Treaty of Middelburg
This is a difficult question because so many injustices exist, and people are stripped of their freedoms every day. However, one of the most urgent issues I would change is ensuring the freedom to truth. Truth is one of the most powerful forces in the world—it shapes our decisions, our beliefs, and the way we live our lives. Yet, in today's world, truth is becoming harder to find. With censorship, biased news sources, manipulative politicians, and an overflow of fake news, many people are unable—or unwilling—to see reality. As someone who is half German and half American, I have witnessed this firsthand in both countries' elections. Many Republicans only trust Fox News, while AfD supporters who are gay, Black, or transgender still vote for a party that openly opposes their rights. This kind of misinformation leads to a failing democracy and irrational decisions that can shape our future for the worse. Without access to the truth, people cannot make informed choices, and without informed choices, true freedom does not exist. That’s why fighting for transparency, critical thinking, and media literacy is one of the most important freedom battles of our time.
Team members
- ■ Carolyn Huber
Why do you want to participate?
Participating in the Youth Freedom Conference 2025 is an incredible opportunity to engage in an exciting and meaningful event. This conference brings together students from diverse backgrounds to discuss freedom, equality, and shared responsibility—empowering us to shape our own future. I believe this event is especially important at a time when many of the freedoms we’ve fought for over centuries are under threat. Right-wing movements are gaining traction, challenging fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of peace, and freedom of deciding over your own body. These threats often come from powerful figures like Donald Trump (78), Elon Musk (53), Vladimir Putin (72), and Alice Weidel (46), whose decisions will shape our world for decades to come. While they may not live to see the full consequences of their actions, we, as young people, will. Even if we are not yet in positions of political power, we still have the ability—and the responsibility—to stand up for our rights and ensure a future rooted in freedom and equality. The conference provides us with the platform to do just that, through the creation of the Treaty of Middelburg, allowing us to take ownership of our collective future. Beyond its serious purpose, I believe this event will also be a fun, engaging and inspiring experience. It will offer opportunities to network with like-minded students, participate in workshops, learn from influential guest speakers, and exchange ideas. It will be a weekend filled with learning, activism, and celebration—a chance to make meaningful change while also enjoying the spirit of freedom. I would love the opportunity to take part in this amazing and transformative event.
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom has many faces and can mean different things to different people at different times. For me, freedom is the ability to live a healthy life, make my own choices, and express my thoughts without fear, oppression, or discrimination. However, freedom only truly exists when we all work together. It is not just about individual liberty but also about collective responsibility—the duty to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. We must ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, identity, or beliefs, has equal access to rights and opportunities.
What are the biggest challenges?
There are a lot of freedom challenges that young people are currently facing that can have a significant impact on our daily lives. For me the three most important ones are freedom of speech/expression , climate justice and bodily autonomy. Freedom of speech and expression are essential for young people to share ideas, challenge injustices and advocate for change. However, especially over the past month this right is increasingly being restricted through censorship, political suppression and misinformation. Especially social media, which is meant to be a tool for free expression is nowadays heavily controlled by algorithms, governments and big corporations, who limit what content can be seen and posted. Climate justice is crucial to ensuring a livable future, yet governments and corporations continue to prioritize profit over the planet, regardless of the consequences. One of the most damaging setbacks was Trump pulling out of the Paris Agreement, despite the U.S. being one of the world’s largest polluters. Decisions like these strip young people of our right to inherit a safe and sustainable world. Bodily autonomy is another fundamental freedom that is increasingly at risk. As a woman, I see how leaders like Trump are working to restrict abortion rights, threatening my right to make decisions about my own body. However, this issue extends beyond women—transgender and non-binary individuals face severe restrictions on gender-affirming care, reproductive rights, and personal healthcare decisions. The ability to have control over one’s own body is a basic human right, yet political agendas continue to interfere with it. Beyond these three, young people also face other significant freedom challenges, including economic freedom, access to education, political participation, and social equality. This is why we must collectively take action to protect our rights and steer the future of freedom in a positive direction. We cannot wait for those in power to make the right choices—we must demand them ourselves.
Do you have a message?
Everything has already been said.
