Former VP Robredo to speak at democracy forum with former US President Obama

Former Vice President Leni Robredo was named one of the speakers at the Democracy Forum hosted by former US President Barack Obama.

Robredo, in a statement, confirmed her participation in the forum, which is set for November 17.

"Amid the difficulties, democracy finds anchorage in the hearts of our people—and it is something we must protect for our future. Excited to announce that I will be joining President Barack Obama at the Obama Foundation #DemocracyForum on November 17," Robredo said in a Twitter post.

Aside from Robredo and Obama, other speakers at the forum included: Pulitzer winning investigative reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones of the New York Times Magazine, Dean Jelani Cobb of the Columbia Journalism School, co-founder and Executive Director Peggy Shepard of the WE ACT for Environmental Justice, Technical Research manager Renee DiResta of Stanford Internet Observatory, among others.

In a separate statement, former US President Obama said, “For democracy to thrive, we need to tell better stories about ourselves, and how we can live together despite our differences. On November 17th, I'll be joining global leaders working to protect democracy at our Obama Foundation #DemocracyForum.”

The Obama Foundation, in a statement, said the forum will bring attention to the most significant challenges democratic institutions face today and showcase democracy in action around the world at a time when democracy is under threat.

“We will bring together hundreds of emerging leaders from across Obama Foundation programs, leading experts, and practitioners who are reimagining our institutions and protecting democratic values,” the Obama Foundation said.

“The best chance we have to solve our greatest challenges is to solve them together,” it added.

Robredo, who served as the Philippine vice president from 2016 to 2022, is one of the Harvard Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership Hauser Leaders. — DVM, GMA Integrated News