Author: IUSY Secretariat

FREE JOSEF!

IUSY Secretariat
Our Answer to Repression of Demonstrations Against Fascism and Racism Is Solidarity

IUSY wants to express its solidarity with our 23-year old comrade Josef from Germany who has been kept in prison since January because he demonstrated against the annual ball of the neo-Nazis, racists and fascists in Vienna.

On January 24, 8000 anti-fascists demonstrated against the “Wiener Akademikerball” (the Vienna Academics Ball). Every year, the extreme-right from all over Europe gathers to have a waltz in Vienna, from Austrian FPÖ, French Front National, German „Pro Deutschland“ or even representatives from openly fascist and neo-Nazi political groups. The peak on the iceberg of this terrible event: it happens not by coincidence around the Holocaust Memorial Day.

As this ball happens every year, it also gathers anti-fascists protesters from all over Europe who don’t put up with an open gathering of extreme-right that is threatening the core fundament of our societies – democracy and equality. This protest involves a broad political coalition, from holocaust survivors to political parties, initiatives and NGOs.

The evidence against Josef is poor, as was shown during the trial. Josef’s case shows that it is often not relevant at this kind of demonstrations if you are actually involved in peaceful or violent actions. Everyone who is attending this kind of happening is put in the same box. Josef is being used to set an example: since January, he has been kept in custody by the police during the investigation against him. The trial has started and he is still imprisoned.

As the far right is on the rise in all parts of Europe, we stand together firmly as socialists and anti-fascists and protest against EU states’ increasing repression against our struggle for democracy and freedom, and a society without racism, fascism and anti-Semitism. This trial aims to isolate the uprise for our values and sets the political target not on the actual problem – the openly spread racism, fascism and anti-Semitism of the extreme-right – but on those who show the courage to stand up against it.

IUSY demands: FREE JOSEF!

 

Elaboration of the Post 2015 Agenda

IUSY Secretariat

 The International Union of Socialist Youth participated in the meeting of civil society youth organizations that was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), “ECOSOC Forum on Youth 2014: #Youth2015: Realizing the future They want”. The meeting was held the 2nd and 3rd of June in the headquarters of the United Nations, in New York.

The meeting was led by the UN Secretary General’s Envoy of Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, and the President of ECOSOC, ambassador Martin Sajdik. Representatives from social and political youth organizations from all over the world were present to discuss the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 Agenda, with the main focus being on labor right and education.

During the meeting, the document “The Global Youth Call: Prioritizing Youth in the post 2015 Development Agenda” was signed, that calls for all Member States to give priority to the youth in the elaboration of the Post-2015 Agenda. The meeting manifested its concern and called for the UN Member States to consider the voices of the youth in the area of education, health, peace, personal security, governance and youth participation; themes that were also the main topics of this document.[1]

Since IUSY’s 30th World Congress, where the resolution “15 Actions to eradicate Poverty in 15 Years” was adopted, IUSY seeks to increase its impact on the post-2015 Agenda, since ours it the generation that mostly will suffer from the consequences of the decisions that are taken today for the coming years. Therefor, IUSY strongly demands a political analysis that breaks with the system that has been created the last centuries and allows us to move towards a new economic, social and political model that is based on the principles of solidarity, equality and social justice. The United Nations must open new doors for reflection and dialogue between different actors. The moment is now and we the youth must play a leading role in this.

[1]More information about the document and the Global Youth Call

Balkan Round Table 2014

IUSY Secretariat

We are happy to invite you to the

BALKAN ROUND TABLE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE –
The Future of Social Democracy in the Balkans

from the 11 to the 13 of July 2014, Belgrade (Serbia)

The Balkan Round Table gathers young leaders of the IUSY member organizations in the Balkan area, with the aim of strengthening the organizations and the cooperation within the region. Together we will discuss the current political situation and elaborate strategies to face the challenges that lie ahead.

The main theme for Balkan Round Table will be The future of Social Democracy in the Balkans. The political program contains seminars on topics that are identified as common challenges for the region, such as youth unemployment, labor rights, cross-border issues and the EU, minority rights and gender equality. As a lot of our member organizations face organizational challenges, there will also be a seminar on organizational structure and project management that will present methods and tools to strengthen our organizations. Since the future is ours to shape the weekend will be an interactive one, with country reports, sharing of experiences and ideas, workshops, political actions and of course building networks and making friends!

The meeting is organized in cooperation with YES – Young European Socialists. Olof Palme Centre’s Global Project finances the Balkan Round Table. The meeting will be hosted by our Serbian organizations Democratic Youth and Social Democratic Youth in Social Democratic Union. Each organization can register up to two participants, must be gender balanced, if possible age balanced, holding some kind of leadership position within the organization since the regional meetings are the most important platforms for the regions in between the congresses and councils.

 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION FEE

You will need to register your participant in the online registration system here. Registration is open until Monday 30th of June, but we want the names of your delegates as soon as possible in order to go ahead with preparations. Please contact the IUSY Secretariat in case you should have any problems with the registration.

The participation fee is 30€ per participant and is mandatory once the registration is done. This amount must be brought in cash in euro to the meeting or transferred to the IUSY bank account in advance.

Transfer to the IUSY bank account:

  • Bank: BAWAG
  • BLZ (BIC): 14000
  • Account number: 0531 0660 380
  • IBAN: AT41 1400 0053 1066 0380
  • SWIFT code: BAWAATWW
  • Reason for payment: Your name and your organization’s name

Apart from the participation fee, the Global Project will finance the travels, accommodation and food during the weekend.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

Arrivals of all the participants are foreseen for Friday the 11 of July at 12.00. Departures are foreseen for Sunday the 13 of July at 15.00. Please make your travel arrangements accordingly and do not forget that IUSY will not be able to cover accommodation or any other expenses for delegates who need to stay additional nights in Belgrade.

ACCOMODATION AND MEETING VENUE

You will be offered accommodation during Friday and Saturday night. We will get back to you on the location of the hotel and the conference venue.

HOW TO GET TO THE HOTEL

In the online registration form you will be asked to give us your exact arrival and departure details. For everybody that put in all necessary information until the closing of the registration on Monday 30th of June, there will be transport organized from the airport to the hotel. For the participants who do not send their travel details until the closing of registration we will not be able to provide any transport from the airport. Kindly note that in this case any costs of transport from the airport to the hotel will NOT be covered by travel reimbursement.

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT

The Global Project will be able to support your travel costs with a fixed maximum amount for each participant (see attached table).We strongly urge all organizations to book your tickets immediately in order to get the best possible price. Only economy class tickets will be reimbursed. According to IUSY rules, business or first class tickets will not be taken into consideration under any circumstances. When traveling by car we ask you to try to organize with organizations whose country you might pass through to reach Belgrade. Gas money will be reimbursed in accordance with a fixed model based on gas price in country of origin and distance.

Please note that IUSY can only reimburse cost of travels proven by original documents. Therefore do not forget to keep and hand in to the IUSY Secretariat ALL of the following documents:

  • If you arrived by plane, bus or train – original invoice showing the date, exact price and currency with which the ticket has been paid, and original boarding passes, bus or train tickets of your full journey (in case you had connection flights – all of them)
  • If you arrived by car – original invoices of the fees for which you claim reimbursement (tolls, petrol). We need the receipt of one fueling in your home country upon arrival, but the price or the amount won’t effect the reimbursement, it is just for the accounting.

All travel reimbursements will be made in Euro by bank transfer after the meeting. Please note that only the participants who attend at least 75% of the meeting will be offered travel reimbursement.

CONTACT DETAILS

Stina Garefelt
Project Manager Global Project  |  Tel: 0043 699 135 329 70  |  Mail: stina.garefelt@iusy.org

Rocío Cervera
Project Manager IUSY  |  Tel: 0043 699 170 734 41 |  Mail: rocio.cervera@iusy.org

 

 

Call for Applications

IUSY Secretariat

Vetted Roster of Experts on GEPA

UNDP’s Democratic Governance Group and Gender Team have developed a Global Initiative on Gender Equality in Public Administration (UNDP GEPA initiative).

As part of that initiative, a roster of vetted experts on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Public Administration is being established, in order to provide demand-driven advisory services, access to knowledge, and technical backstopping to UNDP country offices, regional service centers and other offices.

Applications are solicited until 30 June 2014, from highly-qualified experts and experienced individuals (not firms) to be considered for inclusion in this new thematic expert roster. We are looking for a diverse group of people in terms of expertise, skills, languages and seniority.

Interested experts should review the announcement and apply only if they meet the minimum requirements as specified in the call for applications. Candidates are welcome to apply in the UNDP working language they wish (English, French or Spanish).

The Gender Equality in Public Administration Vetted Experts Roster announcement is available in English | French |Spanish. Please note that this call for experts is not linked to other UNDP rosters or to a specific UNDP recruitment opportunity. You may send an email to gepa.roster@undp.org for any questions or clarifications.

Democratic backsliding and human rights violations in Thailand

IUSY Secretariat

Thailand has been known as one of most democratic countries in Southeast Asia since 1992. However, eight years of political conflict between the old elites (yellow shirts which are comprised of military, monarchy network and royalists middle class) and the new power (red shirts which are mainly peasants, and rural poor led by the business tycoon, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra) had pulled Thailand’s democracy backwards, culminating in several military coups – one in 2006, and most recently this May 2014.

After the coup had been announced and the constitution was abolished on 22 May 2014, the Army Chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha became the interim prime minister with full authority under the enforcement of Martial Law throughout the country. Certain civil and political rights have therein been derogated e.g. right to freedom of expression, right to freedom of assembly and right to freedom of association. Almost 250 academics, politicians, journalists and political activists are currently being detained in undisclosed locations. The Junta has also shut down foreign news channels such as the CNN and BCC and thereafter blocked many websites including the Human Rights Watch website, accusing them of disseminating false information about the political situation in Thailand.

IUSY therefore condemns the recent military coup and the indefinite abuse of power under military dictatorship as it is a severe backlash for democracy and gravely threatens the rights of the Thai people. IUSY also calls for the immediate release of political prisoners and condemns the junta’s censorship and harassment of the media and political activists alike.

IUSY also calls on the Thai military junta to give power back to the people by holding the elections at the most immediate time. Indeed, as we have seen in different cases from all over the world, a peaceful and just society can only be achieved through people’s participation in politics – through ballots, not bullets.

WFD 2014 – Call for Participants

IUSY Secretariat

Dear friends,

We are pleased to inform you that the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe is launching a call for participants to a youth activity within the 2014 edition of the

WORLD FORUM FOR DEMOCRACY:
FROM PARTICIPATION TO INFLUENCE: CAN YOUTH REVITALISE DEMOCRACY?

taking place in Strasbourg from the 31st October till the 6th November 2014.

As a result of this call, 300 young people, out of 75 which non-European, will be selected to participate in a youth meeting prior to the World Forum (31st October-3rd November, and to the World Forum itself (3rd-5th November). Selected participants will work together on an online platform between July and October to explore the concept of democracy, share existing good practices and develop new prototypes of democracy.

This year, we want young people to go beyond existing challenges
in order to DREAM DEMOCRACY. 

You will find the detailed presentation of the event as well as the call for applicants here.
Please note that your application should be composed of both an online filled-in application form AND a short video. All detailed instructions can be found on the website notably the need for your reference letter if you represent an organization.

The deadline for applications in Sunday 22nd June!!!
For more information about the World Forum for Democracy, please look here.

In order to apply, you should:

  • Be aged 16-30 (exceptions can be made in special cases);
  • Be resident in one of the 50 signatory States of the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe; 75 places will be made available for participants from other regions outside the European continent;
  • Be able to communicate and work in English;
  • Be actively involved in civil society Democracy initiatives;
  • Be motivated to contribute to developing new ideas on youth and democracy;
  • Be supported by a youth organisation or network or informal group working on democracy; some non-organised individuals will also be accepted;
  • Be ready to adopt a solution-oriented approach by bringing in new ideas and visions of democracy;
  • Be ready to dream democracy;
  • Be available to participate fully in the World Forum on Democracy and the preparation process before.

 

Devastating Floods in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia&Herzegovina

IUSY Secretariat

The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) would like to extend our deepest condolences to people of Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina who have been affected by the catastrophic floods that swept through these areas in the last week.

Thousands of people have been left without houses and been deprived of their property in these floods; the worst that were ever recorded in this area. Many people are still waiting to be evacuated. Unfortunately, we still don’t know how many have lost their lives.

The worst has not yet passed, since we still can expect that there will be more floods due to the rainfall upstream in Bosnia and Croatia. At this point, it is also expected that around one third of Serbia is going to stay without electricity.

We, IUSY, call out to the European Union and the European community to get involved as soon as possible in helping these affected areas. Countries have already organized their teams that are helping in the field. However, there is a urgent need for some basic things as groceries, clothing and hygienic supplies.

For further information and your involvement we kindly ask you to contact the embassies of the countries affected in your country or to contact the Red Cross to put you in contact with its local branches.

In case of inquiries or need of more information, please contact us.

End criminalization and discrimination of LGBT all over the world

IUSY Secretariat

On the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) would like to express our solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people all over the world who are facing criminalization and gender discrimination.

Today, homosexuality is considered a crime in 83 countries around the world. This unacceptable statistics tells us that many LGBT including young LGBT people are facing every day struggles with regards to their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

On the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, we call to end criminalization and discrimination all over the world and demand our member organizations to comply with the principle of non-discrimination. We also demand the United Nations to pass the legally-binding human rights instruments for LGBT rights promotion and protection including the establishment of the United Nation Special Rapporteur on LGBT rights.

IUSY reaffirms the foundation principle that all human beings are born free and equal. No one should be criminalized and discriminated based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.