Matija Stefanović Participates in the International Conference on Counteracting Anti-Gender Movements
This July, our Matija participated in the International Youth Conference on Counteracting the Anti-Gender Movement, held in Dublin, Ireland, and organised by IGLYO, the International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation, the largest European network of organisations working to advance the rights and well-being of LGBTQI young people. The conference brought together young LGBTQI activists from across the Council of Europe region to strengthen their capacity to counter anti-gender movements, whose disinformation campaigns and coordinated attacks threaten human rights, democracy, and the rights and well-being of LGBTQI people across Europe.
Throughout the four-day programme, participants engaged in expert presentations, interactive workshops, and peer-learning sessions to analyse the strategies and narratives employed by anti-gender movements, develop effective counter-narratives, and exchange examples of good practices from their local communities. Particular emphasis was placed on equipping young activists with the skills to respond to disinformation and strengthen their advocacy and communication capacities.
A significant part of the conference focused on the joint development of public policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Europe’s response to the growing influence of anti-gender movements. The ideas developed during the conference will serve as the basis for IGLYO’s future advocacy work and will be presented to European policymakers during a study visit to Brussels planned for autumn 2026.
Participation in the conference also provided an opportunity to build new partnerships with activists from across Europe, exchange experiences on the challenges faced by LGBTQI communities in different countries, and gain new knowledge and practical tools that will contribute to the future work of the Association Da se zna! in protecting human rights and countering organised campaigns of hatred and disinformation.
