Dilara Cetinkaya
An einem sonnigen Nachmittag in Stockholm hatten wir das Privileg, Dilara, Landesdirektorin der Non-Violence Project Foundation Schweden, zu treffen. Ihr starkes Engagement für Gewaltprävention ist tief in ihren Erfahrungen mit Diskriminierung und ihrem Aufwachsen in einem von politischen Unruhen geprägten Ort verwurzelt.
Für Dilara verfügt ein:e Alltagsheld:in über ein bemerkenswertes Maß an Empathie und die unerschütterliche Motivation, positive Veränderungen ohne versteckte Absichten herbeizuführen. Sie betonte, wie wichtig es sei, kritische Themen wie Waffen- und Drogenkontrolle anzugehen, soziale Unterstützungssysteme wiederherzustellen, eine gesündere (nicht-toxische) Männlichkeit zu fördern und Kinder zu schützen. Dilaras Arbeit beleuchtet das empfindliche Gleichgewicht des Friedens in der Gesellschaft und sie fordert jeden von uns auf, Verantwortung zu übernehmen - durch alltägliches Handeln, sinnstiftende Gespräche und die Stärkung des Glaubens an sich selbst für eine weniger gewalttätige Welt zu sorgen.
What do you work with?
Swedish director of The Non-Violence Project Foundation, Sweden
How did you start working on this, and where does your commitment come from?
My commitment is grounded on life experiences that put me in different contexts where I was discriminated against because of my background and gender. I also grew up in a context where the legacy and effects of political trauma contributed to an early understanding of how unfair distribution policies and a total lack of civil and human rights create areas of conflict and dysfunctional societies.
What does the term Everyday Hero mean to you?
To me, an Everyday Hero is an empathetic individual without special interests. An Everyday Hero is driven by the conviction that people and phenomena are changeable for the better and dare to inspire - an Everyday Hero dares to believe. It takes an enormous amount of courage and conviction. I have met countless heroes over the years, both in Sweden and abroad, who carried out fantastic efforts for their communities. It has always been rooted in love for fellow human beings. Passions are genuinely essential to lasting change.
Which tool do you think is essential to prevent violence in society?
Selecting a tool is not rooted in reality. Several mechanisms play a role and interact, but to summarize, I think that we 1) need a crackdown on arms and drug supply, 2) bring back welfare after years of dismantling, which, among other things, increased poverty in the country and also made the school a lucrative market 3) actively and continuously apply community efforts where:
- Men support boys to break down macho culture and destructive approaches to emotions, sex and violence.
- The connection between men's violence against women and the macho values that maintain violence on the street is included in the efforts.
- Society problematizes that fathers who stab also leave broken boys behind, and last but certainly not least, 4) criminalize the use of children by adults to carry out acts of violence such as grooming. It is an abuse.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from working in what you do?
How fragile what we take for granted is. It truly saddens me every time I stop and realize the stage our society is at. Every other day, we read news about another young boy's death or a woman killed by her partner. "Safe Sweden" cannot be taken for granted. It will get worse if we all don't take responsibility.
According to you, is there something everyone can do (regardless of profession, background, age, etc.) to contribute to a less violent society?
Obvious! The small talk at lunch is enough, or daring to point out when a friend or relative promotes values or patterns contributing to a violent society. But, above all, show love and warmth to the children daily, encouraging and contributing to their self-esteem without destructive ideas about male/female. Those children will grow up and contribute to peace - naturally.
If you could nominate someone you know as an Everyday Hero, who would it be and why?
Saga Brodersen. As a child, she was sexually abused and drawn into prostitution. She has experienced the dark side of a society that fails and adults exploit children. Today, she works as an expert for ChildX and drives active opinion on children's rights to a safe and secure life - free from violence and abuse. I met her at a round table in Stockholm in the fall of 2022 and admire her tenacity and conviction that all children deserve a secure life. She is genuinely an Everyday Hero.
Swedish director of The Non-Violence Project Foundation, Sweden
How did you start working on this, and where does your commitment come from?
My commitment is grounded on life experiences that put me in different contexts where I was discriminated against because of my background and gender. I also grew up in a context where the legacy and effects of political trauma contributed to an early understanding of how unfair distribution policies and a total lack of civil and human rights create areas of conflict and dysfunctional societies.
What does the term Everyday Hero mean to you?
To me, an Everyday Hero is an empathetic individual without special interests. An Everyday Hero is driven by the conviction that people and phenomena are changeable for the better and dare to inspire - an Everyday Hero dares to believe. It takes an enormous amount of courage and conviction. I have met countless heroes over the years, both in Sweden and abroad, who carried out fantastic efforts for their communities. It has always been rooted in love for fellow human beings. Passions are genuinely essential to lasting change.
Which tool do you think is essential to prevent violence in society?
Selecting a tool is not rooted in reality. Several mechanisms play a role and interact, but to summarize, I think that we 1) need a crackdown on arms and drug supply, 2) bring back welfare after years of dismantling, which, among other things, increased poverty in the country and also made the school a lucrative market 3) actively and continuously apply community efforts where:
- Men support boys to break down macho culture and destructive approaches to emotions, sex and violence.
- The connection between men's violence against women and the macho values that maintain violence on the street is included in the efforts.
- Society problematizes that fathers who stab also leave broken boys behind, and last but certainly not least, 4) criminalize the use of children by adults to carry out acts of violence such as grooming. It is an abuse.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from working in what you do?
How fragile what we take for granted is. It truly saddens me every time I stop and realize the stage our society is at. Every other day, we read news about another young boy's death or a woman killed by her partner. "Safe Sweden" cannot be taken for granted. It will get worse if we all don't take responsibility.
According to you, is there something everyone can do (regardless of profession, background, age, etc.) to contribute to a less violent society?
Obvious! The small talk at lunch is enough, or daring to point out when a friend or relative promotes values or patterns contributing to a violent society. But, above all, show love and warmth to the children daily, encouraging and contributing to their self-esteem without destructive ideas about male/female. Those children will grow up and contribute to peace - naturally.
If you could nominate someone you know as an Everyday Hero, who would it be and why?
Saga Brodersen. As a child, she was sexually abused and drawn into prostitution. She has experienced the dark side of a society that fails and adults exploit children. Today, she works as an expert for ChildX and drives active opinion on children's rights to a safe and secure life - free from violence and abuse. I met her at a round table in Stockholm in the fall of 2022 and admire her tenacity and conviction that all children deserve a secure life. She is genuinely an Everyday Hero.