As part of the activities of the Contact Group on Belarus in the Council of Europe, a training session was held, which brought together more than 30 young activists and leaders from Belarus. They developed 7 projects covering different spheres of public life.
These projects are an example of how young people can contribute to building democracy. Future projects are focused on supporting LGBTQ+ persons, media development, human rights protection, and education. This is an important step in building an inclusive European society and a new Belarus, where people will have equal conditions and opportunities for self-realization. Such projects reflect the aspiration of Belarusian youth for change and their readiness to take action to make it happen.
“We must recognize that young people are not just supporters, but drivers of change. This session has strengthened our role in creating a new democratic youth community”, emphasized Marharyta Vorykhava, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Advisor on Youth Policy and Students.
A new Action Plan from the Contact Group will be presented to the Council of Europe already in November this year. The Action Plan of the Contact Group in support of Belarusian democratic forces and civil society for 2023 was adopted on February 1. It can be found at the link. In accordance with this plan, the Contact Group has already organized a number of events for independent journalists, Belarusian lawyers, and young people.
From January 2024, Marharyta Vorykhava will become part of the CoE Advisory Council of Europe on Youth.
