Together Nets4Dem

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This is the short version of the narrative that was confirmed earlier by the consortium. In addition to the narrative, you will find the subsection called “Values Nets4Dem adheres to”. These core values will later be translated into the membership charter that will be part of the membership acceptance process. It is therefore important that all consortium members agree on these values, so please comment, feedback, make suggestions to this part.

This values framework upholds key democratic principles, provides clear ethical guardrails based on widely accepted human rights instruments, and outlines the roles and responsibilities expected of network members to collectively achieve Nets4Dem's transformative mission. The specificity aims to foster accountability and commitment from all stakeholders.

Narrative

1

Nets4Dem is a novel initiative to foster collaboration among practitioners, policymakers, and researchers across Europe to enhance civic deliberation, participation, and democratic innovation. Recognising the pressing need for democratic renewal in the face of challenges such as citizen dissatisfaction, polarisation, and technological disruptions to civic discourse, Nets4Dem seeks to address these issues by facilitating better connections, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination.

2

The initiative acknowledges that traditional approaches to democratic renewal have not been sufficiently impactful and that there's a lack of consistent and meaningful democratic practice. This is exacerbated by fragmented knowledge and siloed work among practitioners, researchers, and organisations. Nets4Dem aims to bridge these gaps by establishing a European community focused on fostering inclusive societies and resilient democracies through collective action.

3

Key objectives of Nets4Dem include promoting greater connectedness among diverse stakeholders to facilitate holistic conversations and mutual learning, providing better access to research and knowledge resources, and fostering collaboration and innovative partnerships across sectors and levels of governance. Additionally, Nets4Dem is committed to empowering countries, populations, and communities that stand to benefit the most from civic engagement efforts.

4

In line with its values, Nets4Dem advocates for inclusive, participative decision-making and seeks to model these principles in its governance structure. The initiative envisions a future where all Europeans have a voice in decision-making processes and governments embed meaningful citizen engagement into their cultures and structures.

5

Nets4Dem invites participation from organisations and individuals who share its values and vision for democratic participation and transformational change. Whether working in areas such as the rule of law, deliberation, civic education, or other related fields, or simply interested in understanding and contributing to democratic participation, Nets4Dem welcomes all who are committed to collaborating for positive societal change.

6

Ultimately, Nets4Dem's ambition is to renew European democracy by mobilising existing efforts into a cohesive movement and generating insights that can be beneficial globally. Through its collective endeavours, Nets4Dem aims to contribute to a lasting impact on people's lives and advance democratic values and practices worldwide.

Values Nets4Dem adheres to

1) Democratic Principles and Human Rights:

Nets4Dem is firmly grounded in upholding democratic principles of inclusive participation, transparency, and accountability. We adhere to internationally recognised human rights frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the 1951 Refugee Convention. Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic is strictly prohibited within the network.

2) Civic Engagement and Inclusive Decision-Making:

We believe all people should have a voice in decisions that affect their lives. We promote meaningful civic engagement that empowers citizens to participate actively in democratic processes at all levels of governance. Inclusive, participatory decision-making reflecting diverse perspectives is central to our approach.

3) Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration:

Open exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices fosters mutual learning and innovation. We facilitate collaboration across sectors, disciplines, and geographies to generate holistic insights and solutions for democratic renewal. Silos are counterproductive to our mission.

Member Responsibilities:

1) Active Participation:

Members of the consortium and collaborative are expected to actively engage in network activities, sharing expertise, resources, and learnings to enrich the collective knowledge base and advance our common goals.

2) Respect and Integrity:

Respect for divergent views, cultures and backgrounds is paramount. Members must uphold the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism in all network dealings.

3) Amplifying Marginalised Voices:

Members should actively work to include and elevate the perspectives of underrepresented groups, minorities and marginalised communities in our deliberations and decision-making processes

4) Promotion and Advocacy:

Members share a responsibility to promote Nets4Dem's mission, values, and work through their spheres of influence to grow our movement for democratic renewal across Europe and beyond.