29/07/2024 | Writer: Suay Yüksel
The Pride Week Assessment Meeting took place online on Wednesday, July 24, with the participation of volunteers from Pride Week Committees in numerous cities across Turkey.
Building on the evaluation meeting held last year after the Aydın Pride Week events, this year’s meeting included participants from Eskişehir, Ankara, Istanbul, Trans Pride Week, Aydın, Antalya, Izmir, and Mersin. The meeting aimed to evaluate the Pride Week events organized in various cities, share experiences, and discuss plans for the coming years.
After a general evaluation, Pride Week volunteers exchanged insights about what they did well this year, where they were lacking, the coping mechanisms they developed, and their predictions for the coming year. The discussion also focused on the difficulties experienced by the committees locally and the motivation of the participants. In addition to common themes, participants discussed solutions to ensure wider participation and support at both local and national levels. They particularly emphasized the importance of increasing citizen and LGBTI+ participation in the events, ensuring security, and enhancing cooperation with local governments.
Volunteers also shared suggestions for more effective organizations and events in the future. They underlined the need for stronger cooperation with non-governmental organizations and local administrations. Increasing volunteer participation and developing new mechanisms to reach a wider audience were key issues discussed. Committees highlighted the importance of involving volunteers more in the processes to increase participant numbers and maintain motivation. Examples included creating volunteer databases and strengthening communication.
During the meeting, Pride Week committees mentioned their cooperation with lawyers and the support they received from some bar associations in the face of detentions and legal obstacles. They also noted that loss of motivation and strategic difficulties during the organizing processes threaten the sustainability of the events. Suggestions included keeping participants active throughout the year and strengthening communication channels for continuous planning of events.
Following the presentations, Pride Week volunteers emphasized the importance of holding periodic evaluation and experience sharing meetings. It was decided to repeat these meetings regularly to develop new methods, coping mechanisms, and create a solidarity network.
Tags: human rights
