How did you choose to study at IIRPS VU? What was the most memorable aspect of your studies?

In 10th grade I started to look into studies at Vilnius University, I read every study description and made a list of the most interesting studies. Finally, I chose between law, psychology and political science. Although I was fascinated by international politics since childhood, it seemed unattainable and very masculine to me. However, despite all the stereotypes about politics and the role of women in policy decisions, I decided that my fears should not affect the fulfilment of my dreams. That is how I ended up at IIRPS VU and I am happy with this choice. My most memorable subjects from studies were theories and history of international relations, and my favourite subject was the sociology of war. These fields are often perceived as patriarchal, so I like to bust myths and critically analyse these topics.

You did an internship at the Women’s Information Centre. What are you most proud of? What was your favourite work?

The Women’s Information Centre (WIC) is a non-governmental organisation working for gender equality and providing support to victims of domestic violence. I started volunteering at the WIC back in 2022, and since the work of the centre is so important, I decided to do an internship there. Internships and volunteering are very challenging in such an organisation, because you are constantly confronted with sensitive topics, and you realise that when you come out of your social bubble, you can be confronted with completely opposite attitudes, difficult experiences and challenges. You also realise that gender equality and the safety of women/girls and children require a lot of political will before the state can make decisions. Although it is sometimes difficult to delve morally into the subject of violence, I am glad to be at WIC. I have a lot of freedom to pursue my own projects, so I can pursue all my ideas, study policies, and academic literature and write articles, and the skills and knowledge I have acquired at the IIRPS help me in the process. The most enjoyable part of volunteering for the organisation is the opportunity to work on domestic and sexual violence issues based on academic literature, statistics and policy analysis. As I work mainly on domestic violence and sexual violence, I sometimes have to be creative in the way I present information on these topics. I am most proud of the project I have developed, which seeks to debunk myths and misinterpretations of the Istanbul Convention by publishing the most popular misconceptions that have been published in the public domain. I chose the subject of the ratification of the Istanbul Convention because this document is an essential tool that could help to tackle violence against women and domestic violence.

You are very interested in the prevention of domestic violence and sexual violence. How did you discover these issues?

When I joined IIRPS, I thought I would be a diplomat, working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the President’s Office. However, during my studies, I realised that politics is not limited to high-ranking positions in public institutions. When I was studying the conventional themes of realism, liberalism and so on, I realised that I was more concerned with the individual, his welfare and security than with the conduct of foreign policy. I started to look into post-colonialism and feminism. Sometimes we forget that the well-being of each individual is important for building a strong society. Also, living in our own social bubble, we sometimes overlook our privileges, but working with people at the WIC has only made me more convinced that sometimes it is healthy to have a dose of reality. Faced with various gender stereotypes, I realised that I wanted to be a leader, to promote the safety of children and women and empower them to achieve their goals.

What would you recommend to those interested in this topic?

Women’s rights, domestic violence and the prevention of sexual violence are very broad topics. They include gender equality, violence against people with disabilities, violence against children, violence against women, prostitution issues, human trafficking, etc., so in many cases organisations specialise in a particular niche. The Women’s Information Centre, where I volunteer, helps victims of domestic violence, organises training on gender equality, and engages in public education through its social networks. Until this year, we did not have a specialised centre to help adult victims of sexual violence. The good news is that as of 1 November. The NGO Ribologija, together with its partners, will launch a centre of this kind. On Ribologija’s Facebook and Instragram profiles, you can find interesting information about different forms of sexual violence against adults and children, with real examples from everyday life. Although the topic of sexual violence is extremely sensitive and often stigmatizing, the co-founders of Ribologija – Rugilė and Reda – are extremely supportive, understanding and professionals in their field. They have also written their first book “Following the Boundaries” for children and their parents, which aims to educate and prevent sexual violence against children. I also recommend following the profile of the European Women’s Lobby to get an idea of the general situation in Europe regarding women’s rights.

What does your free time look like? Do you have any recommendations for how to spend your free time?

To be honest I have very little free time. Studies, work and volunteering take up most of my time, but when I find a few free hours, I try to invest them in spending time with my family. I often spend time in nature, on nature trails, as a way to relax and give my brain a rest. I also exercise every week, because being physically active helps to reduce anxiety and stress. However, I try to give myself a chance to just lie down and watch a TV series sometimes.

What would you like to wish the IIRPS VU community?

The IIRPS VU community is very active and critical, but at the same time friendly and supportive. I wish to foster even more critical thinking, to maintain the quality of our studies and to encourage students to become even more involved in the community.