ACTING IS SPEAKING
Freedom of speech under pressure? A Nordic-French roundtable
PANEL 1 - The playing field of free expression – What do we mean by freedom of speech?
18.00 - 19.00
What does freedom of speech really mean today, and why does it look so different in France and the Nordics? In tonight’s opening discussion, we go straight to the heart of the matter: Where is the line drawn for free expression, and who decides what can be said-and why? With historical turning points and today’s laws as a backdrop, the panel examines how democracy, traditions, and the social climate shape the scope of freedom of speech-from the ideals of past revolutions to today’s debates on hate, tolerance, and responsibility. How are the boundaries of free expression formed and challenged in different cultures and legal systems? Join us for a discussion on principles, paradoxes, and practical consequences.
PANEL 2 - Reporting freely in a changing world – The conditions of journalism
19.15- 20.15
What are the conditions for journalism and press freedom in a time of rapid change? In this panel, we meet voices from France and the Nordics who share their experiences of navigating between laws, societal pressures, and digital challenges. The discussion draws on current examples and explores how journalists can continue to work freely and responsibly - and what obstacles stand in their way.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Cecilia Garme (SE)
Moderator
PANEL 1 - The playing field of free expression – What do we mean by freedom of speech?
Journalist and political scientist.
Raphaëlle Théry (FR)
PANEL 1 - The playing field of free expression – What do we mean by freedom of speech?
Associate Professor in Private Law at Université Panthéon-Assas (France), specialising in freedom of speech and the legal handling of sexual violence allegations, especially in connection with the #MeToo movement, as well as the significance of freedom of speech for the quality of democratic processes.
Jakob von H. Holtermann (DK)
PANEL 1 - The playing field of free expression – What do we mean by freedom of speech?
Associate professor of Legal Philosophy at the University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on legal theory and the ethics of freedom of speech, with particular emphasis on blasphemy and its legal consequences in democratic societies.
Åsa Wikforss (SE)
PANEL 1 - The playing field of free expression – What do we mean by freedom of speech?
Swedish philosopher and professor of theoretical philosophy at Stockholm University. A member of the Swedish Academy, her work focuses on knowledge, misinformation, and the role of truth in democracy. She is a prominent public intellectual and the author of Alternative Facts and Why Democracy.
Linn Mårdstam (SE)
Moderator
PANEL 2 - Reporting freely in a changing world – The conditions of journalism
Press Officer at the French Embassy to Sweden.
Anne-Françoise Hivert (FR)
PANEL 2 - Reporting freely in a changing world – The conditions of journalism
French journalist and correspondent covering the news in the Nordic countries. Based in Sweden, she regularly contributes to Le Monde and other major French media outlets, providing in-depth analysis on Scandinavian politics, society, and international relations.
Niels Ivar Larsen (DK)
PANEL 2 - Reporting freely in a changing world – The conditions of journalism
Danish journalist and board member of PEN Denmark. Larsen is a strong advocate for writers’ rights and freedom of speech and an opponent of blasphemy laws.
Siri Hill (SE)
PANEL 2 - Reporting freely in a changing world – The conditions of journalism
Journalist, producer of the Press Freedom Podcast, and vice chair of Reporters Without Borders Sweden.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Price 125kr with guaranteed access to the event
The event will be held in English.
If you have any questions, feel free to write to:
ssu@ifsuede.com