Access Now is excited to announce that Fanny Hidvégi, Europe Policy Manager, has been selected as part of the inaugural, all-virtual Obama Foundation Leaders: Europe program, which kicks off on September 8, 2020. The first cohort is composed of 35 emerging leaders who represent 18 countries throughout Europe. Through their work in government, civil society, and the private sector, these leaders have demonstrated a commitment to values-based leadership and effected transformational change in their communities. They work on a broad range of issues and focus areas, including, but not limited to: economic inequality; anti-racism; public health; strengthening democracy; technology and data privacy; the climate crisis; and building a stronger Europe.
For the past two years, Fanny has served as one of the few civil society members of the European Union’s High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence, where she has been able to positively impact European AI policy. She found her calling to protect human rights and hold powerful actors accountable while working at the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union where she still serves as a board member.
“We must explore and understand the intersection of human rights and technology to ensure that the same rights that people enjoy offline are protected online,” said Fanny Hidvégi, Europe Policy Manager at Access Now. “Through the Obama Foundation Leaders: Europe program I’m hoping to find answers to the dilemma of how to achieve political change without entering into party politics, and to learn from this exceptional group of people.”
As an extension of the Obama Foundation’s international Leaders regional programs, which started in Africa in 2018 and the Asia Pacific in 2019, Leaders: Europe is designed to further inspire, empower, and connect the emerging leaders to change their world. The Foundation’s programming in Europe began in 2019 with a town hall in Berlin, where President Obama was joined by more than 300 young leaders from across Europe to discuss the importance of community, leadership, and civic engagement. The Leaders: Europe program demonstrates the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to the region, along with the belief that these 35 emerging leaders, through their extraordinary work in their communities, have the potential to positively impact their countries, the region, and the world.
The launch of this program also comes on the heels of President Obama’s call earlier this year for a new generation of leaders to translate their justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action. The all-virtual program will run from September 2020 through February 2021.
Leaders: Europe is made possible through generous contributions from sponsors, including The Rumi Foundation, an organization focused on supporting the next generation of young leaders through education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Meet the inaugural Leaders: Europe cohort and learn more about the program.