Annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture

The Freedom Lectures are a joint initiative of the American Friends of the Czech Republic (AFOCR) and Friends of Slovakia, honoring the legacy of Václav Havel and the 1989 Velvet Revolution, and celebrating the shared values of freedom, democracy, and civic courage. Each year, the series brings together leading thinkers and policymakers from both sides of the Atlantic to explore the challenges and responsibilities of democracy in today’s world.

Past speakers have included distinguished presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, scholars, and civic leaders from the United States and Central Europe, reflecting the enduring spirit of transatlantic partnership, democratic ideals, and shared moral responsibility.