3 minutes
When Did We Forget? MEMO 98 Joins Campaign for Democratic Values
Together with our EPD partners, we highlight why fairness, respect and freedom matter every day.
As children, we were taught not to lie, not to cheat and to listen to others. Why do we accept less in public life? MEMO 98 joins “When Did We Forget?”, a campaign reminding us why democratic values matter — including independent media and reliable information that allow us to make informed choices.
MEMO 98 joins “When Did We Forget?”, a campaign launched on 15 September 2026, the International Day of Democracy, by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and its member organisations.
Through familiar childhood experiences, the campaign returns to values we need throughout our lives: fairness, respect and the willingness to listen. Its central video asks a simple question: why do we sometimes tolerate behaviour in public life that we teach children to reject?
#Independent media make informed choices possible
For MEMO 98, this question is closely connected to our everyday work. Since 1998, we have monitored media in Slovakia and internationally, examining whether they provide citizens with fair and comprehensive information about public affairs.
Our ability to choose freely depends partly on what we learn about candidates, their decisions and the issues that affect our lives. We need independent journalists who can scrutinise claims and ask difficult questions. We need media that represent different perspectives and help people distinguish facts from misleading information.
This matters during elections and between them. Reliable information enables us to hold power to account, understand public decisions and form our own opinions.
#Values we cannot take for granted
The campaign reminds us that freedom of expression, the rule of law, fair elections and equality before the law require constant attention. Democracy also depends on people being able to participate in public life, organise freely and disagree without fear.
We do not have to agree on everything. But we must protect the space to listen, debate and resolve differences without violence or intimidation. We must also expect those who exercise power to respect the rules and take responsibility for their decisions.
As an EPD member, MEMO 98 supports this shared call to keep democratic values visible and put them into practice every day.
Share the campaign’s message.
Explore the campaign and read the joint statement by EPD member organisations