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December 2006 Newsletter |
WYMD UPDATES:
1) World Youth Day for Democracy/Global Youth Day for Democracy
2) WYMD Chat
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1) Singapore: World Movement for Democracy condemns imprisonment of
democrats
2) Europe: EU report on CIA rendition flights
3) Timor-Leste: UK launch of Timor Justice report
4) Russia: Torture in Russia used to "solve crimes"
5) Colombia: Government rocked by arrests of lawmakers with paramilitary
ties
DECEMBER EVENTS:
1) Conference on Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, and the Role of
Youth (Somalia) December 1, 2006
2) Project Australia (Australia) December 2, 2006
3) MDG's and YOUth!: making the connection (Canada) December 2, 2006
4) First Youth Peace and Conflict Resolution Camp (Nigeria) December
15, 2006
5) Nepal Youth Social Forum (Nepal) December 29-30, 2006
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS, FUNDING AND PARTICIPATION
1) The Next Great Prime Minister/Le Futur Grand Premier Ministre (Canada)
2) Council of Europe Award “Young active Citizens”, 2006-2007
HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLES, NEWS AND REPORTS:
1) Article: la Jeuenesse Africaine et la Democratie – in French
2) Event Report: District Youth Assembly (Pakistan)
3) Event Report: Youth Study Circles (Bangladesh)
4) Event Report: Youth at the ICNRD/ICSFD 2006 Democracy Conference (Qatar)
5) Call for Collaboration: Alaskan Youth working for Human Rights (United
States)
6) WYDD/GYDC Event Report: CIVIC Bangladesh and Civic Youth Network for
Democracy (Bangladesh)
7) WYDD/GYDC Event Report: NAYMOTE-PADD (Liberia)
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World Youth
Day for Democracy/Global Youth Campaign for Democracy -
Yet more WYMD participants in this years World Youth Day for Democracy
(18th October) have reported on their events. Activities included:
- Civic Bangladesh took the initiative of forming the Civic Youth
Network for Democracy (CYND) which includes representation of five other
groups. Working collaboratively to organise national events, and independently
to organise local events, the groups succeeded in holding a series of
rallies, processions, discussions and seminars related to democracy
issues and the participation of young people. The programmes’
participants discussed certain problems facing the democracy in the
country and possible measures to be undertaken for democratic development.
Read Civic's full report.
- Creative Response of Youth for Solutions to HIV/AIDS Education
& Environmental Problems (CRY4SHEEP), Nigeria, organised a banner
display in a town centre, encouraging youth to register for forthcoming
elections. The group used person-to-person sensitization to help explain
the motivation for and importance of the banner event. CRY4SHEEP spoke
to youth in their workplaces, schools and during their leisure time.
The event gained some TV coverage, which served as a huge boost for
the campaign. The event has also resulted in a growing awareness of
the organisation, its beliefs, and current campaigns, and the group
has now attended meetings with government officials to discuss youth
participation in elections. There is currently a renewed effort by youth
to register for the forthcoming elections. To contact this group, please
contact the WYMD Secretariat.
- Motivation, Awareness, Advocacy Programme on Social Issues
(MAAPSI), in Bangaldesh, launched a Youth Study Circle on Democracy
on the 22nd of November, 2006. The objective of the programme is to
create awareness among youth on democracy and good governance and to
disseminate information at the grassroots level to promote democratic
culture and values in society. The study circle is composed of 7 to
10 young people who gather and discuss different issues surrounding
the topic of democracy. The Youth Study Circle took part in a discussion
on the role of youth in a democratic country like Bangladesh and has
made recommendations on how to nurture democratic culture in Bangladesh.
This programme will continue until December, 2006, with the next Study
Circle organized for the 1st of December, 2006 at Bejpara, Jessore.
To contact this group, please contact the WYMD
Secretariat.
Have you planned an event? Have you participated in or
held an event that you haven't registered yet? Register
your event.
It's not too late to plan an event for the Global Youth Democracy Campaign!
For ideas for action, resources, lists of current campaigns from major
human rights groups and a guide to registering, check out the World
Youth Day for Democracy page!
Join
WYMD Chat - Join our e-forum for exchanging
news, resources, ideas and experiences. Share knowledge gain information
and ideas, or just meet other WYMD members online.
Get started by sending an email to ymdchat-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org
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Singapore: World Movement for Democracy condemns
imprisonment of democrats (World
Movement for Democracy)
November 29, 2006
The World Movement for Democracy condemns the jail sentence of WMD participant
in Singapore, Dr. Chee Soon Juan, Chairman of the Alliance of Reform and
Democracy in Asia (ARDA) and Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic
Party (SDP). Dr. Chee has been sentenced to five weeks in prison for the
"crime" of speaking in public without a valid permit. Two colleagues
were given shorter sentences. According to ARDA, Dr. Chee's health has
deteriorated significantly. Dr. Chee's inability to eat has been interpreted
by authorities as a form of protest, for which he may be punished through
banning family visits. He will also attend trial on December 21 for attempting
to leave Singapore without a permit (to attend the World Movement's Fourth
Assembly in Istanbul). The World Movement believes these trials (amongst
others) can be viewed as an attempt to halt his and his colleagues attempt
to advance democracy in Singapore.
Read
the statement
Europe: EU report on CIA rendition flights (The
Guardian, UK)
November 28, 2006
The European parliament is in the process of releasing a report on allegations
that the CIA flew terrorism suspects to secret prisons around the world.
The United States looks set to face renewed pressure concerning its human
rights record. A press conference will be held to discuss the findings
of Italian MEP Claudio Fava who presented the report to the parliament's
committee. It is thought they will be similar to those he presented in
April that asserted that the CIA during the past five years the CIA had
operated more than 1,000 so-called "extraordinary rendition"
flights over EU territory. It said the CIA had kidnapped terrorism suspects,
and suggested some EU governments may have been completely aware of the
flights.
Read the full press release
Timor-Leste: UK launch of Timor Justice report
(Amnesty
International)
November 28, 2006
Joint Press Release by the UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group, TAPOL the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, Amnesty International, Progressio, and Human Rights Watch:
British parliamentarians who campaigned for human rights in Timor-Leste
(then East Timor) were today urged to press the UK government for action
on key recommendations of a landmark report on violations committed in
Timor-Leste. The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG), TAPOL
the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International
and Progressio hosted the UK launch of the report at the Houses of Parliament
today. The report includes a number of specific findings and recommendations
on the UK's role in the Timor-Leste conflict. In particular, it calls
for a UK contribution to reparation payments to victims of the conflict
and greater control over the arms trade. To date there has been no formal
response from the British government about the report or its recommendations.
Read the press release
Read the report
Russia: Torture in Russia used to "solve
crimes" (Amnesty
International)
November 22, 2006
A new Amnesty report reveals the practice of torture and ill-treatment
throughout Russia used to extract confessions from suspects detained by
police. Beatings with fists, plastic bottles full of water, books, truncheons
and poles; suffocation; electroshocks to different areas of the body are
some of the means of torture or other ill-treatment used, as reported
to Amnesty. These practices are in violation of Russia's national and
international obligations and the report details the lack of convincing
efforts to eradicate the problem.
Full
article
Read
the report
Colombia: Government rocked by arrests of lawmakers
with paramilitary ties (IPS
News)
November 17, 2006
Several Colombian lawmakers have been arrested for links to extreme-right
paramilitary militias. Interviewed by IPS, Carlos Rodríguez, assistant
director of the Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ), asserts the arrests
have given further credence to reports by human rights organisations "of
how deeply embedded the paramilitaries are in the local and regional public
institutions". The Supreme Court has evidence that ruling coalition
legislators from Sucre, a northwestern province, organised a death squad
and actively took part in it, masterminded massacres of campesinos (peasant
farmers) that led to the forced displacement of thousands of people, and
used violence to influence election results. Two senators and a congressman
are also accused of are also accused of receiving funds for each contract
granted. The Colombian government has offered a 22 million dollar reward
for information leading to the capture of one of the senators, while the
U.S. government has cancelled the visas of both senators.
Read
the full story
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Conference on Human Rights,
Conflict Resolution, and the Role of Youth (Somalia)
December 1, 2006
The conference included workshops and lectures/papers about human rights
and equality, peace and conflict resolution and the role of youth in
post-conflict peace. The event was attended by South Sudan government
officials, international and national NGO managers, and other elders
from different areas of South Sudan. It ended with a peace day celebration.
www.risesudan.com
Project Australia
(Australia) December 2, 2006
On December 2nd, a series of informal meetings
was held around the country for younger people to discuss 'what can
we do about the future of Australia?' On that night, people met, in
groups of up to 12, in towns and cities, in every state and territory,
to discuss what most concerns them about where Australia is heading,
what they know is already happening in terms of responding to those
concerns and their vision for ways forward. The night aimed to stimulate
new connections, ideas and directions for people who want to create
a better future for their country.
All the details can be found on their website, www.projectaustralia.org
MDG's
and YOUth!: making the connection (Canada)
December 2, 2006
The Open Forum focused on the
Millennium Development Goals, including education as to what these goals
are and discussion as to what they mean to youth involved in the Open
Forum. The event was designed to promote connections between youth in
all communities and the work of the United Nations and others addressing
world issues. The event aimed to spark interest and help channel interest
into areas such as the eradication of poverty and other MDG issues, and
to make local young people aware of how others in the community are tackling
these issues.
Read the forum closure report and learn more about Open Forums at www.takingitglobal.org
First Youth Peace and Conflict Resolution
Camp (Nigeria) December 15, 2006
This open forum will focus on causes of conflicts;
issues and mitigating factors, and on finding ways forward. The aim of
the open forum is to focus on such issues as global impact and implication
at national level, political implication and effect on democracy, and
the need for success of the MDGs and NEEDS (NEEDS-2). The organisers hope
the forum will result in a toolkit to tackle and reduce conflicts, a framework
to promote peace and create goodwill, and plans for more effective implementation
of the MDGs.
For details email: councilofnigerianyouths[at]yahoo.com
Nepal Youth Social
Forum (Nepal) December 29-30, 2006
The Nepal Youth Social Forum (NYSF-2006) will be
the first event of its kind in Nepal, and will be coordinated by Youth
Action Nepal (YOAC). The theme of NYSF, "Creating Youth Vision for
New Nepal," focuses on building up coalitions of existing youth-focused
social movements to build a collective voice for peace, inclusive democracy
and sustainable development in building a New Nepal. NYSF is a common
meeting ground for Nepalese youth for open dialogue for developing a new
vision and a long-term strategy for making just society where the fundamental
human rights of people are respected. It is also a good place to discuss
the current global issues like Globalization, ICT development, Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) and their impacts in the local level. National
social issues will also be raised. See www.youthaction.org.np for more information.
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Opportunities
for Grants, Funding and Participation |
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Next Great Prime Minister/Le Futur Grand Premier Ministre (Canada)
"The Next Great Prime Minister" is looking for Canada's future
leaders and has been launched to engage young Canadians in the political
process. If you are between the ages of 18 to 25, send them a 3 to 5 minute
videotaped speech telling what you would do if you were Prime Minister.
Tell how you would make Canada better, stronger and more prosperous. Be
compelling. Be original. And above all, be inspirational. A primetime
special airing on Canadian network television will feature the top 5 contestants
competing in a one-hour televised final. The winner will be chosen as
Canada's "Next Great Prime Minister" and will receive a $50,000
cash prize and a six-month internship with our sponsors with maximum compensation
of $18,000. Deadline: December 8, 2006
Council
of Europe Award "Young Active Citizens" 2006-2007 "Diversity, Human Rights
and Participation"
The award is a result of the third Summit
of Council of Europe (Warsaw, 16-17 May 2005), when the Heads of State
and Government decided to promote diversity, inclusion and participation
in society, by launching a Europe-wide Youth Campaign. The "All Different
- All Equal" European Youth Campaign for Diversity, Human Rights
and Participation will be organised in 2006 and 2007. The aim of the Award
will be to actively contribute to the aims, objectives and visibility
of the "All Different - All Equal" European Youth Campaign for
Diversity, Human Rights and Participation. Five projects/actions will
be rewarded. Each of the winning projects will be offered an amount of
1000 € and a diploma. Furthermore, two representatives of each of
the winning projects will be invited to the closing event of the Campaign
in order to receive their prize. These representatives will also be invited
to present their projects by the means of an exhibition. A compendium
of all good Campaign projects which have applied (and not just the winning
projects) will be published by the Council of Europe (paper and online
versions).
Deadline for submission: 15th July 2007
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Highlighted
Articles, Reports and News from Youth and Democracy Groups |
News on projects, issues and experiences and articles from people working on youth activism
and democracy issues. These include accounts of personal experiences of activism, issues
and challenges involved in organising, and suggestions on how these challenges
can be overcome.
Article: la Jeuenesse Africaine et la Democratie - en français
from Jean Mwabantu of the Fondation Afrika
This article discusses the role of African youth in democracy. It discusses the political history which has shaped many young Africans, and the reality that many now face. It also discusses the vulnerability of Africa, and some of the many problems now facing African countries, as some still strive to consolidate democracy. Young African people are currently caught between habit and modernity, between history and present, between freedom and community.
Read the article
Assembly: District Youth Assembly (Pakistan)
Future Development Foundation (FDF) and Pakistan Education Forum (PEF)
organized the first District Youth Assembly (DYA) at the district council
hall (Faisal Hall), Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan. Read
their report.
Event Report: MAAPSI Youth
Study Circles (Bangladesh)
Motivation, Awareness, Advocacy Programme on Social Issues (MAAPSI) organized
a Youth Study Circle on The Role of Youth in promoting democracy and human
rights in Bangladesh at the SWAPNO (NGO) Auditorium in Bejpara, Jessore.
On the 4th of December, a second event was held on the Role of Youth Voters
to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh, jointly organized by MAAPSI and
SWAPNO, also at the SWAPNO Auditorium in Bejpara, Jessore at 11:00 a.m.
For details email: maapsi.international[at]gmail.com
Event
Report: Youth at the ICNRD/ICSFD 2006 Democracy Conference (Qatar)
The International Conference on New or Restored Democracies took place
in Doha, Qatar from the 28th October 2006 and ended on the 2nd November
2006. The unique event brought together in a tripartite conference; governments,
parliaments and civil society organizations. This focuses on enhancing
democracy. At the conference the role of youth in democracy was emphasized
and the delegates agreed that youth will be continuously be presented
and encouraged to participate. Kenya was represented my young actors in
the civil society who have interest in democracy. It was encouraging to
see young people fro all over the world engage in the debates and dialogues.
The conference hopes to develop benchmarks and indicators that governments,
parliaments and CSOs can use to monitor and evaluate each others programs
on enhancing democracy.
For more information visit their website: www.icnrd6.com
Call for Collaboration:
Alaskan Youth working for Human Rights (United States)
A group of youth and elders in Anchorage, Alaska are working to establish
a local coalition of indigenous Alaskans to raise awareness, promote discussion,
and develop plans for positive non-violent action in support of their
indigenous rights. Read
the statement from a member of this group.
WYDD/GYDC Event Report: CIVIC Bangladesh and Civic Youth Network
for Democracy (Bangladesh)
To celebrate the World Youth Day for Democracy on 18 October 2006 in Bangladesh,
Civic Bangladesh coordinated a number of events at the national and grassroots
levels, and led an initiative to form the Civic Youth Network for Democracy,
a network of organizations, students, and professionals interested in
promoting democracy in Bangladesh. Their activities aimed to raise awareness
of democracy issues and the role of youth as citizens, as well as to decentralize
the spirit of democratic movement from the city to remote rural people,
who are often unconnected from and deprived of civic opportunities, information
and knowledge.
Read
the report
WYDD/GYDC
Event Report: NAYMOTE (Liberia)
NAYMOTE-PADD, Liberia, organised a series of forums involving lecture
and debate to celebrate the World Youth Day for Democracy. Lectures were
led by outstanding youth leaders and the forums took place in schools
where students were then given the opportunity to ask questions and engage
in debate. The forums involved a variety of topics related to democracy,
participation and leadership, including freedom of the press, youth activism,
human rights, and democratic principles. The forums took place between
the 13th and the 18th October, with a formal World Youth Day for Democracy
Celebration on the 18th. The forums were held in three different schools,
and altogether involved over 400 participants.
Read the press release
Check out WYMD's Resource Page
for toolkits, guides, and more articles.
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Your voice |
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Contribute to WYMD's Newsletter!
We would love to hear more from
WYMD members, and develop this newsletter as a forum for you to share
stories, experiences, news of events etc. So please, if you have any stories
to share, know of any events that might be of interest (international
or national), or just want to share an experience of activism or participation,
please send us an update so we can share this information with the other
members!
Please send any news, articles etc to wymd[at]youthlink.org or using our
online feedback form
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