Treaty of Middelburg
When it comes to freedom, although it is considered a basic human right, the true access to it is limited by one's identity. In an ideal world, one's place of birth, residence, gender, class, and race should not decide their chances of being autonomous. But today, under the conditions that limit freedom to a privilege rather than a birthright, I would foster solidarity. We need solidarity all around us for those who do not get the chance to be born, reside, or have an identity that allows them to freely express themselves. We are collectively obligated to stand with those who are oppressed, to help them, and to recognize our privilege every day. I could not change people's hearts, but I think I can change the taken-for-granted way in which we look at freedom. By challenging this, I believe the world would empathize with each other and understand the need for change. In this way, individuals would understand that freedom is a constant fight and that no one can truly be free until everyone is free. If I had a gigantic megaphone, I would scream this so loud that the whole world would hear me, so the fight for solidarity would never end.
Team members
- ■ Cosmina Beloiu
Why do you want to participate?
My desire to take part in this conference is centered around a very important goal of ensuring that the future of our world will be a peaceful, safe one for generations to come. Furthermore, as a Sociology student, themes such as human rights, social movements, and systemic inequalities inspired me from the beginning and motivated me to choose the field that I am currently in. Having access to like-minded and motivated individuals would widen my horizon of understanding what freedom represents around the world for people from different cultures and backgrounds. Moreover, I would be delighted to take part in this conference as it will help me bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world activism.
What does freedom mean to you?
For me, freedom is the basis of humanity. As a fundamental right, freedom represents the power of the people. Their power to make liberatory choices. It extends beyond the lack of oppression, but always stands against it. Freedom is the catalyst for transformation and the ultimate societal goal for which people all over the world struggle. To me, freedom is the gift that was passed at birth from my mom to me, who fought for it during the Communist Revolution in Romania. Without her revolt against the Party, and without the people's protest against the system, freedom would be just a distant concept for me and millions of people from my native land. Freedom is a never-ending battle of the people all around the Globe, who collectively fight for their fundamental right. Freedom is their bravery to reclaim power, challenge oppression, and build societies that reflect the values of justice and inclusivity.
What are the biggest challenges?
I believe that the biggest challenge facing young people today is the growing division among them. From my perspective, there is a constant polarization among groups that refuse to engage in dialogue with each other, fueling hostility. Freedom is threatened by the non-existent communication between people with different political orientations, who, instead of working towards a common goal, are motivated by the illusion of "being right" and "proving that the other side is wrong". I think that this approach leads to a dangerous fragmentation among young people, who, historically, have been the catalysts of change. At the same time, this approach does not lead to action or change. Instead, it weakens collective power and paralyzes much-needed movements against oppression. When far-right leaders rise to power, there is a common mobilization from the other side against the voters instead of the politicians themselves. We need to fight to break down the walls that don't allow individuals to engage in dialogue against the common enemy: misinformation and extremism. Our freedom is threatened by our lack of unity and the desire to be better than others. Young people's freedom is threatened by the ultimate goal of being right, which eventually could cost us our freedom.
Do you have a message?
I want to thank you for this initiative and for promoting democratic principles, especially in light of all the political and economic insecurity that we are facing right now. I am grateful that during these confusing times, there are still organizations that engage in the fight for freedom and that give young people a platform where they can unite for such a beautiful cause.
