The 1st Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Summit in Wien hosted the opening of the exhibition ‘Those tempered at daybreak: LGBTQ+ eyewitness reports of the war in Ukraine’. The exhibition presents portraits and stories of LGBTQ+ people in Ukraine during the war. This initiative was born out of the programme of assistance to LGBTQ+ people affected by the war, which Gay Alliance Ukraine launched from the first day of the full-scale invasion, and demonstrates the importance of joining forces to protect human rights and support vulnerable groups in the context of armed conflict.
We would like to express our special gratitude to Rostyslav Dzundza, UNP WG1 “Democracy, human rights, good governance, and stability” coordinator, for his active participation in the implementation of this project and his tireless work on the organisation of the exhibition. It was thanks to his enthusiasm and professionalism that it became possible to present these important stories on the international stage.
The exhibition ‘Those tempered at daybreak: LGBTQ+ eyewitness reports of the war in Ukraine’ was a landmark event at the 1st EaP CSF Summit. We are grateful to the Forum for supporting this initiative and creating a platform for dialogue on pressing issues of society. Through the prism of art, the exhibition demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of cultural expression in overcoming traumatic events. Collaboration with international partners has made it possible to present this exhibition to a wide audience and promote cultural dialogue.
This is definitely an important step towards raising awareness of the situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine. After all, the war affected all Ukrainians, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Through personal stories and artistic images, the exhibition encourages reflection on the humanitarian consequences of the war and the need to protect human rights.
The exhibition is expected to spark further discussions and initiatives aimed at supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Ukraine.
Information provided by Yevheniia Kvasnevska, Gay Alliance Ukraine
Photo
© Michele Agostinis
Rostyslav Dzundza