Practicing democracy

Irina, Ghana, Salome, Gayanee, Aynur, Pervana, Mirinda, Natia, Nanuka, Nur, Tako, Knarik, Viktoria, Inna, Lara, Nona, Leila, Nilufar, Nana…

These are not just simple women, these are 24 active young women from South Caucasus, who grew up mainly in regions where war, conflict, corruption were and still are part of the daily worries and learned to see each other as the “enemy”.

Three years ago we all had a chance to meet in Istanbul for the first time during a seminar for young women where we got a chance to raise our voices, talk about our pains, cry and laugh. A new friendship was born and a network was formed believing that peace starts with us collaborating for a change in our respective regions.

This year, the Young Women’s Network of South Caucasus is meeting in Sweden for the first time to talk about Activism and learn from the different experiences of local NGOs in Stockholm. Among the interesting guests, we had good presentations and talks from Amnesty International on how to conduct public actions, Hanna from Idyll talked about queer feminism and a representative from Glöm Aldrig Pela och Fadime related to us the many awareness campaigns to stop honor related violence in Sweden.

Today, the last day of our seminar we decided to take the opportunity and practice democracy. We will be heading soon to one of the busiest squares of Stockholm’s city center and hold a 1-hour public action to talk about our region, to raise awareness about war, but most of all to show how our friendship is possible and a sure way for a sustainable peace in our region.

I will be honest, we are worried a little. Practicing democracy is not an easy thing in our respective countries. Sweden is a safer place to start our journey of activism and will give us the strength to continue our journey.