OPENING KEYNOTE
Speakers:
Dobrica Veselinović, MP, Zeleno-Levi Front, Serbian National Assembly
Dobrica Veselinović was born in 1981 in Belgrade, where he graduated on Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade. Active in the civil sector for more than 15 years. In the last few years, he primarily deals with issues of urban development and fights for public spaces and public and common goods. He is initiator of the Ministry of Space collective, Ne davimo Beograd citizen movement, green left coalition “Moramo” and founder of Green left front, new green political party. Currently member of Serbian Parliament and member of Presidency of Green left front.
Parasto Hakim, Afghan education advocate
Parasto Hakim, founder of Srak undergrounded home schools and online university across Afghanistan. She started the schools in September 2021, and now they have more than 2000 girls who can’t go to schools anymore in 14 schools in different provinces of Afghanistan, 255 women in second chance litracy program and one online university with more than 700 girls. They’re learning schools books, skill building programs such as: Sewing, weaving carpets, coding and sketching to support their own family too. She advocates for the rights of children in Afghanistan and believes not only girls but boys are also victim of the taliban, the world need to provide facilities for children to learn far from politics, gender apartheid, getting targeted and sensored.
Natia Gvianishvili, leading Georgian LGBTI+ rights activist
Natia Gvianishvili is one of the first publicly open lesbian feminist activists from Georgia; currently residing in Sweden. Natia has been actively engaged with local, regional and international LGBTIQ and feminist movements for over 10 years; her work ranges from the community mobilisation, research, visibility work, building solidarity to lobby and advocacy. Natia is a former Executive Director of Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG) – Georgian LBTQ organisation, and is proud of the work she’s done as a bold human rights activist through WISG, including advocating for LGBTQI rights to live free from violence and discrimination. She currently works at RFSL – The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights, with a specific focus on Eastern Partnership countries, that includes advocacy, mapping the conservative opposition in the region and working on response strategies. Natia is a former Board member of EL*C – EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community and the current co-chair of ILGA-Europe Executive Board.
Zoya Miari, Palestinian-Ukrainian Storyteller, Peace Ambassador
Zoya is a Palestinian-Ukrainian Peace Ambassador and Storyteller. Her life journey has given her a unique perspective, having experienced two wars and becoming a refugee twice. Through her experiences, Zoya discovered the transformative power of storytelling and the ability of individuals to shape their own narratives and the world around them. To share this vision, she founded “Waves to Home,” a global storytelling movement aimed at changing the world through personal stories. Zoya is currently writing her first book, sharing her life story as a message of hope for the world. She aspires to become a Positive Psychologist, helping others create meaningful lives despite the traumas they have through, and guiding them towards healing.
