Strengthening Democracy: Indonesian Youth Delegate Participates in YDN Tokyo 2025

Abdi Ardiansyah, a student from the Faculty of Law (FH) at Hasanuddin University (UNHAS), was selected as a youth delegate representing Indonesia at the Youth Democracy Network (YDN) Regional Meeting held from 31 July to 1 August, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan. This prestigious event brought together young leaders from over 18 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including democracy activists, youth leaders, journalists, and university students from some of the world’s top institutions. The meeting aimed to strengthen democratic resilience through cross-border collaboration and youth capacity building.

Among the key highlights of the program were an Opening Address by H.E. Tsutsumi Naohiro, Ambassador for Human Rights and International Peace from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on democratic resilience in Asia; an interactive leadership training session on strategic communication, stakeholder mapping, and fundraising strategies facilitated by Jaco Roets of Accountability Lab; and a dialogue with Dr. Mantas Adomėnas, Secretary General of the Community of Democracies. The forum also launched a new international certification program titled “Democratic Dialogues & Civic Skill-Building,” a joint initiative of Cornell University and the Youth Democracy Network. The meeting concluded with a Closing Address by H.E. Paweł Milewski, Ambassador of Poland to Japan, representing the presidency of the Community of Democracies.

This regional meeting served as a continuation of the inaugural YDN launch held in Panama City in December 2024 and was supported by the U.S. Department of State. Abdi’s involvement in this international forum was a valuable opportunity to gain global insight and experience, particularly in understanding the crucial role of youth in upholding democratic values. He expressed hope that his participation would contribute to advancing leadership capacity in the fields of law and democracy, and ultimately bring positive impact to Indonesia, UNHAS, and society at large. 

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