KIOS at the World Village Festival – Towards Just Peace and a Counterforce to the Anti-Gender Movement

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This year, KIOS is involved in organising two discussion events. On Saturday, human rights defender Sherine Xavier, supported by KIOS, will speak about Sri Lanka’s journey toward just peace after a long civil war. On Sunday, the spotlight will be on brave individuals and actions in defense and promotion of LGBTIQ+ rights. The Sunday program is organized in collaboration with the Family Federation of Finland (Väestöliitto), Amnesty, and Seta. See details below and join us at the World Village Festival on May 24–25, 2025! 

Interview with Sherine Xavier: Towards a just peace in Sri Lanka 

When: Sat. 24.5.2025 11:15-11:40
Where: Speaker’s stage and Online, World Village Festival

Sri Lanka’s long civil war ended in 2009, but true reconciliation and justice in the country is still to be achieved. Without accountability and truth, there can be no lasting peace – but where does change begin? How to build a just and lasting peace in a society where the wounds of the past are still open?   

Sherine Xavier is the director of the Sri Lankan human rights organisation The Social Architects (TSA), a Tamil minority filmmaker and human rights advocate who has spent decades fighting for justice and minority rights. At World Village Festival, Xavier will be interviewed by Finnish journalist and filmmaker Susani Mahadura.   

Xavier highlights the importance of hope, cooperation and dialogue in peacebuilding. Through concrete examples, the interview explores how development cooperation and human rights can build a more just and sustainable peace.   

After the programme, you can meet the panelists in the Lämpiö room next to the Speaker’s Stage.   

Peace without truth and accountability is more like the absence of war or the momentary silencing of weapons. – Sherine Xavier

LGBTIQ+ rights under threat – countering the antigender movement 

When: Sun. 25.5.2025 13:15-13:40
Where: Speaker’s stage and Online, World Village Festival

LGTBIQ+ rights are being visibly restricted around the world, and the good progress made in the past is in danger of being reversed. Recently, trans people in particular have come under attack. The underlying antigender movement threatens the peace of individuals, communities and societies.   

The discussion will highlight courageous people and actions to defend and promote LGBTIQ+ rights.   

Experiences and examples will be shared by Terry Munansangu of the Zambian trans and intersex organisation, Julia Ehrt, the distinguished director of ILGA World, an advocacy group for sexual and gender minority rights, and Julian Honkasalo, docent researching anti-equality and anti-equity movements. The discussion will be moderated by Elina Korhonen, Director of International Affairs at the Väestöliitto. She is known for her work on human development, equality topics and sexual health and rights.   

The programme is in English. The programme can be followed on the festival’s Puhelava in the Tiivistämö or via streaming on the festival’s website.   

After the programme, you can meet the panelists in the Lämpiö room next to the Speaker’s Stage. 

More information: LGBTIQ+ rights under threat – countering the antigender movement – Maailma kylässä -festivaali
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/2CnEf2Uuf

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