«Ukraine’s history is a life-affirming one despite everything». Oleksandra Matviichuk speaks at the Estoril Conference in Lisbon
On 22–23 October, Oleksandra Matviichuk, Chairwoman of the Centre for Civil Liberties, visited Portugal. In less than two days, the human rights activist attended the Estoril Conference, gave several lectures for students, a dozen interviews, and a speech to the local Ukrainian community, even managing to attend the unveiling of a memorial plaque commemorating the victims of the Holodomor of 1932–33.
In addition to Oleksandra Matviichuk, the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and Vice Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko also spoke at the Estoril Conference. The First Lady reminded the participants that every day is extremely precious during the war.
‘Time has a price. This price is life. Rethinking is important, but musing for too long is dangerous. When the aggressor is tolerated for a long time, he gains this time to commit more crimes,’ Olena Zelenska warned.
In her speech, the Chairwoman of the Centre for Civil Liberties mostly concentrated on the price paid by the most vulnerable people during the war, such as civilians, children, women as well as Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories. However, Ms Matviichuk also noted that we should not assign the responsibility for changing the situation solely to the Government, its international partners or international organisations. She emphasised that in times of crisis, the voice of civil society and, in general, of every person who is willing to take responsibility, acquires great significance. Moreover, Ukraine’s experience can and should become an important lesson for all democracies around the world.
«Being in the midst of events, we find it hard to assess all of it now, but Ukraine’s history is a life-affirming one despite everything, because it is in dramatic times that hope appears. When freedom is taken away from people, it would speak with renewed vigour through each person», — said Oleksandra Matviichuk.
