Sophie, how did you discover the minority communities at the Germany/Denmark border?

Sophie Cooper: The project developed in a somewhat reverse way. I began to research the area when I was developing a project as part of a research and leadership scholarship. I had no prior experience or personal connection to the region, but the complex history of the border region that today is now as an example for minority protection and rights interested me. Additionally, drawing on my studies in social anthropology, I wanted to ensure that in the project I was working directly with individuals on a personal level, and to explore how heritage and belonging is passed on and fostered. The strong minority networks in the border region meant that I felt the region was a place where I could achieve this goal. Finally, I also specifically wanted to focus on working with minority women, to see how gender impacts the experiences of being a national minority. Many of my participants used this as an opportunity to discuss how various women in their lives, such as mothers and grandmothers, were leaders and examples for them as members of minority communities. I made an effort to highlight it in the videos, although gender wasn’t the explicit focus despite the interviewees being women.

Alexandra Budabin: There is a marked increase in attention on centering the voices of minority women, expanding on previous research that studied minority women as “minorities within minorities.”  Intersectional perspectives reveal how overlapping identities shape their experiences of both vulnerability and agency. As part of the preparation of statements to be made at the UN Forum on Minority Issues, an advocate suggested that minority representatives include a gender perspective in their statements, to emphasize how gender impacts both the minority issue and the community.

How did you use digital storytelling in your research?

Sophie: The region is often framed as an example of peaceful coexistence, but I wanted to uncover the complexities behind that ideal. Digital storytelling allowed me to dive deeper into individual experiences and capture the nuances often missed in broader narratives. Each story contributes to a collective understanding of the issues at hand. By focusing on individual stories, I hoped to uncover the “creases in the fabric” that are often overlooked when viewed from afar rather than up close. While each story is unique, together they create a collective picture, adding different layers to the issue. For me, each interview was enlightening. It was important for me to provide a platform where minorities could share their real experiences, not the versions people expect or assume they should have.

Governor of South Tyrol Arno Kompatscher presenting Sophie Cooper with the Student Minority Projects Challenge award in Geneva.

Credit: LPA | Dominik Holzer | All rights reserved

Alexandra, what’s your approach to minority advocacy and intersectionality?

Alexandra: My focus is on transnational minority advocacy, and my current research uses an intersectional lens to examine not only the considerations of the vulnerability of minority women but also to examine actions that express their agency. My own work has investigated how intersectionality is used by and about minority women at the UN Forum on Minority Issues. In the brief two-minute statements that are permitted, it was interesting to see how the concept of intersectionality was incorporated as a way to capture the multiple challenges of being both a minority and a woman. But it was encouraging to see how intersectionality was also for thinking about minority women’s unique position as a springboard for their agency and empowerment.

In the volume on minority women that I recently co-edited, my fellow contributors used intersectionality to interrogate similar shifts in political, legal, digital, activist, and socioeconomic spheres. This research, along with other similar initiatives, demonstrates that there is an urgent need to center and elevate minority women’s voices and stories. It was also important for me and my co-editors to make this research open access, thus increasing its impact. This emphasis on access to hearing directly from minority women is something that Sophie’s project and her digital approach capture so effectively.

Minority women are at the forefront of pushing for more empowerment within global governance. And though many feel constrained by the short time they’re given to speak at the Forum, they recognize the importance of being there to tell their stories. The Forum offers a unique opportunity to ensure their voices are truly heard and listened to. This is because the Forum is where there is the possibility of having these stories translate into policies. For those unable to make it to the Forum, digital means offer another realm of meaningful participation for minority women, as long as the digital sphere enjoys protection against hate speech and online attacks.  

Sophie, as an emerging voice, what direction are you taking moving forward?

Sophie: The interviews were incredibly rewarding, and I want to continue building those genuine connections. One interviewee, Miie, a young Frisian woman, left a lasting impression when she said, “We’re still here, we’re still alive.” It reminded me that minority cultures are not relics of the past but are evolving and full of creativity. I’ve seen this firsthand with the minority representatives and artists, who are speaking out and finding creative ways to support their communities. Minorities have so much to offer the societies they live in, and we should never underestimate the possibilities that their experiences and ideas can lead to. That’s the message I want to carry forward in my work.

Alexandra: The important role to be played by university students like Sophie was emphasized repeatedly at the UN Forum on Minority Issues. The Special Rapporteur had already underscored the need for greater youth engagement, by launching the Student Minority Projects Challenge as a way to gather innovative, youth-led ideas, particularly in the digital realm. Giving Sophie the platform at the UN Forum on Minority Issues to present her work and approach was a confirmation of this commitment. I’m sure that the high profile given to the Challenge ensures that Sophie’s approach will be widely shared as effective for using digital means to elevate minority voices and stories. We also attended the award ceremony for the Minority Artist’s Competition where a variety of visual modes of communication were presented and valorized as meaningful ways to include minority voices, identities, and ideas.

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Sophie: This project really showed me how important it is to connect with people – whether it’s minorities talking to each other or engaging with majority communities. I learned so much from these conversations, and I hope they learned something from me too. Sharing the final digital stories has been powerful. Even my mum, who knew nothing about the border region before, found viewing the digital stories to be very emotional and she felt deeply connected with these women... The power of creating genuine connections can’t be overstated. Once you make a connection, it motivates you to keep fighting. Despite frustrations with big institutions, hearing these stories reminds me of what matters and drives me to push for change, even in small steps.

About the Interviewed

Sophie Cooper is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in International Relations and Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews, where she is also a Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholar. Her research interests include the Cold War, nationalism, and displacement, with a particular passion for exploring the human experiences behind major geopolitical events.

About the Interviewed

Alexandra Cosima Budabin works on the international protection and promotion of national and religious minorities, with a strong focus on cultural heritage and transnational advocacy around minority rights. Her research also engages with gender and security, examining how global and local dynamics shape vulnerable communities in addition to studying diaspora politics, dispersed communities and their influence on policymaking and identity across borders.