Mapping Anti-gender Movements in the Western Balkans and Strategies of Resistance Against Them

Wednesday, 4 March at 6 p.m.

ŠKUC Gallery,

Stari trg 21,

1000 Ljubljana

Round table

In English

Free admission, voluntary donations accepted

Mapping Anti-gender Movements in the Western Balkans and Strategies of Resistance Against Them

Living in the Western Balkans and the wider European region, it is hard not to notice the emergence of a web of anti-gender actors. From kneelers praying at public squares for women to be submissive to men to anti-abortion protesters and the concerned parents interested in “protecting” children from LGBTIQ+ ideologies, they have become one of the most coordinated and well-funded threats we face.

The Anti-gender movements spread misogynistic narratives, nationalist ideology, and anti-LBGTIQ+ hate and falsehoods and they are not isolated incidents but part of a transnational movement that strategically targets women’s rights, bodily autonomy, LGBTQ+ equality, and civil society as a whole. 

For feminist and LGBTIQ+ movements in the region, the impact is profound: from smear campaigns and online harassment to direct threats to physical safety, digital attacks, reputational harm, and institutional pressure. Regular monitoring, sharing timely information, and building a collective understanding of anti-gender strategies therefore emerge as essential needs—not optional tasks.*

This round table seeks to bring together researchers and activists from the feminist and queer movements in the Western Balkans, to map out anti-gender movements and to discuss how international solidarity and shared strategies can empower us to counter these well funded and organised movements and to build resilience. The round table will include Amarildo Fecanji (Albania), Dunja Bonacci Skenderović (Croatia), Manja Velickovska (North Macedonia), Neo Nova (Slovenia) and prof. Dr. Roman Kuhar (Slovenia) and will be moderated by Eva Jus.

* Antonovska, D., Fecanji, A., Velichkovska, M., Bonacci Skenderović, D., & Leskaj, I. (2025). Regional strategy against the extreme right and anti-gender movement [Unpublished manuscript by the Grant Committee Members for the Global Fund for Women in the Balkans Network.].

Amarildo Fecanji (Albania) is a freelance expert and activist dedicated to LGBTIQ+ inclusion, community building, and social change. His freelance work spans research, training, fundraising, and campaign design, tailored to the needs of local NGOs and marginalized communities. With over fifteen years of experience in the LGBTIQ+ field, he collaborates with NGOs, grassroots organizations, and partners across Albania and the Balkans. He was Program Director at PINK Embassy//LGBT Pro and Executive Co-Director at ERA—LGBTI Equal Rights Association. Beyond his freelance work, Amarildo is a Board Member of KUR’AJO, a trans-feminist cultural organization in Albania. 

Dunja Bonacci Skenderović (Croatia) is a feminist, an independent consultant, researcher, and data analyst specializing in the elimination of violence against women, with a particular focus on femicide, intimate partner violence, and coercive control. She is the President of the Civil Society organization Safe Places, which focuses on collecting data on street sexual harassment and raising public awareness of the issue.  

Manja Velichkovska (North Macedonia) Velichkovska is an interdisciplinary researcher, with an interest in contemporary literary, social and political theory. She is at Coalition MARGINS working with queer people, women, people who live with HIV/AIDS, people who use drugs and sex workers. Her expertise extends to qualitative research and writing, grant decision-making, and advocacy aimed at improving the sexual and health rights, legal and social position of marginalized communities. She is part of the organizing team of Skopje Pride Weekend, a curated Festival for Queer Culture, Art and Theory, and is active in the work of the regional group “Rebelled Readers”. Additionally, she is a member of the Board of Directors in JADRO – Association of the Independent Cultural Scene.

Neo (Slovenia) is a trans activist, a non-binary person, and a lesbian. They have been active in feminist, alternative, and queer movements since 2012, and currently serve as the director of the transfeminist initiative TransAkcija, where they lead advocacy and educational programs. Their work is grounded in intersectional themes such as decentralized organizing, transformative justice in practice, and reimagining language as a tool for dismantling systems of oppression.

Roman Kuhar (Slovenia) is a Professor of Sociology and a researcher at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. His research focuses on issues of discrimination, human rights, citizenship, and equality policies. He has published and edited several books, including Anti-Gender Mobilizations in Europe and the Feminist Response: Productive Resistance (with R. Smrdelj, Palgrave, 2025) and Anti-Gender Mobilizations in the Post-Yugoslav Space: Hidden Connection (with A. Zaharijević, Palgrave, 2026).

The discussion will be moderated by Eva Jus who is a feminist educator, trainer, and cultural producer. She is part of the Red Dawns collective.

Eva, Amaraildo, Manja and Dunja are also all Grant Committee Members for the Global Fund for Women in the Balkans Network. 

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Info

Organisation: 27th International Feminist and Queer Festival Red Dawn (Arts and Culture Association KUD Mreža)

Coproduction: ŠKUC Association

Graphic Design: Janu Krohm

Media Contacts: Eva Jus, rdece.zore@gmail.com

Financial Support: The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, the City Municipality of Ljubljana – Department of Culture

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