Civil Resistance Forum: 2nd edition
The second Civil Resistance Forum in Nicosia sent a powerful message: in an age of digital deception and armed aggression, truth remains our most vital weapon. The event, a gathering of diplomats, cybersecurity experts, and activists, was not merely a discussion but a call to action.
The tone was set by stark realism. Ambassadors from Lithuania and Ukraine emphasised that courage and resilience are not abstract concepts but daily necessities for survival. The warning was clear: silence in the face of disinformation is a form of violence.
This theme continued in a gripping panel on the „digital battleground,” where experts detailed the alarming rise of AI-powered deepfakes designed to erode public trust. The solution proposed was not just better technology, but a stronger society, one built on critical thinking and media literacy.
In a sobering analysis, Professor Marios Efthymiopoulos outlined the harsh realities of the war in Ukraine, framing it as a European conflict with global ramifications. He argued that civil resilience, the social and cultural capacity to withstand coercion, has become a central strategy of modern warfare. His prognosis was stark: Europe remains unprepared, divided and dependent, with a decisive end to the conflict unlikely before 2027.
Amidst the debates, the concept of resistance found its human heartbeat through powerful cultural displays. The moving „Jazzmen at War” exhibition presented the final photographs of Artem Fedosenko, a photojournalist who fell in 2024, capturing fellow musicians who had taken up arms. Complementing these images, the „Voices of Resistance” audio narratives wove together stories of struggle from Cyprus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Together, they formed a poignant testament to how resistance lives not in abstractions, but in personal courage, memory and art.
The forum also looked forward, exploring how to build „peace infrastructures.” Drawing on Cyprus’s own divided history, speakers highlighted how shared utilities, joint educational committees, and grassroots dialogue can slowly mend a fractured social fabric, proving that coexistence, however difficult, is possible.
The event closed with a powerful consensus: defending truth requires more than just words. It demands daily commitment, robust institutions, and the courage to protect our collective memory. In the fight for the future, culture and civic courage are not secondary, but as decisive as any diplomatic or military strategy.
You can find moments from the forum here.
Author: Giorgia Filippucci