In 2021, the relevant action week takes place between March 18-25.
Check out the slides from our brainstorming session.
Download the infokit – coming soon
Download the draft press release – coming soon
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Join one of our upcoming Democracy Under Pressure talks:
Malta (25/02): https://www.facebook.com/events/692846148082882/
Poland (04/03): https://www.facebook.com/events/770573440202614/
Turkey (11/03): https://www.facebook.com/events/708056223201691/
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1. ACTION WEEK
When: 18-25 March
What: A campaign turning 15 years old is already quite special to any NGO, but it is specifically special for a youth NGO as this means that even more generations of members have been involved: JEF Europe is organising the 15th anniversary of its annual action “Democracy under Pressure” (18-25 March 2021). During the pan-European action JEFers raise awareness about the systemic weakening of democracy and rule of law in Belarus and other European countries, by organising multiple activities and most visibly, gagging statues. This year, JEFers will additionally reach out to their city administrations to request the lighting of buildings in white-red-white -the colours associated with a democratic Belarus – on 25 March.
This 15th anniversary, special attention will be dedicated to Belarus, to condemn the same regime – among the many other distortions of our time – with which it all began. JEF already joined the Solidarity Day on 7 February, with JEFers across Europe sending letters to political prisoners in Belarus and most notably a joint press release with Europe’s political youth, as reported by EurActiv.
2. SUPPORT PROTESTERS IN RUSSIA
When: Entire Month of February.
Why: Demonstrations in support of the jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny swept the nation, beginning in the Far East and reaching the capital. Arrests climbed into the thousands. Hundreds are detained as protests in his support sweep across Russia.
What : Write to the vice-chancellor of your university to invite them to make a statement in defence of young Russians exercising their rights, and condemning Russian universities betraying the ideal of a university as the ultimate place for freedom of thought and expression. You can find a draft email here.
Want to do more?
Consider supporting the initiative #BY_help which collects money for the victims of political repressions in Belarus, covering the costs of their fines, lawyer fees as well as medical treatment and rehabilitation.You can transfer the money via PayPal or Facebook Donations.
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Past 2021 action Day of Solidarity with Belarus
When: before 7 February 2021.
Why: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the democratic opposition in the country, has proclaimed 7th February 2021 the Day of Solidarity with Belarus, calling on everyone in Europe and the world to organise performances and rallies, release statements, display the white-red-white colours, write letters to political prisoners and support the victims of repressions, among others.
There are currently more than 220 political prisoners in Belarus, many detained for peacefully protesting against the fraudulent presidential elections on 9h August 2020. Answering Ms Tsikhanouskaya’s call, we invite our members and everyone interested to send hand-written letters to political prisoners and raise awareness of human rights violations in the country on social media. With this gesture of solidarity, we hope to convey a clear message to Belarusian dissidents and citizens that Europe is aware of their struggle and the abuses of Lukashenka’s regime.
Answering Ms Tsikhanouskaya’s call, we invite you to:
- Send hand-written letters to political prisoners and raise awareness of human rights
violations in the country on social media. With this gesture of solidarity, we hope to
convey a clear message to Belarusian dissidents and citizens that Europe is aware of
their struggle and the abuses of Lukashenka’s regime. - If you want to do more, you can also send a letter to your municipality to ask your
city representatives to light up the institutional buildings in support of democratic
Belarus.
Democracy Under Pressure 