On 9–10 November 2026, Strasbourg will host the Council of Europe’s international event “Youth Facing Disinformation – Why Journalists Matter”. Among those selected to participate are young Belarusian activists from the human rights organisation Our House, including conscientious objectors to military service.
The organisers have confirmed that the participants successfully passed the competitive selection process. Their letter emphasises that applications were received from across Europe and that selection took into account the quality and relevance of applications, candidates’ experience, and their ability to share the knowledge they gain with other people and communities.
Our House is part of the European movement for the right to conscientious objection to military service and belongs to the National Council of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO). This cooperation helps bring the experiences of Belarusian conscientious objectors into international discussions on human rights, nonviolence, democracy and the protection of civil liberties.
In Strasbourg, participants will be able to discuss not only disinformation and journalists’ safety, but also a broader question: how to protect the voices of people who face pressure because of their civic stance. Our House activists intend to speak about the situation of Belarusian conscientious objectors, the vulnerability of Belarusians living in exile, and cases of transnational repression, including in Lithuania.
For Our House, it is especially important that international interlocutors hear the testimonies of young people themselves. Refusing to take part in war or to serve Lukashenko’s militaristic ambitions must not mean losing the right to safety, freedom of expression and full participation in public life. It is equally important to discuss how administrative restrictions, threats and smear campaigns can affect the work of human rights defenders beyond Belarus.
The programme for 9 November includes a conference at the Palais de l’Europe devoted to journalism, information manipulation, media literacy, artificial intelligence and journalists’ safety. On 10 November, the European Youth Centre will host practical workshops and discussions for the selected young participants. The initiative is being held as part of the Council of Europe’s “Journalists Matter” campaign, with the support of Monaco’s Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.
The visit will offer another opportunity to bring the experiences of Belarusian human rights defenders into European dialogue and to establish contacts with young participants, journalists and experts. Our House hopes that the discussions in Strasbourg will draw greater attention to the problems faced by conscientious objectors and Belarusians in exile, while making international cooperation more concrete.
Human rights do not end at national borders. Belarusians do not cease to be Belarusian when they live in other countries. And the right of Belarusians not to take part in war must go hand in hand with the right to be heard — including at the very heart of Europe’s institutions.
