Human values, human rights, freedom, gender equality, solidarity, were the most used words in the on-line conference titled “The Value of Our Life during Difficult Times & Women Values Heroes of COVID-19”, held on 22 October on the occasion of the World Values Day 2020.
The conference, organised by organization ALVA – Albanian Values and supported by EU TACSO 3 under its P2P Programme On-demand tool, celebrated the World Value Day. The event aimed at raising-awareness about the importance of values and contributing to increased wellbeing of people, especially in pandemic situation. Additional motive for organising such an event was the increased violence against women during COVID-19 pandemic in Albania. Thus, the conference was organised to give inspiration and opportunity to participants to create networks and give support to each other, with resolving their challenges based on values. “Heroes of values exist and COVID-19 made their acts visible” was a Spiritus Movens, the motor of the conference.
About 50 representatives of CSOs, public institutions, academia and media representatives from Albania and the region attended the conference and contributed in creating a positive and collaborative environment, especially needed during the difficult times of the present world pandemic.
“This conference is also the first step towards the plans we have, continuing the initiative further with the creation of an international network based on values. Values are powerful as is the power of women and every human being”, says Manjola Perja, Founder and leader of ALVA.
“Values are really, really important. And when I say values I’m really talking about positive human values, good positive values, like kindness, compassion, respect, non-violence. We believe that living by our positive values, it’s not only beneficial to ourselves, but also benefits the people around us, and rippling out to the whole community and the whole world”, said Charles Fowler, Chairman of Human Values Foundation and lead organizer and coordinator of World Values Day.
Richard Barrett, founder of the “Barrett Values Centre”, spoke about the differences between beliefs and values, values-based decision-making and values driven leadership.
On the topics related to values as well as the difficulties created by the COVID-19 pandemic the following speakers contributed to the discussion with their experience and perspectives: Oltiana Rama, trainer and researcher on Peace Building and Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding from Albania; Zilka Spahic Siljak, PhD, Associate professor Guest lecturer at University of Roehampton London, UK and Program director of TPO Foundation from Sarajevo; Gordana Rodic, Executive Director of Social Integration Empowerment Center (SIEC) from North Macedonia, Plamenka Trajkovska, President of Small Chamber Ensembles (SCE) Skopje, from North Macedonia; Nadja Dragovic, Program Manager from Fund for Active Citizenship (FAKT) from Montenegro; Dragana Radoshevic, Program assistant/Coordinator for PR and Media Communication from Development Center for Youth, from Serbia; Sadete Ternava Osmani, Lecturer in Journalism at the University of Prishtina, Faculty of Philology from Kosovo*[i]; Arjeta Maka, Project Coordinator from Divine Woman from Kosovo; Busra Suer, Project Coordinator/Assistant Manager from All Children are Ours from Turkey; Hellen Swales, Deputy Major for the Upper Hutt City Council from New Zealand and Phil Clothier, Senior Cultural Transformation Advisor at Barrett Values Centre.
[i]*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.