From October 28 to November 3, 2024, the “Activist QUEERathon: Decrim Editions” took place — a unique 7-day online school for aspiring activists from Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA).
This is the third QUEERathon organized by ECOM, but for the first time it was held online. 26 young activists took part in the QUEERathon, and they had a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and practical skills for working in the field of LGBT rights advocacy. The program included topics such as the rights of LGBT people in EECA countries, strategies for promoting decriminalization, work with anti-gender movements and ethical use of artificial intelligence in online activism. There was also a focus on preventing emotional and professional burnout, as activism is challenging and demands a lot of energy.
"QUEERathon gave me an understanding of how volunteering works, and what wonderful, competent people with invaluable experience are involved in it. Thanks to it, I saw how many blind spots there are at the beginning of activism and where you can start your journey," says Sofi, a QUEERathon participant from Georgia.
"QUEERathon inspired me to continue my journey in activism and deepened my knowledge of advocacy mechanisms. It's incredibly motivating to see people who, despite repression, continue to defend the rights of LGBTIQ individuals. It's becoming more and more clear to me how important it is to know your rights in order to defend them effectively," shared her impressions another participant of the event, Anya from Kazakhstan.
Tina Sobko, Communications Officer at ECOM, emphasized that supporting young activists at the start of their journey is crucial for their resilience and ability to resist pressure and discrimination: “We want young activists to have the resources and inspiration to continue their work on LGBT rights protection in the region. Our goal is to help them move forward with confidence, taking into account all the difficulties.”
Saida Nuralieva, facilitator of the online school, joined the QUEERathon team for the second time, because supporting aspiring activists is an important mission for her: “This school has become a space where queer identities are not only accepted, but also celebrated. 'Activist QUEERathon: decrim editions' united people who fight every day for the right to be themselves and make the world around them kinder. We didn’t just talk about rights or activism — we talked about queerness as a force of resistance, as a deep joy of being yourself, free from imposed restrictions.”
During Queerathon, participants also presented their own projects aimed at supporting decriminalization and improving the situation of LGBT people in their countries. ECOM announced a competition to support the best ideas. We look forward to the implementation of these projects and are proud of our new team of young activists who are ready to contribute to the promotion of LGBT rights and safety in the EECA region.
Organizer of the event: ECOM — Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity (ECOM).
The event is held in partnership between ECOM and the UNFPA Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
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