Voices Uniting for Change in Greece: inside the 2nd Annual Thessaloniki (Solun) Human Rights Forum

On the 19th of October 2024, the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) partnered with our members the Macedonian Movement to Promote Mother Language NPO ‘Krste Misirkov’ in hosting the second Thessaloniki (Solun) Human Rights Forum. This event sought to empower minority voices and promote human rights for all communities with a focus on collaboration, dialgoue and cultural preservation to address the challenges facing minorities in the region. Over 120 human rights activists, academics and representatives from of European linguistic and cultural groups have attended forum featuring three panels that sought to share the experiences of linguistic and cultural groups across Europe. 

The first panel discussions focused on the historical struggles of minority groups in Greece and the broader Balkan region. This panel include the perspectives of the Turkish, Aromanian/Valch and Macedonian communities to highlight the challenges they have faced. 

The second panel highlighted the perspectives of the Welsh, Ladin, Macedonian and Western Thrace Turkish minority experiences in using education and cultural preservation as a pathway forward to preserve languages and cultures. 

The forum concluded with the signing of a resolution and action plan signed by the Macedonian, Turkish, Aromanian/Vlach, Albanian and Jewish minorities in Greece, which called for the Greek government to adopt inclusive policies, enhance educational opportunities and support cultural preservation to foster a more equal and representative society. 

Please see the link here for more information about this event here