Summary Report now available
The Words Matter! 2025 Summary Report contains session highlights and concrete calls to action from every panel held during the conference. It offers insights on how to rebuild trust in democratic institutions, along with practical steps for governments, tech platforms, civil society, and individuals to push back against disinformation.
Thank you!
View the official photos
View the official photos from Words Matter! 2025 in Oslo, Norway.
Meet the world-class speakers
Words Matter! 2025 brought together global leaders, community advocates, religious leaders, and experts to discuss the world’s most pressing challenges facing democracy and the growing threat of disinformation. Speakers included:
Sir Nick Clegg
Former UK Deputy Prime Minister and former President, Global Affairs at Meta.
Kamzy Gunaratnam
Norwegian Parliament Member and former Deputy Mayor of Oslo.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis
Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Former Prime Minister of Denmark and Co-Chair of Meta Oversight Board.
Edin Hussein
The Oslo Center Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Lead.
Bishop Kari Alvsvåg
Bishop of Borg Diocese in the Church of Norway; President of ECRL (European Council of Religious Leaders), Religions for Peace (RfP).
Finn Jarle Rode
The Oslo Center Chairman and CEO of the World Heart Federation.
Ammal Ahmed Haj Mohamed
PEN Norway Project Manager.
HE Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa
Secretary General of the Muslim World League.
Jessica Cecil
Founder of the Trusted News Initiative and Council member at Chatham House.
Kjell Magne Bondevik
Former Prime Minister of Norway and Founder of The Oslo Center.
Sasha Havlicek
ISD Global Founder and CEO.
Jack Frohlich
Youth Development Lead at The King’s Trust.
Inga Strümke
Associate professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Ane Breivik
Former President of the Young Liberals of Norway and 2025 Norwegian parliamentary elections candidate.
Jakob Synnes
National Junior Representative
of CISV Norway.
Henriette Reierson Johnstone
President of the Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH).
Moderator: Xenia Wickett
Wickett Advisory Founder and International Affairs Advisor.
Take a stand against disinformation
With hundreds of delegates and over 20 international speakers, Words Matter! is one of the most important global gatherings on protecting democratic values. In the second annual conference, Words Matter! 2025 brought together passionate democratic defenders from around the world to explore practical ways to tackle disinformation and re-build trust in a fractured world.
Words Matter! 2025 took place at Oslo Kongressenter Folkets Hus in Oslo, Norway, on 1 July 2025.
A global gathering for democracy
It’s our collective responsibility to challenge disinformation. Words Matter! 2025 brought together politicians, religious leaders, community activists and business leaders to explore how and why we must rebuild trust in institutions to ultimately protect democracy and democratic values.
A global gathering for democracy
With over 400 delegates and 20 international speakers taking part, Words Matter! is one the most important global gatherings on protecting democratic values.
A look back at 2024
Words Matter! 2024 brought together global leaders, researchers and community advocates to strengthen democracy.
