Reclaiming Our Power to End Violence – Feminist Youth Voices

In the face of rising anti-feminist backlash and political repression across Europe, young feminist activists are reclaiming their power to challenge injustice and build more equitable futures. From protests to grassroots initiatives, they are not only speaking out but also cultivating spaces of care, resistance, and collective strength. Their activism spans borders and experiences, rooted in a shared commitment to end violence against women and girls.

For WAVE Youth Ambassadors Laura Seidl and Tea Milosavljević, feminist solidarity means more than just words—it is about showing up, taking action, and standing together even when it’s uncomfortable. Whether through organising protests, building community projects, or creating safe spaces for reflection, they highlight how intersectionality and allyship shape their feminist practice. In contexts marked by shrinking civic space and political hostility, their efforts embody the strength and resilience of youth-led movements.

Against this backdrop, the episode “Reclaiming Our Power to End Violence – Feminist Youth Voices” of the WAVE podcast, released on International Youth Day 2025, explores how young activists are navigating and resisting systemic violence. 4th generation WAVE Youth Ambassadors Laura Seidl (Austria) and Tea Milosavljević (Serbia) share their experiences, reflect on transnational feminist organising, and call on all of us to act in solidarity for a world free from violence.

Laura Seidl

Austria

Speak up, even if it doesn’t directly affect you. Especially if it doesn’t directly affect you. Everyone deserves a voice. Solidarity isn’t charity. It’s not symbolic. It’s about action. It’s about consistency. It’s about discomfort, even. And as I always mention, it has to be intersectional.

Tea Milosavljević

Serbia

There are a lot of moments that make me think: “This is the end of the world. I don’t want to read the news anymore. I just want to sleep and move away.” But then I go out on the streets and I see all of those people uniting together for one purpose, and that is a better world. I also see feminists, my dear friends and colleagues, and I feel this massive amount of power, happiness, and just true collective unity. That’s the most important thing. That’s the drive. That’s the force. That’s what keeps us going for this long.

Tune in to the episode and hear directly from the voices shaping the future of feminist movements. Whether you are an ally, or just starting your journey: this is your invitation to stand in solidarity, speak up against injustice, and help build a world free from violence against women and girls.

Let’s reclaim our power, together.