Asia Democracy Assembly 2025

The Asia Democracy Assembly 2025 was the Asia Democracy Network’s flagship regional convening, bringing together pro-democracy organisations, activists, and movement leaders from across Asia. Held every two years, the Assembly served as a vital platform to address shared challenges and develop new strategies for collective action in the region.

Under the theme Defending Democracy, Mobilizing Movements, and New Frontiers for Citizen Action, the Assembly took place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 1–3 November 2025, alongside the International Civil Society Week (ICSW).

The event brought together more than 1,200 participants from around the world, including civil society leaders, grassroots organizers, youth networks, democracy advocates, independent media, and technology groups, as well as regional and global democracy and human rights actors.

Our Director, Dr. Kaustuv Kanti Bandyopadhyay, and colleague, Ms. Samiksha Jha, attended the Assembly. Dr. Bandyopadhyay moderated a session on "Breaking the Wheel: Dismantling the Cycle of Autocratic Control" and Ms. Jha presented her work on youth participation in India. She discussed the political, social, and economic participation of young people and the reasons many remain excluded from mainstream policy processes. In a country as diverse as India, young people’s experiences are far from uniform, with significant variations in access, opportunities, and aspirations. She also highlighted how civil society organisations such as the PRIA, Martha Farrell Foundation, Synergy Sansthan and Youth Ki Awaaz are creating meaningful spaces for youth engagement and leadership across different contexts in India. 

Click here for the agenda.