The Freedom Games are the leading festival of ideas in Central and Eastern Europe and the only event of its kind in Poland open to the general public. The interdisciplinary forum brings people together around democratic values and a vision of a world based on freedom of choice, economic rationality, culture and dialogue. It brings together representatives of the world of culture, business and public life from home and abroad in panel discussions, author meetings, speeches, workshops, concerts and artistic performances. Read more about the Freedom Games on their website. The theme of 2025 edition of the festival is “Time of Uncertainty”.

During the Freedom Games, the Nonviolent Resistance Network Europe will host a session on “Countering the authoritarian turn in Europe: Is nonviolent resistance still an answer?”. The panel wil feature the folllowing panelists:

• Guido de Graaf Bierbrouwer, Policy Expert Nonviolent Action & Democracy at PAX/Co-Founder of NRN.Europe

• Felip Daza Sierra, Nonviolent Civil Resistance Scholar at Science Po

• Willemijn Born, Nonviolent Resistance Scholar/Co-Founder of NRN.Europe

• Alisa Ryzhychenka, Representative for Economy and Finance, United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus

And will be moderated by Katarzyna A. Pryzbyla, Peace and Conflict Studies Scholar-Pracitioner/Co-Founder of NRN.Europe

The panel will begin with a video message from Anne de Jong, Universiteit van Amsterdam/Co-Founder of NRN. Europe, who will not be able to be there in person.

If you are around, please join us on this important day!
If you are not able to, do not worry - the inauguration will be streamed on Youtube and we will share the link to the recording after the event. More information can be found at https://igrzyskawolnosci.pl/event/freedom-games-2025/page/agenda