In January 2020 the Coordination Council of the International Youth Human Rights Movement made a decision to close the Network, triggering a discussion about that decision among YHRM participants.

In the 20 years of its existence the YHRM Network has introduced tens and hundreds of young people in Eurasia to human rights movement, and a number of YHRM participants in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine continue human rights work in their countries’ leading organisations. Despite the fact that some of the projects and initiatives launched by the YHRM kept running and some of its participants continued their human rights and civil work in the past few years, the Network itself ceased to exist as an actually functioning community. It became obvious that the Network’s participants had to move on and the Youth Human Rights Movement had to make room for new initiatives and groups.

The discussion about the Network’s closure among its participants coincided with the making of allegations against Andrey Yurov, one of the founders of the Network and its Honorary President until 2019, whose actions towards his colleagues and seminar attendees crossed the boundaries of professional and human ethics. Andrey Yurov had neither actually nor nominally been a part of the Network’s management and activities for several years, but we are truly sorry that his actions might also have taken place within the Network’s space. We are deeply shocked by the information which is being revealed and genuinely sympathise and empathise with those who have been affected by those actions.

It is becoming obvious that the Network’s closure without any response to current events would be impossible. This situation is currently being discussed among YHRM participants. The co-chairs of the YHRM Coordination Council suggest creating an independent contact group of professionals who are not involved in the situation to allow for submitting information about any relationships within the Network that resulted in trauma and find ways to help those who went through such relationships. It also appears important to discuss the standards and principles that could help to avoid similar situations in different groups and communities working in human rights and/or civic engagement. We would be truly grateful for any advice or help in this matter.

It grieves and pains us that the Network’s story has to end on such a sad note, but we want to believe that those hundreds, or even thousands, of activists from different countries who have worked in or collaborated with the YHRM over the years will also remember the bright and happy pages of its history associated with our shared successes, solidarity, and mutual support.