PEN Ukraine hosted a delegation of cultural figures and human rights activists from Argentina as part of the In Solidarity With Ukraine programme supported by the International Renaissance Foundation.
‘Espresso is a media partner of In Solidarity With Ukraine.
Journalist Alejo José Sánchez Piccat, poet and novelist María Rosa Lojo, writer and journalist Inde Pomeranec, human rights activist and professor of international law Ignacio de Casas, and international journalist James Gatica Matheson visited Ukraine.
The Argentine authors began their acquaintance with Ukraine with a tour of Kyiv’s key sights. They also visited the Khanenko Museum and the Holodomor Museum.
For the poet Maria Rosa Lojo, it was an opportunity to learn that Russia has been trying to destroy the culture of Ukraine for centuries.
‘Although there is a well-integrated Ukrainian diaspora in Argentina, most Argentines know very little about the historical and cultural background of Ukraine. This visit allowed me to explore the long and complex struggle of Ukrainians for independence, not only politically, but also culturally and linguistically. These issues are central to the war, as the right of Ukrainians to be themselves is at stake. I was stunned by the evidence of cultural genocide committed by the Russian invaders both during the war and in the past,’ said Maria Rosa.
During the five-day visit, the Argentine delegation met with Ukrainian cultural figures, human rights activists and journalists. In particular, they met with human rights activist and head of the Centre for Civil Liberties Oleksandra Matviychuk and visited the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. At PEN Ukraine, they met with war correspondents Stas Kozliuk, Myroslav Laiuk and Mykhailo Palinchak. And one evening, the Argentine guests joined a public discussion about the role of culture in shaping the memory of the war with writer Andriy Kurkov.
‘What impressed me most about Ukraine was the extent to which the war was able to transform all dimensions of social, professional, family and cultural life in the country. I have seen cultural organisations become human rights organisations involved in the war. They are also joining the resistance. The presence of a common enemy, the death of loved ones, and the struggle for survival have affected people, their habits and ideas to such an extent that even their deepest convictions are being tested and changed,’ said Ignacio de Casas, human rights activist, professor of international law, and deputy dean of the Law Faculty at the University of Austral (Buenos Aires).
In addition, during their trip to Ukraine, the Argentine delegation visited the de-occupied Kyiv region to see first-hand the consequences of Russian aggression in Bucha, Irpin and Borodyanka. The authors also travelled to the village of Yahidne in Chernihiv region, where in March 2022 the occupiers held 368 civilians in inhumane conditions in a school basement.
Writer, journalist and editor Inde Pomeranec shared her strongest impressions of the visit: ‘The opportunity to visit places like Bucha, Irpin or Yahidne is of great value to me. It encourages me to continue telling the story of the Russian invasion.’
Alejo José Sánchez Piccat, a journalist, deputy editor of Escenario Mundial, founder and director of Politólogos al Whisky, agreed:
‘I was most impressed by the human warmth of Ukrainians. Despite the horrors of war, they have managed to build friendships that go beyond the trenches and permeate all aspects of everyday life. Anna Vovchenko, coordinator of In Solidarity With Ukraine, taught me a touching lesson: in Ukraine, because of the current situation, ‘they hug more and longer’. This simple but profound gesture reflects how adversity strengthens human bonds.’
The Argentine authors are confident that all this experience will help them to speak more thoroughly about Ukraine at home. According to journalist Alejo José Sánchez Piccata, the most important thing now is to maintain a constant flow of truthful news from Kyiv and to amplify the voices of those directly affected by the devastating effects of the war.
‘Visiting memorials, talking to Ukrainian writers, journalists and activists gave me a wealth of material to share with the Argentine audience,’ said poet Maria Rosa Lojo.
Ignacio de Casas, a human rights activist, said that the trip changed his vision of the consequences of war in the lives of civilians:
‘I have been teaching international humanitarian law for years, but books and theory cannot fully convey the suffering and scars that war leaves behind. I think I now have a much better understanding of this issue and will be able to convey this to my students.’
De Casas also noted that he will try to talk about this reality through the media – in interviews and his own materials.
Impressed by the resilience and hope of Ukrainians, international correspondent James Gatica Matheson said:
‘Hearing their testimonies has given me a much broader understanding of the war, its historical consequences and what might happen in the future. As journalists, we have a crucial role to play in highlighting the realities of war crimes and raising awareness of them both in the Latin American region and throughout the international community.’
Source: Espresso
