A fundraising concert in solidarity with Ukraine is organized in Avicii Arena, Stockholm on Saturday 2nd April at 20:00 CET. The evening will be filled with unique performances of some of Sweden’s foremost artists who show up for free and the ticket proceeds go to six different organizations in their work to curb the humanitarian crisis and promote human rights and democracy. Ticket revenues go in full to International Red Cross, Proliska, UN Women Sweden, Fight for Right, Civil Rights Defenders and The Media Initiative for Human Rights.
Per Gessle is one of the participating artists, but also Eva Dahlgren, Peter Jöback, Wilmer X will be there, just to mention a few big names.
From the press release:
The country’s booking company gathers to arrange a fundraising concert with Sweden’s artist elite. This time in solidarity with Ukraine and with three major thematic themes in focus; humanitarian crisis, human rights and democracy.
Humanitarian Crisis:
More than one million people are on the run and many of them are children. At the same time, even more people are stuck in cities and towns in Ukraine and are affected or risk being affected by the war, either directly by military force or indirectly by famine and disease. We must help people in need.
Human Rights:
There are few things more incompatible with human value and life as war. We receive a lot of information about serious violations of human rights and violations of international law in the ongoing conflict, from indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas to denial of basic needs such as food, sleep and healthcare. We must fight for human rights.
Democracy:
Democracy in Ukraine is under direct attack, while we are seeing increased repression in Russia and Belarus. The small space left for free independent media and civil society in Russia has been brutally shut down. Since the outbreak of war, we have seen the great popular opposition to the war and how the brave voices that stand up to the Putin regime and call for peace are being systematically silenced. We must stand up for democracy and freedom in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.
Per Gessle says in today’s press release:
What is happening in Ukraine is undemocratic, indefensible and inconceivable. Difficult, if not impossible, to understand. You would think that no one in our modern times would have to experience such situation. I played a lot both in Russia and in Ukraine and the people of both countries are absolutely amazing. I have unforgettable memories from there that I saved deep in my heart. How could this happen?
Tickets for the event are available HERE.
Thank you, Per, for supporting Ukraine!
The almost 3-hour-long concert can be watched worldwide live online HERE and it will be available at the link for a month.