Cascais will be represented at the 2024 World Democracy Forum taking place in Strasbourg from 6 to 8 November

Centred on the theme ‘Democracy and Diversity: Can We Transcend What Divides Us?’, this annual event is an important platform for political leaders, experts, NGO representatives, activists, young people and citizens interested in debating solutions to contemporary democratic challenges and exploring innovative practices that can strengthen democracy around the world. The municipality of Cascais is represented by José D'Almeida, Councillor for Participation and Citizenship at Cascais Town Hall, who will present the Cascais Citizen Participation System, which brings together all the ways in which the municipality's citizens can participate in community life. Organised by the Council of Europe, the Forum takes place at the ‘Palais de L`Europe’ and brings together around 2,000 people. One of the highlights will be the ‘How can diversity be promoted at local level?’ workshop, in which Cascais will take part. Our municipality was selected among hundreds of innovative practices from all over the world thanks to its Citizen Participation System, which stands out for fostering inclusion and diversity in local governance. This choice emphasises the relevance and effectiveness of Cascais' approaches in inspiring other local contexts to promote diversity in a sustainable and inclusive way. Cascais' recognition in this context is a testament to the success of its participatory engagement model, showing how local strategies can have a global impact in promoting fairer and more diverse societies.