"Your weapon is your voice" - debates in Central Asia
IDEA Editorial Team
The article offers solutions to prevent sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices identified by young people during the debate.
Thus Malika Mukambetkalieva (coordinator of the Non-Violence Cup project) described her impressions.
"Our countries have a lot in common, but each country is also unique. It is heartbreaking to realize that a common feature of all five Central Asian countries is the problem of gender violence and inequality"
IDEA in Central Asia held a series of debate tournaments among the youth of Central Asia. The main goal of the Non-Violence Cup was to protect the rights of women and girls. More than 250 students from secondary and higher educational institutions and young specialists from all over the region participated in the event.
During the debate tournaments, boys and girls learned to defend women's rights and offer ideas for positive changes in society, presenting strategies of behavior in various situations, both governmental and opposition.
Hello, my name is Malika, I am a project coordinator at IDEA CA and I will give you a tour of the Non-Violence Cup which ended recently.
"Your weapon is your voice" - I was very wrong when I considered this expression to have lost its meaning, being the marketing text of "successful success".
Having traveled all over Central Asia, listening to the thoughts and voices of young people, I realized how all these ideas resonate and how much the unity of these voices can change.
On December 10, the last day of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, the Non-Violence Cup officially began, marking the continuation of the struggle for gender equality and the protection of the rights of women and girls.
During December 2022 and January 2023, our team held five national debate tournaments in all Central Asian countries. The cycle ended with the sixth, already regional online tournament.
All the tournaments, online training, and meetings were about the rights, the rights of women, violence against them, and our steps as young people to make positive changes in society.
"To convey your voice to the state, to create conditions for the prevention of violence and gender stereotypes"
"To enlighten society through your own enlightenment"
"Think critically, read, enrich yourself, and be sure to share these, change the usual unhealthy foundations"
"To say: if people's actions or words are wrong. Be tolerant and sensitive. Don't allow victim-blaming cases"
Such thoughts were among the participants and participants of the Non-Violence Cup tournaments.
The opinions of young people at the rounds differed, some believed that it was important to take radical steps to eliminate violence, while others mentioned the importance of communication and the introduction of the right values. But despite the heated debates that appeared, everyone was united in their belief about the unacceptability of violence and their voices were stronger than ever.
So let's not forget that our voices have power and we can change society for the better with our participation.