New academic year has just started and newly coming CEU students have already proved their civic-mindedness by taking part in mass protest for women rights in Budapest.
Two weeks ago Istvan Varga, representative of Fidesz party, provoked waves of anger and indignation across Hungarian society. During the night parliamentary discussion of the introduction of sanctions against domestic violence to the Criminal Code he made sexist and even misogynist statement. According to Varga, the only way to avoid domestic violence would be to remind women about their role in the family. It is women’s emancipation, he said, that made husbands lose respect towards them, so women should concentrate on raising children and have not 2-3 of them, as presently, but 4-5. Students of CEU department of Gender studies joined the reaction protest for women’s right organized by several NGO’s on Tuesday, September 11th, and Sunday, September 16th.
“Since I live in Budapest now, I want to be involved as much as I can with the social and political life of the country", comments Chris Zivalich (USA). "I want to support activist groups in Hungary in solidarity against sexist remarks and legislation. It was an emotional experience, and though I could not understand what everyone was saying since it was in Hungarian, I could share their emotions and rage, and that was the most important part”.Dafna Rachok (Ukraine): “Being engaged in student and feminist movement in my homecountry, and being interested in current sociopolitical movements worldwide, I could not just ignore and rest mute, when I heard what's going on in Hungary. I think, it is very important to be present at such events like one on Tuesday or Sunday, as it is the way to show solidarity. And solidarity and support are beyond borders”.
Maryna Shevtsova
GENDER STUDIES
Ukraine
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