On May 3rd, I stood at the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki—a historic venue for an even more historic occasion: the 30-year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. I wasn’t alone. I stood with women (and men) from across the globe. From Central Asia to the Nordics. From the war zones of Ukraine to the classrooms of Helsinki. From digital fashion to feminist comedy. And all of us were asking the same thing:
Where are we now—and where are we going?
Why Helsinki?
What I Shared
As someone born in Uzbekistan and raised in the Nordics, my role at the conference was to be a bridge. Between Central Asia and Europe. Between policy and lived experience. Between empowerment and action.
I spoke about the trap of seeing economic empowerment solely through the lens of individual “agency.” Not every woman can—or should be expected to—break free alone. In many cultures, we rise together. My talk focused on how we must design empowerment strategies that lift whole communities—not just individuals.
I shared stories from my family. From women who navigated economic survival without access to tech, education, or even their own bank accounts. And I connected this to my TEDxVaasa talk: how we must use technology intentionally to close gender gaps—not widen them.
Voices That Moved Us
The day was filled with moments of heartbreak, laughter, truth, and fierce love. Here are a few that still stay with me:
🔹 A young man from Kazakhstan shared the story of his sister, Saltanat Nukenova, who was murdered by her husband—a government minister. His pain was raw. The silence in the room? Deafening. But we needed to hear it.
🔹 A Ukrainian researcher spoke about documenting wartime sexual violence and supporting survivors. Her clarity and strength were unforgettable.
🔹 A feminist comedian from Georgia made us laugh—and think. Humor, after all, is resistance.
🔹 An Albanian activist challenged all of us to speak louder on issues of abortion and LGBTQ+ rights in politically repressive environments.
🔹 We heard from Finnish youth on what equality means to the next generation. They reminded us: this fight isn’t over—and they’re ready to lead it.
🔹 A UK-based digital fashion designer explored how tech can elevate women creatives, even those outside traditional fashion powerhouses.
Throughout the day, one theme came through loud and clear: awareness isn’t enough. We need action. And we need it now.
Why Art Matters
When I closed my part of the conference, I didn’t just speak. I danced.
Lasgi, a 3,000-year-old dance from Uzbekistan, became our collective language. 200 people—women, men, elders, allies—joined hands and danced in unity. No translation needed.
Art is where we meet. And joy? Joy is resistance.
A Living Exhibit
This wasn’t just a conference. It was a call.
A call to stop siloing women as either victims or superheroes.
A call to center migrant women, working-class women, rural women in this work.
A call to move past inspiration into infrastructure.
Let’s not let another 30 years pass before we act.
To those building youth empowerment programs, gender equity campaigns, or inclusive leadership strategies—this is our moment.
Let’s use it.
💬 And if you work with or want to build bridges in Central Asia—be it in business, education, or policy—I’m open to collaboration. I also train on doing business in Uzbekistan and navigating Central Asian cultural contexts. Reach out. Let’s connect.
With strength, softness, and solidarity,
Kamilla Sultanova
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