists, media, United Nations agencies, academia and unconventional actors. Speakers will be chosen based on their relevant personal experiences.

Our sponsoring initiatives will ensure the Caux Democracy Forum to be an inclusive event, bringing together creative and innovative minds from all regions of the world.

A unique programme

Unlike traditional conferences, the Caux Democracy Forum is designed to allow participants the time to gain some perspective, retreat from the bustling routine and find a space that allows for silent reflection, creative collaboration and the exchange of ideas, equipping people to follow their paths as changemakers.

The rich programme includes:

• Inspiring plenary sessions with global thought leaders
• Interactive workshops to build personal and collective skills and strategies for democratic engagement and social change.
• Community groups to share and learn from others and build a powerful international network of like-minded changemakers
• Reflective moments in a breathtaking and inspiring mountain setting conducive to personal transformation. 

Opening Ceremony

More information and registration for the opening ceremony will be published in the coming weeks

Arts and Culture Programme

The Caux Palace will showcase a vibrant summer arts and culture programme that explores and amplifies the forum themes through diverse exhibitions and concerts, creating meaningful cultural experiences that extend beyond traditional forum discussions. More information will be added to this page in the coming weeks. 

Exciting Programme for Teenagers and Children

The Caux Democracy Forum will offer a tailored programme for teenagers. This programme will feature a combination of participation in the main programme fostering intergenerational connection and dialogue and specific moments for teenagers, including a variety of enriching outdoor activities.

We warmly invite teenagers aged, 13–17 years, to participate.  We require them to be accompanied by their legal representative(s).

To ensure a holistic approach, we are also committed to providing age-appropriate activities for younger children. These activities will be developed in close collaboration with parents and finalised after the registration closing date as the programme will depend on the number of children present in each age group.

Getting Involved

There are many ways you can get involved. Please contact us directly if you are interested in:

• being a speaker in a plenary session
• participating in a human library or a candlelight conversation.
• organising a workshop
• leading a community group

We would love to hear from you.

We will continue to update this page with information on speakers and workshops in the weeks to come.

Join Us in Revitalising Democracy

Whether you're looking to run community dialogues, engage with authorities, or build collaborative teams, the Caux Democracy Forum provides the inspiration, connections, and skills to make a real difference.

Participation Rates

Benefit from our early-bird prices by registering and paying by 20 February 2025! Please note that price categories are limited and subject to availability.

Full Package with accommodation from 8-12 July, 2025, including the Opening Ceremony:

• All inclusive | Accommodation in single occupancy room: CHF 860. -/person  CHF 660.-/person
• All inclusive | Accommodation in shared occupancy room: CHF 620.-/person  CHF 540.-/person
• All inclusive | Accommodation in economy singe occupancy room : CHF 540.-/person*
• Children from 6-14 | Accommodation shared with parents: CHF 340.-/person  CHF 280.-/person
• Children from 0-5 | Accommodation shared with parents: CHF.- 0/person
• Extra night prior to the start of the event: Please contact us at reservation@caux.ch**

Event Package without accommodation

• Full event package -  accommodation and breakfast not included:  CHF 360.-/person   CHF 320.-/person 
• Daily event package - accommodation and breakfast not included: CHF 90.-

Prices mentioned, for single or shared accommodation, include :

• Accommodation in either shared or single room at the Caux Palace
• Participation in the Caux Democracy Forum
• Materials provided during the event
• Interpretation service and technical equipment
• Coffee and tea breaks as well as refreshments
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• VAT & City taxes

The package for participants without accommodation does not include breakfast nor the City Tax.

*Economy rooms face behind the Caux Palace and have shared bathrooms, WC and no balcony. They are not included in the early-bird pricing offer.

** It is not possible to extend your stay beyond 12 July, 2025

Solidarity Fund

We have created a fund aimed at fostering true diversity of participants by providing support to those from the Global South or those facing economic challenges. Every contribution helps and we appreciate any additional amount you are able to give when paying via the registration form.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Arrival and Departure

The Caux Democracy Forum starts with the Opening Ceremony at the Caux Palace on 8 July, 2025. 

Attendees are asked to check in from 14:00 CEST on the Tuesday 8 July. For participants who arrive early on 8 July and would like to drop off their luggage at the Caux Palace before official check-in times, a luggage room will be available.

On the day of departure (Saturday 12 July), the Forum will end after lunch. For organisational reasons and to prepare our spaces for other events we kindly request all participants to check out by 10:00 CEST on the day of departure and to leave the site by 14:00 CEST.

More information

• Terms & Conditions 2025
• Practical Information for your stay at the Caux Palace
• Families with children at the Caux Democracy Forum 2025

Questions?

For further information, please get in touch BY EMAIL.

REGISTER NOW FOR EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION