Democracy lives by its people Where we stand What is the state of democracy? While elections are approaching in many countries, people in autocracies are fighting for human rights and reforms – often under dangerous conditions. An introduction to the topic and this issue. By Rasmus Randig
Editorial Editorial Democracy is under pressure worldwide. In this issue, we present individuals who impress us with their commitment to democracy, as a sign of our solidarity and to inspire others. By Imme Scholz
Boell.Thema 2/2024: Democracy – Diverse avenues towards one common goal Globally, democracy is under pressure. In this issue of the Boell.Thema magazine, we introduce individuals who inspire us with their dedication to democratic values. Because without dedication and action, there can be no democracy. And without democracy, everything is for naught.
Why the Youth is Angry at COP29’s Results Commentary For 29 years, youth groups have been calling for immediate solutions to climate change yet wealthy nations are locked in golden towers counting coins as the world warms up! By Hajar Al-Beltaji and Alab Ayroso
Julia Mickiewicz: "I’ve experienced envy and gossip" Portrait Julia Mickiewicz switched from journalism to politics and then to NGOs. She is the co-founder of the feminist organisation FemGroup Belarus. Today, she lives in exile – still she continues in her unwavering struggle for gender equality, diversity, and social justice. By Vika Biran
Darya Afanasyeva: "For women, love in prison is illegal" Portrait Darya Afanasyeva is a Belarusian feminist activist, a blogger, lesbian, and a former political prisoner. To her the term “former” seems odd in this context. As she says, such an experience will stay with you for life. By Vika Biran
From Boom to Burden Report This report strives to shed light on the various biophysical as well as sociocultural long-term impacts of mining, which can mean massive long-term monetary costs for states and further generations. By Andrés Ángel and Johanna Sydow
Irina Alkhovka: “I’m a bridging kind of woman” Portrait Gender equity is Irina Alkhovka’s personal and professional passion. In 2021, the human rights campaigner had to leave her home country, Belarus, where she was being prosecuted for her political activism. By Vika Biran
Short biography Darya Afanasyeva Biography Darya Afanasyeva is a Belarusian activist and feminist blogger who campaigns for the protection of women's rights and democratic change in Belarus. After more than two years in prison, she continues to blog on feminist issues.
Short biography Irina Alkhovka Biography Irina Alkhovka is a Belarusian women's and human rights activist and founder of the NGO Gender Perspectives. She is committed to combating trafficking of women and protecting victims of gender-based violence.