Power of the People: Right(s) Therapy Session held in Subotica

11 Sep Power of the People: Right(s) Therapy Session held in Subotica

The first Right(s) Therapy session in Subotica brought together 15 participants of different generations, professions and life experiences – from students and pensioners to people working in education, the judiciary and the media, as well as people with disabilities. This diversity allowed shared challenges to be discussed from a range of different perspectives.

The session opened with an introduction to the programme and an invitation for participants to share experiences, fears or problems they face, particularly in their interactions with institutions. The conversation developed spontaneously, and the participants’ willingness to share personal stories showed that the group quickly recognised the space as a safe environment for open discussion.

One of the topics that naturally emerged was the question of leaving the country. Several participants said that they think about leaving on a daily basis, facing growing pressures and a sense that the current socio-political context is becoming unbearable. At the same time, the discussion raised the question of those who do not have the possibility to leave, as well as how many people actually have the privilege of choosing between staying and leaving. 

The conversation also touched on living in a polarised society, loneliness and the lack of support, as well as the extent to which we, as a society, have become desensitised to violence. The frequency of tragedies, different forms of violence and crisis situations raised the question of whether we have started accepting them as something that has become commonplace.

Despite feelings of powerlessness and distrust in institutions, the conversation returned to the idea that our institutions are ours, just as our city is ours, even when they are currently not functioning as they should. Participants recognised the importance of education and better knowledge of civic rights, as well as the need for the law to apply equally to everyone rather than selectively. However difficult it may be, change can also begin with personal examples, insisting on accountability and being willing to take action.

The first session did not provide ready-made answers. Instead, it primarily opened up a space in

which experiences that are often perceived as individual problems could be recognised as shared concerns. It showed that there is a need for a place where people can speak, listen to one another and rebuild a sense of community – one of the prerequisites for any meaningful change.

The next Right(s) Therapy session in Subotica is scheduled for 7 October 2026.

The project is implemented with the support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Belgrade.