no democracy
without democrats.
Silc är en liberal stiftelse som arbetar för demokrati i världen. Vi stöttar organisationer och aktivister som kämpar för frihet och mänskliga rättigheter. För det blir ingen demokrati utan demokrater.
Brinner du också för friheten?
Stöd vårt arbete för demokrati i hela världen!
“I am here. With you.” With these words, María Corina Machado announced on Sunday that she is back in Venezuela. She returned after more than ten months in exile, and crowds of supporters filled the streets of Caracas to welcome her. She left the country in December 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, after more than a year in hiding. Since then, several attempts to return had failed. María Corina Machado leads Vente Venezuela, a liberal party SILC has worked with since it was founded. Her return is a moment of hope for everyone fighting for free and fair elections in Venezuela. Welcome home, María Corina. The struggle for democracy continues. #Venezuela #MariaCorinaMachado #VenteVenezuela #Democracy #NoDemocracyWithoutDemocrats
The SILC World Seminar 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia has been concluded. A huge thanks to all the participants, speakers and friends! This year's theme was ''Fighting for Women’s Political Empowerment'' where we brought together eleven of our partner organisations from around the world for best practise-sharing, networking and synergising. The key note speaker was Tatevik Azizyan from Kvinna Till Kvinna, who introduced the foundation and its work in Armenia, focusing on women’s rights and the holistic Women, Peace and Security agenda. Thanks to @ceciliaelving for her great work moderating the event! @silc_sweden would also like to thank Sose Women's Issues and their great work to promote women's societal impact in Armenia. #democracy #womenindemocracy #freedom #armenia #yerevan #empowerment
On 24–25 September in Kyiv, SILC, together with other Political Party Affiliated Organisations supported "Democracy Against All Odds: Turning Challenges into Opportunities", a conference hosted by IFES, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine and Civil Network OPORA. Elections in Ukraine may not be on the calendar yet, but getting ready for them is already urgent. Members of parliament, government officials, election administrators, party representatives, civil society and international partners sat down together to discuss one question: what will it take for Ukraine to hold its first elections after the war while staying on course for the EU? The shared answer: don't wait. Martial law rules out voting for now, and that time should be used to complete the legal groundwork and make institutions stronger, so the country is ready for elections that are credible, inclusive and safe once security permits. After more than four years of full-scale Russian war, Ukrainian democracy continues to function. We are proud to stand with Ukrainian partners as they continue discuss how to hold credible, inclusive and safe elections once security conditions allow. Ukrainians are leading this work, and it is closely tied to their broader reform journey towards EU membership. Thanks to IFES, CEC Ukraine, OPORA and co-organisers FBA, NDI, OSCE/ODIHR, International IDEA, e-Governance Academy and CPLR.
Silc deltog återigen på måndagssamlingen på Norrmalmstorg i stöd för Ukraina. Några talare var bland annat Maria Malmer Stenergard, Lawen Redar och Fredrik Malm. Vi sålde även våra två böcker om Ukraina av Paul Frigyes. Kul att se så många engagerade människor! #Ukraina #ukraine #SILC #Freedom
🇲🇽 Great conversations and important connections at Foro América Libre 2026 in Mexico City! SILC met with Jonathan Duarte from RUTA del Cambio and Elisabeth Maigler from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) to exchange ideas about democracy, freedom and the challenges facing Latin America. It is especially encouraging to see how many people and organizations across the region and internationally are joining forces to demand the freedom of political prisoners and support those who continue fighting for democracy, often from exile. Different countries, different experiences, but a shared commitment: freedom, democracy and human rights. 🌎🕊️ #SILC #ForoAmericaLibre #RutaDelCambio #FNF #LatinAmerica
Hur väl skyddades valhemligheten i valet 2026? 🗳️ Föreningen Valobservation i Sverige (VOS) har granskat röstmottagningen. 76 observatörer, 300 rapporter. Bland resultaten: I minst 57 % av de besökta valdistrikten syntes andras valsedlar. 187 fall av gemensam röstning där ingen valförrättare ingrep. VOS vill bland annat att partierna slutar dela ut valsedlar utanför vallokalerna. Läs hela rapporten här:
Nu är reportageboken ”Bland hjältar och tyranner- Bolivia och kampen om rättvisan” från Silc Förlag släppt. Missa inte denna spännande skildring av ett fascinerande land!
Ett stort tack till Ester, som tog initiativ till en insamling för Silcs arbete i Ukraina under Liberalernas valvaka. Hon sålde fina L-pins som hon själv bedazzlat. 🌐🇺🇦 Vill du också starta en insamling? Kontakta oss på info@silc.se så hjälper vi dig. Varje bidrag stärker vårt arbete för demokrati, frihet och mänskliga rättigheter. 💙
I Bolivia är en persons hjälte någon annans tyrann. Statskupper är vardagsmat. Presidenter störtas, fängslas och återvänder. I nya reportageboken Bland hjältar och tyranner tar journalisten och författaren Kajsa Norman med läsaren till Bolivias politiska och sociala brännpunkter. I ett samtal med Per Olsson, generalsekreterare vid Swedish International Liberal Centre, berättar hon om ett land där gränsen mellan rättvisa och makt är suddig. Biljett: Ingår i entrébiljetten.
För sex år sedan gick hundratusentals människor ut och demonstrerade mot Lukasjenkas regim. Protesterna slogs brutalt ner och tusentals fängslades. Vilka var de, vilka var deras drivkrafter och vad gör de idag? I Silcs förlags kommande bok Det glöder – motstånd och konformism i Belarus, möter vi belarusier som gjort helt olika livsval, men som alla präglas av diktaturens skugga. Amanda Valentin, kanslichef på Östgruppen, översätter intervjuerna och texterna av den anonyma belarusiska författaren. Möt henne i ett samtal om vad priset är för politiskt mod och hur alla borde ställa sig frågan vem man skulle vara och agera när allt ställs på sin spets: konformerar du, eller är du beredd att ta risker för dina principer? Samtalet förs med Per Olsson, generalsekreterare vid Swedish International Liberal Centre. Biljett: Ingår i entrébiljetten.
Swedish election day! Exciting work together with our international friends to observe the swedish parliamentary election! This both strengthens swedish democracy and spreads our ideas of a democratic election to other parts of the world! A big thanks to VOS for organizing this event, and a huge thanks to all the volunteers for participating! #SILC #Democracy #swedishelectionday #VOS #val2026
Enormt kul dag både på riksdagen och på IDEA International! Detta genomförde vi tillsammans med internationella valobservatörer i samarbete med Liberalerna.
Democracy in practice 🇸🇪🗳️🌍 During a visit to Stockholm, representatives from Transparencia Electoral and @electiolab had the opportunity to visit the Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) and learn more about Sweden’s parliamentary democracy, political system and democratic institutions. The visit, organised by SILC’s Programme Manager Cesar Chirino, brought together participants from Latin America, the United States, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Kenya and South Africa, creating a truly international space for exchange and learning. For SILC, exchanges like this are an important part of connecting democratic actors across borders. Experiences from Sweden can contribute to a global dialogue on democracy, while the diverse experiences of participants from different regions bring valuable perspectives on electoral integrity, political participation, democratic resilience and the challenges facing democracy worldwide. Democracy becomes stronger when experiences, ideas and lessons are shared across borders. A warm thank you to everyone who made the visit possible! #ElectoralIntegrity #Riksdagen #SwedishParliament #DemocracySupport
Bokmässan 2026! Kajsa Norman släpper sin nya bok "Bland hjältar och tyranner". Därtill kommer vi hålla panelsamtal om Bolivia 27/9 kl 13:30-13:50. Kajsa Norman kommer vara på plats för signering och diskussion. Vi kommer även hålla panelsamtal om situationen i Belarus 24/9 16:0-16:20. Vi ses på Demokratitorget!
Tillsammans med Olof Palmes Internationella Center Green Forum och Centerpartiets internationella stiftelse - CIS skriver vi i dag på Global Bar om det partinära demokratibiståndet. Vi ser att det fyller en mycket viktig funktion för demokratiarbetet i världen, men formerna och kraven behöver förtydligas och vara lika höga som för allt annat svenskt bistånd. Stödet ska bedömas utifrån kvalitet, resultat, transparens och legitimitet. Det ska hanteras av Sida, ha tydligt fokus på partipolitisk organisering och även ge de partinära organisationerna möjlighet att konkurrera om civilsamhällesbistånd på samma villkor som andra aktörer. Samtidigt vill vi att en mandatperiods övergång införs i det fall en partinära organisations partigrupp inte klarar spärren i ett riksdagsval, och därmed får rimliga möjligheter att ställa om. Fungerande demokratier kräver fungerande, demokratiska politiska partier. Läs hela debattartikeln här:
We’re delighted to welcome Naz and Yigit from our Turkish project, "Democracy School for Aspiring Political and Social Leaders", to Sweden for a two-week learning visit. Selected from among all participants through their policy proposals for improving society, they will explore how Swedish society and democracy work in practice. During their stay, they will take part in study visits and meet people who are making a difference across Sweden. 🤝 Their visit comes at a particularly timely moment: Sweden is currently in the midst of the national elections, offering an extra dimension to understanding democratic participation and public debate firsthand. 🗳️ The project is a collaboration between SILC, Daktilo1984 and Fabel Kommunikation with support from Svenska institutet In the photo: Naz and Yigit together with Ing-Marie Viklund from SILC, Max Valentin from Fabel, and Gregory Goldenzwaig from the Swedish Institute. #Fundedbysi
We wrapped up the season at SILC’s Stockholm office with a game of boules, with both sunshine and rain keeping us company. It felt like a fitting reflection of our work with democracy around the world. Sometimes unpredictable, sometimes challenging, but always meaningful. What matters most is that we enjoy the journey and have fun together. ☀️☔️ 🌐🌐🌐 Vi hade sommaravslutning på SILC:s Stockholmskontor med en omgång boule, där både sol och regn gjorde oss sällskap. Det kändes som en passande spegling av vårt arbete med demokrati i världen. Ibland oförutsägbart, ibland utmanande, men alltid meningsfullt. Det viktigaste är att vi har roligt tillsammans. ☀️☔️
🌐 SILC is proud to co‑organize the 𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕪 𝕊𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕠𝕝 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟞 in Türkiye, a multi‑module programme for young people engaged in democracy and civic participation. The program is executed with Daktilo1984 and Fabel with the support of Svenska institutet. 🌟 The first module, with trainings in Ankara and Istanbul, was successfully carried out in February. Thirty-five young people came together in the two cities and worked on coalition building, negotiation, policy design, advocacy and political communication through Politics Lab, Policy Lab and Media Lab workshops. They not only developed concrete skills but also explored and practiced democratic culture, participatory governance and effective communication, including through the educational board game Electionville. Now, two selected participants are preparing to deepen their learning through a two‑week job‑shadowing study visit in Sweden in August. After that, all participants will reunite at our unconference, Democracy BarCamp, where we will continue to build on the ideas, energy and networks that have emerged from the Democracy School 2026. Democracy is ultimately built by committed individuals, and we are confident that these young talents will drive positive change in Türkiye. #Fundedbysi #democracy
SILC is proud to host a delegation of Belarusian democratic politicians. Over two days, the group met with @Män to explore issues of gender equality, LGBTQI rights, and non-violence. Today, they also met with Swedish Liberal politician Jan Jönsson, who shared his work on promoting healthier models of masculinity, supporting vulnerable groups in society, and preventing violence. We are proud to highlight his efforts, as he is a role model and a true inspiration in this field.
Inom ramen för vårt programm ”Strengthening Women’s Political Skills and Public Influencet” som vi leder tillsammans med organisationen Sose, så annordnades ännu ett utbildningstillfälle. 📈Deltagarna fick lära sig mer om politiska färdigheter och förhandlingsteknik, samt om deras betydelse för både personlig och yrkesmässig utveckling. 📑Genom praktiska övningar genomförde varje deltagare en SWOT-analys för att identifiera sina styrkor och utvecklingsområden. 📷Under utbildningen utforskade deltagarna även kommunikationsfärdigheter och de grundläggande principerna för att tala inför publik, bland annat hur man talar med självförtroende, strukturerar sina tankar på ett effektivt sätt, använder kroppsspråk strategiskt och uppträder självsäkert framför kameror. 📝Ytterligare engagerande sessioner kommer också att anordnas som en del av programmet. ________________ Within the framework of the “Strengthening Women’s Political Skills and Public Influence” program, another session was held. 📈Participants were introduced to soft skills and the art of negotiation, as well as their importance in both personal and professional development. 📑Through practical exercises, each participant conducted SWOT analysis to identify their strengths and areas for growth. 📷During the training, participants also explored communication skills and the fundamental principles of public speaking, including how to speak with confidence, structure ideas effectively, use body language strategically, and perform confidently in front of cameras. 📝Additional engaging sessions will also be organized as part of the program.
Silc är mycket stolta över att ikväll stå värdar för ett av flera möten med 2022 års vinnare av Nobels fredspris, Ales Bjaljatski, under hans pågående besök i Stockholm. Bjaljatski dömdes 2023 till 10 års fängelse och var en av de 123 politiska fångar som släpptes i december 2025. Ales och medborgarrättsorganisationen Vjasna, som han grundade 1996, har gjort otroliga insatser för att dokumentera och sprida kunskap om övergrepp mot mänskliga rättigheter i Belarus. Välkommen Ales, det är fantastiskt att se dig i frihet!
SILC is proud to be cofounders of WoMENA, a network for liberal women in the Middle East & North Africa providing women with tools, resources, and support needed to actively engage in politics, advocacy, and achieve leadership positions within their organisations. Watch the clip to hear what democracy means to women of WoMENA member organisation INLW Morocco.
Since its founding in 1992, Silc has worked to strengthen and promote women’s influence around the world, in politics as well as in society at large. Today, we are proud to cooperate with, among others, Sose's Women/Սոսեի կանայք in Armenia, as co-organiser of the liberal leadership academy The Alliance Of Her MENA Chapter, and Gender in Detail in Ukraine. Without women, there is no democracy! ✊💪🌍 🌐🌐🌐 Silc har sedan starten 1992 arbetat för att stärka och lyfta kvinnor inflytande i världen, i politiken såväl som i samhället i stort. Idag är vi stolta att samarbeta med bl a Soses women Issues i Armenien, som medorganisatör till liberala ledarskapsakademin Alliance of Her Mena chapter och Gender in Detail i Ukraina. Utan kvinnor ingen demokrati! ✊💪🌍
For decades, the Iranian regime has treated its people with relentless brutality, including imprisonment, violence and killing thousands of peaceful protesters, as well as the persecution of activists, journalists and women’s rights defenders. The courage of Iranians who have continued to demand dignity and freedom should not be forgotten at this time. Iran is entering a historic and uncertain moment. Now, it is crucial that international democratic forces rally together and strengthen their support to democratic actors and human rights defenders. A free and democratic Iran is essential for peace and stability that would save lives across the whole region. SILC stands behind the people’s struggle for freedom and continues its work for human rights, democracy and inclusion in the Middle East. Our thoughts are with our partners in the region in this difficult time.
🌐 Vill du främja demokrati i världen och bidra till att avskaffa diktaturer? ✊ Kan du ta dig fram på ryska och gillar många internationella kontakter? 🤝 Silc är en liberal biståndsorganisation som samarbetar med politiska aktivister, civilsamhälles-organisationer och politiska partier för att främja demokratisk utveckling. Vi arbetar i Östeuropa, Mellanöstern/Nordafrika och Latinamerika. 💼 Vi söker nu: ▪️Programhandläggare för Östeuropa (18 månader) ▪️Programkoordinator för Östeuropa (vikariat) 👉Ansök på vår hemsida! https://silc.se/ledigajobb/
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN📣 Are you a woman aspiring to advance in politics, ready to turn your skills into real change? This year, the success of The Alliance Of Her MENA Chapter, an official affiliate programme of theallianceofher.eu continues - and you can be part of the journey! This programme is designed for women of all ages, active in the Middle East and North Africa, who are ready to take their leadership to the next level and engage in political work. Develop your leadership skills, connect with a powerful network, and get ready to tackle regional political challenges. 📍Session 1: 14-17 May, Rabat, Morocco 📍Session 2: 27-30 August, Brussels, Belgium 📍 Session 3: 22-25 October, Amman, Jordan Read more and apply by using the link: https://forms.office.com/e/x9tZas9y5B A nomination letter from your party or (youth) organisation is required. Deadline: February 25th at noon (12:00) Central European Time (UTC+1) For more info, contact: 📩Muriel.tenbrummelhuis@d66.nl 📩Adina.martin@silc.se 📩Isabel.kreifels@freiheit.org The Alliance Of Her MENA Chapter is an affiliate programme of The Alliance of Her, with all funding and support provided by D66 International, SILC and FNF MENA. #TheAllianceOfHer #WomenInPolitics
I vår kommer Silc Förlag ut med en ny bok om belarusiers kamp för frihet och demokrati. Men redan nu på torsdag kan du lyssna på utdrag ur boken - uppläst av Belarus-experten och redaktören Amanda Valentin! Anmäl er här: https://www.sv.se/kurser-och-evenemang/beteendevetenskap/arrangorskap/smyglasning-kommande-bok-om-belarus-373219 Vi bjuder på belarusiskt fika! 🫖🥯😋
🌟Season’s Greetings from all of us at SILC!🌟 Looking back on a year of democratic progress, resilience, and resistance around the world, we are inspired by the courage of our partners defending freedom and human rights. Among the year’s defining moments was the Nobel Peace Prize to Vente’s María Corina Machado, recognizing her struggle for democratic rights and peaceful transition in Venezuela. 🕊️ Wishing for freedom, democracy, and human rights, this holiday season and in the year ahead, for everyone, everywhere in the world. 🌍🎄🌟
SILC are proud to present the 2025 Götell Prize recipient: 🏆 Dr Tamara Zlobina of Gender in Detail 🏆 “Dr Tamara Zlobina is honored for her consistent fight for gender equality and democracy in Ukraine , for championing the voices of women and LGBTQI+ people amid the challenges of war, and for underlining the importance of including all citizens in the defence of her country.” ✊🇺🇦🏳️🌈👩🦰
Silc förlag
Genom vårt arbete träffar vi många fascinerande människor som gör stora insatser för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter. Deras röster måste höras. Vi ger ut böcker och arrangerar seminarier där de kan berätta om sin situation.
Stöd Silcs arbete för Ukraina!
