On August 10, the Women’s Breakfast took place in Warsaw, with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya joining it. The event for Belarusian women involved in social and political activities was organized by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic.
For the third time, nearly fifty outstanding Belarusian women came together for informal conversations and experience sharing. The speakers included Maryia Babovich, Alisa Ryzhychenka, Roza Turarbekava, Yuliya Mitskevich, and Volha Zazulinskaya, with the breakfast moderated by the Director of the Office of Belarus Democratic Forces in the Czech Republic, Kryścina Šyjanok.
The participants discussed the role and unity of women in politics and activism, economic and social challenges faced by Belarusian women, feminism in the democratic forces, and ways to engage participants in initiatives and joint work on shaping the future policy of Belarus.
In her address, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya explained why events like this matter and called for women’s solidarity:
“We exchange experiences and discuss tools that women can use to influence the agenda and way of life. We must already be thinking about building a community where we can speak openly about important things: gender policy, personal paths in activism, the challenges, doubts, and search for solutions that women face in today’s realities. Only then will we be able to make the role of women in democratic Belarus even more important and influential.
Women’s solidarity is an incredible force – I would even say armor – that unites and strengthens us all. And the more open and sincere we are with one another, the stronger this armor becomes. I want Belarusian women to feel safe and protected – both from the regime and from any form of pressure, harassment, or discrimination. Our working environment must be one hundred percent safe. We must fight for our rights, our space, and our dignity”.
