Stefania Kapronczay

Stefania Kapronczay is a human rights defender with two decades of experience in Hungary, dedicated to fostering democracy through diverse citizen participation. As the long-standing former director of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU), she adopted its strategy to the closing democratic space: pivoting from a legal focus to a social change model that empowers citizens and grassroots organizations to restore hope in democracy. HCLU championed narrative-building around active citizenship and expanded its rural outreach. She also previously co-chaired the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations and is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Institute. A trained lawyer, Stefania was an Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University (2024–2025), where her research into democratic innovations led her to co-create the podcast “It Takes A City,” showcasing participatory democracy programs around the globe. She continues to publish on civil society, democratic resilience, and participatory democracy in transitional contexts.