The world is under intense pressure. Geopolitics is increasingly taking precedence over humanity, human rights are disappearing from the diplomatic vocabulary, and international law is creaking under the pressure of self-interest. In this context, international solidarity faces an existential question.
In this closing session, Maxime Prévot and Mieke Van Herreweghe will each, in turn, look ahead to the future of international solidarity and international cooperation in these turbulent times.
When: 16h30
Where: Studio 4
Language: English
Maxime Prévot is a politician for Les Engagés and currently serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the De Wever Government.
Mieke Van Herreweghe has been a professor of English linguistics (and Flemish Sign Language) at Universiteit Gent since 2002, where she served as Vice-Rector from 2017 to 2025. As a professor, she has contributed to several long-term academic cooperation projects in South Africa and Mozambique, and as Vice-Rector she led various academic missions in Africa and South America. Since September 2025, she has been Chair of the Bureau of VLIRUOS, the organization that connects Flemish universities and universities of applied sciences with partners in the Global South through sustainable higher education and research projects.
Border Colonialism
This talk flips the perspective and sparks our radical imagination: what becomes possible when we look beyond dominant border thinking and make room for new language around community, mobility, and justice?
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Towards a Just Digital Future for All
From AI to platforms, digital technology is the result of political choices. Taking a global perspective, we explore what this means for rights, inequality, and international solidarity.
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When Inequality Rules: Who Saves Democracy?
What happens to democracy when wealth determines power? Discover how inequality is straining our institutions — from Big Tech to climate policy — and who can save democracy when influence and capital increasingly converge.
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Forward Fest 2024 invites you to join the conversation, share your perspective, and collaborate with others to build a future that is fair, inclusive, and interconnected. Explore, learn, and contribute to the change our world needs.
LEARN, SHARE, INSPIRE
Prepare for a day filled with inspiring lectures, surprising workshops, and professional connections that will not only stimulate your thinking but also touch your heart. This is your chance to learn from leading thinkers, network with like-minded individuals, and actively contribute to a more just world.
You will soon be able to register for Forward Fest 2026 here.
Forward Fest is organized by 11.11.11, ngo-federation and VLIRUOS in collaboration with MO* with the support of Belgian development cooperation.
11.11.11
THE COALITION FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY.
11.11.11 aims to eradicate exploitation from the world. Everyone – anywhere in the world – has the right to a dignified existence. To truly make a change, power and resources must be distributed more fairly, and the current system must be questioned.
More info on 11.be
NGO-FEDERATIE
FLEMISH FEDERATION OF NGOS FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION.
The ngo-federation represents its members to the federal and other governments, supports the members in their discussions with those governments, promotes cooperation within the sector, and strengthens the quality of NGOs’ operations.
More info on ngo-federatie.be
VLIRUOS
INNOVATIVE RESPONSES TO GLOBAL AND LOCAL CHALLENGES
VLIRUOS supports partnerships and scholarships between universities and colleges in both Flanders and the Global South, seeking innovative solutions for global as well as local challenges.
More info on vliruos.be
