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.
Since 2006, JEF Europe has been organising the annual “Free Belarus Action” to raise awareness about the Lukashenka regime in Belarus. The action was rebranded in 2014 to the “Democracy under Pressure Action” to include the alarming developments that put pressure on fundamental democratic values such as the freedom of speech and rule of law in several European countries.
When the Founding Fathers and Mothers set out to establish what would become today’s European Union, the objective was clear: “the realisation of the first concrete foundation of a European Federation, indispensable to the preservation of peace”. When the EU was born out of the wars that had torn apart the communities that make up its Member States, political integration would make the possibility of war physically impossible, so that such tragic events would never repeat themselves. And yet, for years now, a spectre has been haunting Europe: Illiberal, nationalist and authoritarian temptations have spread across national governments and our society. In many countries human rights are steadily undermined by those who are supposed to safeguard them. Moreover, during the pandemic, many regimes in all continents have exploited the context to tighten their authoritarian grip on citizens.
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. Since mid-January, weekly online events with specific focus on countries allow JEFers to report about the country they are based in.
Everyone is welcomed to join the Democracy under Pressure action week, to defend democracy and the rule of law using offline and online means, from 18 until 25 March 2021. Download our guidelines and find out how you can join too (incl. options for joining in lockdown) at www.jef.eu/dup.
