Human rights activist Anisiya Kazlyuk hits Forbes '30 Under 30' list after story on Belsat
Annual edition of Forbes seeks and celebrates talented and promising young people around the world. In 2017, they noticed a Belarusian girl. Human rights activist Anisiya Kazlyuk made the Forbes “30 under 30” list in the field of law and policy in Europe.
We caught up with Anisiya to congratulate her and find out how one can get into the prestigious list at age of 21.
According to Anisiya, she has been engaged in volunteering in the human rights center “Viasna” for more than five years, she writes complains to authorities, puts up parcels for political prisoners.
“During the protests of spring 2017, I interviewed people who suffered from persecution by the security forces. I had to be present at other people’s searches so often, that I could not make it to mine. I am currently involved in the administration of educational programs.
Anisiya says that she got into ‘volunteering’ to change something in the current political situation in Belarus.
“It is also a way to satisfy my need to be useful,” the girl adds.
Anisiya said that Forbes noticed her after the article on belsat.eu.
“Belsat” then reported how I was taken off the train and my stuff sent to a detailed examination. Forbes reporter read it and contacted me. I believe that the Forbes’ evaluation will help draw attention to the problem of human rights in Belarus,” said Anisiya.
When asked why the well-known edition noticed her, the human rights activist says:
“Perhaps because we have a complicated region, or because I am only 21 years old … Maybe because we do cool stuff?”
The Belarusian girl became the youngest among 30 people from different countries in the Forbes ‘Law and Policy. 30 under 30’ list. In addition to the “Law and Policy” list, which Anisiya hit, Forbes also marks promising youth in the area of “Art and Style”, “Consumption and Technology”, “Education”, “Finance”, “Games”, “Media” , “Music” and others.
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The Human Rights Center “Viasna” is a non-governmental human rights organization established in April 1996, during the mass protests of the democratic opposition in Belarus, which was later involved in helping detainees and their families. Today it is the republican association with center in Minsk and regional offices in most major cities of Belarus. Across the country, the number of members of the Center is about 200 people.
Irina Arakhouskaya, belsat.eu
