Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya Highlights Plight of Belarusian Women at Berlin Dialogue
Berlin, February 17, 2026 – Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a prominent figure in Belarusian opposition, addressed the international workshop ‘Women’s Progress Dialogue’ in Berlin yesterday. The event, held as part of the World Forum on the Future of Democracy, Tech, and Humankind, focused on advancing gender equality and supporting women’s political participation. Tsikhanouskaya’s speech drew attention to the critical situation of politically imprisoned women in Belarus and underscored the importance of global women’s solidarity.
Distinguished Panelists and Discussion Focus
The workshop commenced with an opening address by former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Other notable speakers included Dalia Grybauskaitė, former President of Lithuania; Aleqa Hammond, Greenland’s first female Prime Minister; Tzipi Livni, former Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs and Justice; and Tawakkol Karman, Yemeni journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The discussion was expertly moderated by Kasia Madera, Chief BBC News Presenter.
During her remarks, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya brought to the forefront the stories of political prisoners in Belarus. She specifically recounted the tragic case of Maria Zaitseva, a 24-year-old Belarusian volunteer fighter who lost her life on the front line in Ukraine. Tsikhanouskaya’s powerful testimony aimed to humanize the statistics and underscore the personal cost of political repression.
Call for Global Women’s Solidarity
Tsikhanouskaya stressed the dire conditions faced by women in Belarusian prisons. ‘More than 170 women in Belarus remain politically imprisoned. Many of them stood in white coats with flowers in the streets in 2020. Others were arrested for protesting the war in 2022. In prison, they face discrimination, ill-treatment, beatings, and torture. They have fewer rights than ordinary inmates. This must stop,’ she declared.
She further emphasized the transformative power of collective action: ‘I truly hope that our global women’s solidarity will help secure their release. Solidarity among women is more than kindness – it is power. It is our strategy. It is how we endure.’
Exploring International Support Measures
Following the compelling presentations, participants engaged in a discussion on potential international support measures. These ranged from strengthening assistance to independent media and civil society in at-risk countries to imposing sanctions on individuals responsible for policies of gender-based repression. A key aspect of the dialogue also revolved around strategies to increase women’s participation in politics globally. The workshop served as a platform for fostering dialogue and coordinating efforts to address critical issues related to gender equality and human rights on an international scale.
Source: tsikhanouskaya.org
