On January 27, the Holocaust Remembrance Day, the first multicultural Forum – “The Phenomenon of Multiculturalism in the Modern World” took place in Drohobych.
The forum began with a creative greeting from the Municipal Chamber Choir “Legend”, which performed the National Anthem of Ukraine and the Anthem of the European Union. Therefore, there was a moment of silence for the victims of the Holocaust, as well as for all the Heroes of Russia’s modern war against Ukraine.
The event brought together famous speakers, historians, teachers and political scientists, such as Andriy Krasnozhan, Myroslav Marynovych, Paraskovia Dvoryanin, Taras Vozniak, Andriy Pavlyshyn, Volodymyr Yeshkalev, Danylo Yanevskyi. The Lviv OVA was represented at the Forum by Vasyl Dorosh, head of the Nationalities and Religions Department of the Department for Issues, Culture, Nationalities and Religions.
During the Forum, a number of topical issues were raised about the historical polyculture of Drohobych, how to communicate and live alongside Russians in today’s conditions, how the migration of people affects integration in communities. As well as the issue of language, culture and the value of one’s identity, the problem of interreligious dialogue, the phenomenon of Donbas and Crimea, the processes of decommunization and de-Russification, the ability to express one’s position and hear others. They also talked about the future of education and its importance in the conditions of war and after victory. They raised the issue of international experience in the formation of cultural processes.
In total, seven panel discussions took place during the forum, where each of the speakers not only presented his topic, but also answered the questions and comments of those present.