What is awareness and why do we need it?
Awareness is derived from the English term „to be aware“ and can be translated as „consciousness“ or „mindfulness“. It concludes that power dynamics and structures of oppression are present everywhere and that we all grew up in a system reproducing them. This means that everyone has internalized discriminatory patterns.
This results in collective responsibility and a political stance. Interpersonal violence never occurs outside of a social context, and neither an awareness concept nor an awareness team can single-handedly create spaces free from systemic oppression. It is our shared responsibility to make power structures visible, to reflect on them, dismantle them, and develop alternative ways of addressing them.
Awareness also means not waiting for someone else to point out your mistakes. Be aware of your own economic and social position, question your self-image and your supposed truths. Be aware of how much space you take up, respect the boundaries of others, and support people whose boundaries have been crossed. Support them to regain their agency. The principle here is: those affected have the power of definition—it is not your place to judge or condescend to people.
If you have behaved in a way that crosses boundaries and/or is discriminatory, this means acknowledging the perspective of the person affected and acting according to their needs. Nonviolent behavior and the ability to accept criticism can and must be learned. This requires a lot of work, but it also offers the hope that we can create alternatives together.
Awareness therefore extends beyond the mere presence of an awareness team and should be integrated into event planning from the beginning. Nevertheless, an awareness concept and approachable people at events are necessary to create contact points for those affected. The focus here is on taking those affected seriously and prioritizing their needs. Awareness work cannot serve as mediator or conflict manager.
The affected person-centered approaches that awareness work is based on have not just been around for a few years. Many people before us have already established and analyzed structures to dismantle violence, domination, and their multiple intersectional interconnections. The awareness concept of the congress builds on this work, on existing approaches, and on personal experiences.
Awareness at the congress
There will be an awareness structure at the congress with an awareness team that has been trained in the concept, is approachable, and has access to an awareness room. In addition, there will be a sensory relaxation room that is open to everyone and intended for resting. No fixed awareness shifts are planned in advance for the camp, but there will be a number that can be reached around the clock.
Specifically, we ask you:
- not to take any pictures or make any audio recordings,
- not to be naked or shirtless,
- to be mindful of cultural appropriation (e.g., covering white locks).
Overall, we are all responsible for shaping the space together. If someone is feeling unwell and you feel able to support them, talk to them, offer support, or get help if necessary. As organizers, we do not want to claim the authority to interpret existing conflicts or challenging situations from the past that may arise at the congress. We ask the respective communities to find solutions for this.
A complete version of the awareness concept with more detailed explanations and definitions of terms will be available at the congress.