Carmen Ludwig, International Secretary, GEW
Protest Against the Ukraine War
In Russia, more than 5,000 teachers have signed a petition against the war in Ukraine. They face dismissal and persecution for doing so.
The GEW calls for statements of solidarity. In Russia, it takes a lot of courage to take a stand against the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, thousands of teachers dared to do so and sent a strong signal for peace.
More than 5,000 teachers from all regions of Russia, some of them from abroad, signed a petition filed by the initiative "Teachers Against the War."
It has been the largest protest of teachers in Russia in more than 30 years. Meanwhile, the initiative had to take the petition off its homepage due to the new media law in Russia, which makes critical reporting on the war a punishable offence.
GEW President Maike Finnern sent a letter of solidarity to the teachers in Russia. "You deserve our respect, solidarity and support for your courageous stand for peace. We condemn the persecution of employees and students in schools, universities and other educational institutions," the letter reads. (See letter in English, German, and Russian, plus more info in German.)
The Open Letter by Russian teachers against the war in Ukraine reads: "Every war means human victims and destruction. War is a catastrophe. The war against Ukraine, which began in the night from 23 to 24 February, is not our war. The invasion of the territory of Ukraine was started in the name of Russian citizens, but against our will. We are teachers and violence is against the nature of our profession. In the heat of war our students are dying. War inevitably leads to a culmination of social problems in our country. We support the anti-war protests and demand an immediate ceasefire.”
The signatories to the letter and other critical voices in educational institutions are currently threatened by persecution and dismissal. The two independent education unions 'Uchitel' and 'University Solidarity' in Russia are providing support to persecuted teachers at the workplace. In a statement, the university union says, "University leaderships are putting pressure on university staff who openly oppose the war, and some colleagues are being dismissed against their will. Students are put under pressure and unlawfully threatened with reprimands and expulsion if they participate in peaceful anti-war protests".
Statements of solidarity for teachers in Russia are one way of showing solidarity and supporting them. The GEW’s letter can be used as a sample--also by GEW branches who want to show their solidarity.
Statements can be sent to the following address: [email protected]
Protest Against the Ukraine War
In Russia, more than 5,000 teachers have signed a petition against the war in Ukraine. They face dismissal and persecution for doing so.
The GEW calls for statements of solidarity. In Russia, it takes a lot of courage to take a stand against the war in Ukraine. Nevertheless, thousands of teachers dared to do so and sent a strong signal for peace.
More than 5,000 teachers from all regions of Russia, some of them from abroad, signed a petition filed by the initiative "Teachers Against the War."
It has been the largest protest of teachers in Russia in more than 30 years. Meanwhile, the initiative had to take the petition off its homepage due to the new media law in Russia, which makes critical reporting on the war a punishable offence.
GEW President Maike Finnern sent a letter of solidarity to the teachers in Russia. "You deserve our respect, solidarity and support for your courageous stand for peace. We condemn the persecution of employees and students in schools, universities and other educational institutions," the letter reads. (See letter in English, German, and Russian, plus more info in German.)
The Open Letter by Russian teachers against the war in Ukraine reads: "Every war means human victims and destruction. War is a catastrophe. The war against Ukraine, which began in the night from 23 to 24 February, is not our war. The invasion of the territory of Ukraine was started in the name of Russian citizens, but against our will. We are teachers and violence is against the nature of our profession. In the heat of war our students are dying. War inevitably leads to a culmination of social problems in our country. We support the anti-war protests and demand an immediate ceasefire.”
The signatories to the letter and other critical voices in educational institutions are currently threatened by persecution and dismissal. The two independent education unions 'Uchitel' and 'University Solidarity' in Russia are providing support to persecuted teachers at the workplace. In a statement, the university union says, "University leaderships are putting pressure on university staff who openly oppose the war, and some colleagues are being dismissed against their will. Students are put under pressure and unlawfully threatened with reprimands and expulsion if they participate in peaceful anti-war protests".
Statements of solidarity for teachers in Russia are one way of showing solidarity and supporting them. The GEW’s letter can be used as a sample--also by GEW branches who want to show their solidarity.
Statements can be sent to the following address: [email protected]
