Author: Shruti Priya | 22-Dec-2023
I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Thailand and the border areas of Myanmar as part of the Youth Democratic Solidarity and Leadership Training organized by the Asia Democracy Network and Forum Asia. This training, followed by the Asia Democratic Assembly and AND's 10-year anniversary, brought together 19 human rights youth activists from 12 Asian countries. It was an eye-opening experience that introduced me to a diverse array of personalities, from passionate human rights defender and organisations to reformers, revolutionists and refugees.
Summing up my experiences and thoughts in limited line is a challenge given the rich variety of encounters I had over these ten days, but I’ll do my best to pen the whirlwind of emotions, reflections and learnings.
Its been nearly a year since I started working with young people here at PRIA to advance democratic values. Only now after the visit do I truly realize the profound value this work holds. Democracy worldwide is facing a crisis, with authoritarian regimes operating under the garb of democracy, suppressing dissenting voices, and labelling normal civilians, cartoonists, singers as terrorist without them having any clue how overnight they turned into a threat to the state, leaving them no choice but to flee from the only place they call home. Witnessing the struggles in neighbouring countries has given my work a deeper purpose. I have learnt how important it is to keep the values of democracy alive through the work we do with young people so that it is not neglected rather upheld and safeguarded.
It is strange how despite coexisting on the same Earth at the same time, human experiences vary vastly depending on which side of a border one resides. While some of us enjoy the luxury of witnessing sunset and sunrise every day, there are those who are afraid of even opening their windows, who are confined to their homes living in house arrest or in hiding- from their own government, military and supposed protectors.
Despite these challenges, the unyielding spirit and commitment to change among the young people I met were truly inspirational. Individuals as young as 19 years old are risking their lives, facing terrorism charges, incarceration, all in the pursuit of democracy.
The stories of immense hardships faced by those fighting for democracy elsewhere made me appreciate the freedom I have and has also led me to reflect on the question of where does one go when they need protection from their own protectors—the military and the government? It is during such challenging times that civil society organizations play a pivotal role, acting as saviours, aiding internally displaced people, exposing their state’s atrocities to the world, and providing a second chance at life to those who had lost all the will to live.
This brought me to my next lesson which is the immense need for the Civil Society Organisations to work independently without government’s interference.
What I also learnt was the need for collaboration, strengthening and expansion of work among organisations which has shared objective because the success of these organisations largely hinges on forming alliances with other like-minded organisations to amplify voices thus challenging the status quo.
Apart from these CSOs we also met guerrilla fighters who are fighting the war on the frontline. War had turned these seemingly ordinary people who were once accountants, drivers and shopkeepers into heroes. I learnt; it is during these daunting circumstances one realises of their innate strength to fight back.
I learnt that resistance does not solely rely on weapons, art too is a powerful form of resistance, a tool for advocacy and activism. Many fellow participants and organisations I met, utilized art to resist oppressive regimes in their countries. Our favorite were bands
like “Rap against Democracy” and “The Commoner” whose songs can wake even the dead from their graves.
An impactful moment from the ADN Assembly has left me inspired which I would like to mention. In the absence of young voices during panel discussions on the first day of the assembly, young female leaders took to the stage to share their work and talk about the need to listen to young voices thus creating their own session. This experience taught me that if you don't have a seat at the table, bring a chair—create space for yourself.
These impactful stories and the people behind them have left an indelible mark on me, motivating me to uphold and advance the sacred values of democracy. The experience has left me in awe of human resilience which has taught me that -You may believe you have lost everything, but until you have yourself, nothing is lost.
Ms. Meghna Sandhir, along with our team members, has been engaged in the Drivers, Limiters, and Barriers to Women's Trust in Digital Platforms Project since last year. She is blogging about her firsthand experiences from visiting our project sites in India.
Ms. Aashini Goyal, along with our team, has been working on the Drivers, Limiters, and Barriers to Women's Trust in Digital Platforms Project for the past two months. This blog recounts her firsthand experiences from visiting our project site in India.
Ms. Meghna Sandhir, our programme officer, along with colleagues from Martha Farrell Foundation and Pro Sport Development, participated in the Trainers of Training (ToT) program conducted at Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra - SSK Lucknow. The training took place from December 4th to December 10th, 2023.
