United Nations Democracy Fund

As Executive Head of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), Annika Savill manages a UN Secretary-General's Trust Fund that strengthens the voice of civil society, promote the rule of law and human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Sunday inaugurated the sixth installment of the Athens Democracy Forum, an annual event established by the New York Times, Kathimerini and the United Nations Democracy Fund to address the hot-button issues being debated in today's liberal societies.

The fourth Athens Democracy Forum is hosting leading personalities from the areas of politics, journalism, civil society and business this month for an in-depth discussion on the challenges of democracy.

"Wow! What is this?" a young American woman asked chef Lefteris Lazarou after taking her first bite of velvety mashed Naxos potatoes with smoked eel and truffle oil.

One of the few positive things to happen in Greece in the years of the crisis was the establishment of the annual New York Times' forum on democracy in Athens.

Edward Snowden, in exile in Moscow after leaking US National Security Agency documents, said Friday he intends to vote in the US presidential election, but did not say which candidate he favors.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch (center), participates in a discussion panel with Roger Cohen of the New York Times (left) and European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos on Thursday during the Athens Democracy Forum, organized by the NYT, the United Nations Democracy Fund, the City of Athens and Kathimerini.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch (center), participates in a discussion panel with Roger Cohen of the New York Times (left) and European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos on Thursday during the Athens Democracy Forum, organized by the NYT, the United Nations Democracy Fund, the City of Athens and Kathimerini.

Greece would be better off outside the eurozone, American economist and op-ed columnist for The New York Times Paul Krugman told the Athens Democracy Forum Wednesday.

Responding to a question by executive editor of Kathimerini newspaper Alexis Papachelas, the Nobel Prize-winning economist said: "the question is academic… it won't happen."

Thirty-five years ago, there were 40 democracies in the world. By the end of the 20th Century, that number had tripled. However, democracy has not triumphed everywhere, and emerging democracies face difficult dilemmas and obstacles.