Why do you want to participate?

I want to participate because freedom is often defined by laws, yet laws can also be used to suppress freedoms under the guise of security, sovereignty, or public order. As someone studying international and transnational criminal law, I am passionate about understanding where the law draws the line between protection and oppression. This event is a chance to engage with diverse perspectives on freedom and discuss how legal mechanisms can be reformed to ensure they serve justice rather than control.

What does freedom mean to you?

Freedom, to me, is the ability to live without fear—fear of repression, fear of poverty, fear of being silenced, or fear of being excluded. It’s not just about rights written in law; it’s about whether people truly have the power to make choices about their lives. Economic freedom means not being trapped by poverty, social freedom means being able to express oneself without judgment, and mental freedom means not being weighed down by social pressures or systemic discrimination. Freedom is not only the ability to make choices but also the power to access justice when those choices are threatened. True freedom exists when legal and social systems empower individuals rather than limit them. For example, a person who has legal rights but no means to enforce them is not truly free. Freedom, therefore, is deeply tied to accountability, legal protections, and the absence of structural oppression.

What are the biggest challenges?

The biggest challenge is that freedom is not universal—it means different things depending on where you live. In some countries, young people are fighting for basic political freedoms, like the right to protest, vote, or speak out without fear of imprisonment. In others, they face economic oppression, where poverty, corruption, or corporate control limit their ability to make independent choices. In conflict zones, freedom means the right to safety and survival, while in more developed countries, it might mean freedom from digital surveillance, misinformation, or social pressure. A major challenge is that even where legal freedoms exist, they are not always accessible in practice—whether because of gender, class, ethnicity, or other forms of discrimination. For true freedom, young people must not only have rights but also the power and resources to exercise them. That’s why global solidarity is so important—freedom cannot be the privilege of a few, but a reality for all.

Do you have a message?

Freedom has never been given—it has always been negotiated, fought for, and redefined. The Treaty of Middleburg (1579) was a powerful example of this: a moment in history where people came together to secure religious freedom and tolerance at a time of division. It reminds us that freedom isn’t just about individual rights—it’s about creating a shared space where different voices can coexist. Today, we face new struggles over freedom—some political, some digital, some economic, that should be included in a more modern Treaty of Middleburg. But the lesson from the old Treaty is clear: freedom is a process, not a destination. If we stop questioning, stop demanding, or stop defending it, we risk losing it. My message is: never take freedom for granted, and never assume it will protect itself. It’s our responsibility to shape it for future generations.