On May 11, 2026, the forum “Youth, Gender and Democracy for Belarus” will take place in Stockholm, focusing on the role of young people in democratic processes, gender equality, and the rights of LGBTQ+ communities.
The event is organized by the Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian National Youth Council “RADA”, and the Representation for Social Policy of the United Transitional Cabinet, with the support of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden. Sweden has long supported the democratic forces of Belarus, and this forum continues that tradition.
The opening of the forum will feature remarks from:
- Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, National Leader and President-elect of Belarus;
- Patrik Svensson, Representative of the Swedish Government to the Belarusian Democratic Forces in Exile;
- Fredrik Löjdquist, Director of the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies;
- Benjamin Dousa, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Sweden.
The discussions and other sessions will also bring together representatives of Swedish governmental institutions and research centers, Belarusian and international experts and activists, as well as members of democratic forces, including Marharyta Vorykhava, Yuliya Mitskevich, Maksim Boika, Alina Kharysava, Viktar Baranau, Dzmitry Radzivieuski, Katsiaryna Dantskova, Alena Aharelyshava, Dzmitry Herilovich, Yuliya Ralko, Aliaksandra Dojnych, Darja Urban, Alena Shandrak, Pilip Stsepanenka, Maryia Lando, and others.
The program will focus on key challenges and opportunities for Belarusian youth in politics and civil society.
Special attention will be given to risks, restrictions, and support mechanisms in the context of gender and LGBTQ+ activism, as well as the search for new forms of solidarity and cooperation. The forum will also present the study “Ha-ha, We Are Still Here”, prepared by RADA, along with an analysis of Belarusian youth engagement with political content on social media.
Participants will also discuss strategies for communicating with audiences inside Belarus under conditions of repression and take part in working groups aimed at developing practical recommendations for international partners and civil society initiatives.
The forum will conclude with the presentation of working group recommendations. Participants are also invited to the Eastern Partnership Youth Conference 2026, which will take place on May 12–13 and will focus on youth participation in democratic processes under conditions of repression.
Registration for the forum is closed.
