An Egyptian television and radio presenter, religious leader and activist, Moez Masoud was once described by the Economist as one of the world’s five most influential Muslim preachers. He attended the inaugural World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg in 2012.

An Egyptian feminist writer, activist, doctor and psychiatrist, Nawal El Saadawi won the Council of Europe’s North-South prize in 2004. She was a keynote speaker at the inaugural World Forum for Democracy in November 2012.

This video gives a concise overview of the Council of Europe's activities in local and regional democracy such as capacity-building, local government reform and its important role in networking governments and local authorities with a view to delivering good governance at local and regional levels.