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#DemocracyDrinks: Solidarity with Belarus & Lessons in Resilience
30 March @ 17:00 - 19:00
This edition will feature Ales Bialiatski, Nobel Peace Prize laureate & Belarusian democracy and human rights defender.
How can civil society continue defending human rights when repression becomes the norm? And what role can international partners play in ensuring that struggles for freedom are not forgotten?
For decades, Belarusian civil society organisations have worked under severe political pressure, documenting abuses, defending political prisoners, and supporting victims of repression. Since the 2020 crackdown, many organisations have been forced into exile, yet their work continues across borders.
This #DemocracyDrinks edition is organised in collaboration with Article 19 and will bring together Belarusian and Dutch civil society actors to reflect on how international solidarity can sustain human rights work under repression. It will also explore how partnerships with organisations in the Netherlands and across Europe help ensure that the situation in Belarus remains visible and that those defending rights are not left isolated.
Join us on March 30th (17:00-19:00) for the #DemocracyDrinks The Hague, where we will be joined by:
Speakers
- Ales Bialiatski, Human Rights Centre Viasna
- TBC, Dutch Civil Society Representative
Moderator
- Joanna Szymańska, Head of Programmes and Strategy, ARTICLE 19 Europe
About Ales Bialiatski
Ales Bialiatski founded the organisation Viasna (Spring) to provide support for the incarcerated demonstrators and their families that then evolved into a human rights organisation focused on documenting the authorities’ abuses and torture of political prisoners. As a result of his work, the government authorities sentenced him to several years’ imprisonment for alleged tax evasion. In June 2021, in the wake of the massive demonstrations against President Lukashenko’s dictatorship, he was again jailed without trial or conviction. He was still in prison when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.
What are the #DemocracyDrinks?
#DemocracyDrinks is an informal, recurring conversation and networking series bringing together people working on democracy, peace, justice, and democratic participation.
The format is intentionally simple: open, dialogue-led conversations in a relaxed setting. #DemocracyDrinks The Hague provides space to connect across sectors, test ideas, explore emerging questions, and reflect collectively on democratic challenges beyond formal panels or presentations.
Launched by Defend Democracy in Brussels in 2018, #DemocracyDrinks now takes place in cities around the world. Editions in The Hague have brought together a diverse mix of practitioners from NGOs, international institutions, think tanks, government, and civil society. The Hague series is co-organised by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC), the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), and The Hague Humanity Hub (THHH).
Photos – disclaimer.
Please note that a photographer and/or videographer may be present during #DemocracyDrinks. Images may be used by partner organisations for communication and promotional purposes, including social media and future event promotion. By attending, you consent to this use. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting democracydrinksthehague@gmail.com and specifying the event. Thank you for your cooperation!
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