From June 16–18, Impact Lens Foundation Founder and CEO Anna Zamejc joined civil society leaders, researchers, and advocates in Pécs, Hungary, for the annual (Re)Building Democracy Conference, organized by Emberség Erejével Alapítvány (Power of Humanity Foundation).
Anna represented Impact Lens on the opening “State of the World” panel to address the compounding pressures shaping the civic sector globally. Moderated by Lakmusz journalist Eszter Neuberger, the session also featured Edit Zgut-Przybylska (Assistant Professor at the Polish Academy of Sciences) and Gábor Berceli (Director of the Robert Schuman Institute).
During the panel, Anna shared perspectives on key issues at the intersection of democratic governance, technology, and civil society:
- AI & Information Ecosystems Evaluating how rapidly advancing AI technologies and changing information flows impact public debate and democratic stability.
- Building Trust in the Civic Sector Rebuilding institutional and community trust in an increasingly polarized global environment.
- Countering Legislative Pressures Addressing the rising risks posed to independent organizations by “foreign agent” legislation and restrictive regulatory frameworks.
Beyond the formal agenda, the three-day gathering reinforced the vital importance of peer solidarity. The informal exchanges, behind-the-scenes conversations, and connections forged with donors and fellow practitioners offered invaluable opportunities to exchange strategies for protecting democratic space.
