Foundation Open Society – Macedonia (FOSM) supports the #СегаКажувам #TaniTregoj [ImTellingItNow] initiative and hails the idea of breaking the silence and not accepting the sexual harassment and sexual violence as normal.
We believe in supporting the citizens in their drive for better changes. We believe in supporting bold and innovative solutions to controversial problems, solutions related to real community problems and promote systematic development.
In that regard, FOSM entirely supports this initiative and its current and future pledges for changes in the cultural matrix, with the aim to build a society which will not justify, hide or accept any kind of violence, including sexual violence, as normal. A systemic solution to problems is needed, by insisting on tangible changes in positions of power through society’s vital segments – education, healthcare, culture, media, etc., with the aim to form new cultural matrix at an early age.
Though victims of any kind of violence or harassment rarely and with difficulty decide to talk about it, still saying it publicly is the first step on the long hurdles-filled road. Therefore, this initiative is of paramount significance. We are witnesses that the stories shared already, which are really shocking, paint a seriously alarming picture about the real situation in our society. Hence, the need for such initiatives, which will facilitate the changing of narratives on sexual violence and harassment, is more than apparent.
If you have your own story or a story of somebody close to you about sexual abuse or extortion from a position of power and want to share it publicly, the independent female organizers of the #СегаКажувам #TaniTregoj initiative urge you to do so by using the hashtags.
FOSM is not the organizer of this initiative, it just supports the initiative spurred by several independent female activists.
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18 January 2018