Caroline Vernaillen
Image
Function
Lead Global Policy & Advocacy
Email
vernaillen@democracy-international.org
Telephone
Organisation
Democracy International
Summary
Caroline Vernaillen is the Lead Global Policy & Advocacy at Democracy International, where she focuses on connecting organisations and individuals working to advance direct democracy and citizen participation around the world. Her work involves gathering best practices globally and creating opportunities for exchange and learning among those engaged in democratic innovation. She advocates for strengthening democratic infrastructure beyond national borders, promoting more inclusive and participatory decision-making at the transnational level.
Biography
Caroline Vernaillen studied International Relations at the University of Leuven and Broadcast Journalism at the Erasmus University College Brussels. Before joining Democracy International in 2017, she worked for the Belgian Development Agency in Morocco and UNOPS in Switzerland.
Responsibilities:
- Creating networking and learning opportunities for a global community of democracy activists through among others our International Democracy Community and the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy.
- Building alliances, raising awareness and managing campaigns aimed at creating the democratic infrastructure for citizens to take part in decision-making on the global level, such as the We The Peoples campaign for a democratic UN.
- Organising key events such as the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy
- Public relations of Democracy International and its partners
- Editor of Democracy International's website
- Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube)
Quote
“Democracy is ultimately about how we treat each other, it’s about respect for other people’s rights and opinions. Only a democratic system can allow us to freely determine our own futures and help shape the societies we live in, but a true democracy can only exist where citizens have the opportunity and the tools to participate in public life.”