World Forum on the Future of Democracy

President of International Progress Organization
 stresses importance of self-determination and rule of law for global peace,
attends Cinema for Peace  & Democracy Gala 2026

Berlin, Germany, 19 February 2026
RE/30460c-is

At the World Forum on the Future of Democracy, AI/Tech and Humankind earlier this week in Berlin, the President of the International Progress Organization (I.P.O.), Dr. Hans Köchler, emphasized that the legitimacy of state authority depends on respect for the right to self-determination of peoples, an inalienable human right enshrined in the UN Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The principle of national sovereignty -- and sovereign equality of states -- must be  interpreted in this context. Referring to recent examples where the right to self-determination was invoked, Dr. Köchler regretted a practice of double standards due to geopolitical rivalries that make recognition of the right dependent on considerations of power politics. He further explained that, when the right to self-determination is implemented in the context of autonomy within a state, an effective separation of powers can only be ensured in the framework of a federal constitution. 

Referring to the philosophical conseptions of Montesquieu and Immanuel Kant, Dr. Köchler stressed the importance of the principle of the separation of powers -- at the domestic and international level -- to ensure freedom of the citizen from arbitrary rule and protection of nations from foreign domination. He said that the rule of law, in general, requires an elaborate system of checks and balances to restrain what Montesquieu describes as the human tendency to abuse power.

Focusing on the future of democracy in the face of today's geopolitical transformation, Dr. Köchler moderated a Policy Recommendation Workshop on "Autonomous Rights, Self-determination or Separatism", dealing, inter alia, with the cases of Greenland and Catalonia, and a Panel Discussion on "Separation of Powers: Safeguarding Electoral Independence, Judicial Autonomy, and Constitutional Military Command". Among the speakers at the two events were Prof. Emil Constantinescu, President of Romania (1996-2000), Mr. Egils Levits, President of Latvia (2019-2023), Dr. András Baka, President of the Hungarian Supreme Court (2009-2012), Mr. Berdan Öztürk, Member of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Türkiye and Head of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Mr. Adrià Guevara y Figueras (Spain), National Secretary of International Relations, Esquerra Republicana (Republican Left of Catalonia), former member of the Parliament of Catalonia, and Mr. Dolkun Isa, former President of the World Uyghur Congress

The President of the I.P.O. also took part in a special workshop -- "The Israel/Palestine Council" -- with a focus on creating a secular Palestinian State with the rule of law, elections, and equality, and ending illegal settlement and civilian casualties in Gaza. Among the participants were, among others, Mr. Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of Israel (2006-2009), Mr. Yossi Beilin, former Minister of Justice of Israel and chief architect of the Oslo Accords (1993), Mrs. Tzipi Livni, Foreign Minister of Israel (2006-2009), Mr. Samer Sinijlawi, head of the Israeli-Palestinian Alliance for the Two States; Mr. Nasser Al-Qudwa, Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005-2006) and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1991-2005), and Mr. Geoffrey Robertson QC, leading human rights lawyer from the United Kingdom.

On the sidelines of the Forum, the President of the I.P.O. attended the Cinema for Peace & Democracy Gala 2026 where the Palestinian film "The Voice of Hind Rajab," directed by Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia), was awarded with the prize for the "Most Valuable Film of the Year." Among many dignitaries from the film industry and the world of politics, the Hon. Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State of the United States of America, was present at the event moderated by Irish pop singer and philanthropist Sir Bob Geldof.

Albie Sachs, South African lawyer and peace activist, Judge at the first Constitutional Court of South Africa, appointed by Nelson Mandela, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Ethiopia), Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), were awarded a special prize as "guardians of democracy."  

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