Marharyta Vorychava (Belarusian: Маргарыта Паўлаўна Ворыхава; also Margarita Vorikhova, Marharyta Vorykhava, Margo Vorykhava) is a Belarusian activist and politician.[1] In August 2024, Vorychava was nominated as Representative for Youth in the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus.[2]
Marharyta Vorychava | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 June 2001  |
| Occupation | Politician, social activist |
| Parent(s) |
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Activism
editVorychava's activist priorities are gender equality, gender diversity and European integration.[1]
Vorychava was active in the European Youth Parliament, the Belarusian Students' Association, and the Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus.[1]
Political appointments
editIn the context of Belarusian opposition political structures, Vorychava was appointed as Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Youth Policy and Students and is a member of the Belarusian Coordination Council.[1]
Vorychava was elected as a member of Council of Europe's Advisory Council on Youth in 2023,[1] and in April 2024 was elected as vice-chair of the bureau (the governing body) of the Advisory Council.[3]
In August 2024, Vorychava was nominated as Representative for Youth in the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus.[2]
Repression
editOn 30 November 2023, Vorychava's mother, Inesa Vorychava, was detained for four hours of questioning by authorities in Novopolotsk. Marharyta Vorychava interpreted the questioning as a form of repression in retaliation for her political activism.[4]
Points of view
editIn 2024, Vorychava described her views on Belarusian nationalism as seeing it as a process that should evolve with context, with key ideas being freedom, independence and equality.[5]
In late August 2024, Vorychava criticised a proposal by Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko to build a "Harvard-style 'educational hub" to convince Belarusians not to emigrate. She stated, "We don't need another 'hub' or empty promises. We need to rebuild the country from the ground up, starting with the restoration of democracy, respect for human rights, and the release of all political prisoners."[6]
Awards
editVorychava was given the "Young Women of Europe" award for 2023 by the Women of Europe Awards group of European Movement International.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Marharyta Vorykhava – Chairperson of the Belarusian National Youth Council RADA, European Movement International, 2024, Wikidata Q130339511, archived from the original on 21 September 2024
- ^ a b Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (3 August 2024), Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya announced new members of United Transitional Cabinet, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Wikidata Q130339198, archived from the original on 21 September 2024
- ^ Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (29 April 2024), Marharyta Vorykhava became Vice-Chair of Bureau of Advisory Council on Youth of Council of Europe, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Wikidata Q130339242, archived from the original on 21 September 2024
- ^ "«Ад чакання і гатоўнасці лягчэй не становіцца». Дарадца Ціханоўскай — пра затрыманне маці" ['Having expected it doesn't make it easier.' Tsikhanouskaya advisor on the detention of her mother]. Nasha Niva (in Belarusian). 30 November 2023. ISSN 1819-1614. Wikidata Q130339566. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024.
- ^ Маргарита Ворихова: свобода, независимость, равенство – моя национальная идея (in Belarusian), European Radio for Belarus, 14 March 2024, Wikidata Q130339654, archived from the original on 21 September 2024
- ^ Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (30 August 2024), Marharyta Vorykhava: 'How can our youth blossom in a system that stifles free thinking and innovation?', Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Wikidata Q130339335, archived from the original on 21 September 2024