Note: Free tickets for the screening must be claimed in advance.

Who should we help?

A child. A woman. A wounded soldier. A civilian on the other side of the front line. Or everyone equally? How do we choose?

The short documentary film The Sound of Hope (17 min) takes us into the daily lives of three humanitarian aid workers supported by the EU in Syria, Haiti and a Congolese refugee settlement in Burundi. Through their stories and those of the people they help, the film shows what EU humanitarian aid looks like on the ground – how it saves lives, alleviates suffering and helps communities regain a sense of normalcy and hope.

Humanitarian aid is grounded in four fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence. What do these principles mean when they meet the reality of war, natural disasters, or political pressure?

Following the Slovak premiere of The Sound of Hope, we will explore dilemmas in an interactive debate with humanitarian worker Marián Cehelník and Andrea Najvirtová, director of People in Peril. The discussion will cover topics such as: Is aid given to a soldier still humanitarian aid? Should we also help Russians if they need aid? Is it fair to speak about aid for “women and children” when men may receive less assistance? And can humanitarian organisations remain neutral in the face of suffering when it is clear who is causing it?

Together, we will explore the difficult choices humanitarian workers face in practice – and whether there are situations in which doing the right thing is far from straightforward.

This event is organised in the framework of the European Union’s Voices of Humanity, aimed at raising awareness of EU humanitarian aid and the principles that guide humanitarian action worldwide.