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Background
Objectives and Philosophy
The Summit
Participants
Organisation

Background

Ten bombs exploded on four trains during rush hour in Madrid. More than 190 people died, almost 2,000 were injured. It was one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in Europe in recent history. As in the United States of America on September 11, 2001, it was an attack on freedom and democracy by an international network of terrorists.

One year on, Madrid will be the setting for a unique conference, the International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security. Its purpose is to build a common agenda on how the community of democratic nations can most effectively confront terrorism, in memory of its victims from across the world.

Objectives and Philosophy

Against the background of the March 11 attacks, the Summit aims to promote a vision of a world founded on democratic values and committed to effective co-operation in the fight against terrorism. The Summit will bring together the world’s leading experts and most influential policymakers, as well as ordinary citizens from across the globe.

The result will be an innovative plan of action – The Madrid Agenda – that strives to bring together the world’s nations to develop a common strategy for confronting terrorism in all its forms through democratic means.

The International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security is a non-partisan event that aims to unite democratic forces from across the political spectrum. Since terrorism is a global phenomenon requiring a global response, our objective is to provide an international forum to discuss pragmatic strategies, comparative lessons and concrete, forward-looking steps..

The Summit

The Summit will begin on March 8 and culminate on March 11, 2005:

On the first day, working groups of experts will engage with political leaders, decisionmakers;
On the second and third day, a wider audience will examine the most challenging questions facing the democratic community as we work to reduce the vulnerability of our societies to terrorist violence;
On March 11, the official commemoration ceremonies of the Madrid attacks will take place

Participants

The Summit will bring together global leaders and other exceptional individuals, whose experience and expertise will transform the ideas from the Summit into a plan of action. The Summit will be attended by:

Heads of State and Government
The Members of the Club of Madrid
Key policymakers
Leading scholars
Heads of international and non-governmental organisations
Business and religious leaders
Outstanding intellectuals, artists and journalists

However, it is citizens who are most directly affected by terrorism. They therefore must participate in the debate on how to confront terrorism. The Summit will give a voice to individual citizens and civil society groups from across the world, including victims of terrorism and their families.

Organisation

The Summit is organised by the Club of Madrid, an independent, nonpartisan organisation dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world by drawing on the unique experience and resources of fifty-five former democratic Heads of State and Government, including all four former Prime Ministers of Spain since the democratic transition in 1975.

The President of the Club of Madrid is the former President of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and the Vice President is the former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson. Its Secretary General is Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada. Bill Clinton, the former President of the United States of America, is Honorary CoChairman.

The Summit, a politically inclusive event, is held under the High Patronage and in the presence of H.M. the King of Spain. It has the support of the country’s principal political forces and is funded by the Spanish Government, the regional government of Madrid the Madrid City Authorities and the Government of Norway.